Chapter 34
Kendall
I had worked a couple of days with Peter, and I could already see he was a decent man, and maybe it was his gay side that made him sympathetic, but I had not let him know that I was aware of his secret.
I arrived at the office and was looking forward to a weekend off after what could be described as a grueling week emotionally. I sat at the desk and finished the daily schedule when Peter called me into his office.
“Kendall, can you come here please and close the door?” he called out.
“Be right there, Peter,” I called back to him as I put the phone onto divert.
“Yes, what can I do for you?” I asked.
“Please Kendall, take a seat, I just want to talk with you for a while,” he said as he gestured me to sit.
I sat in the chair and leaned toward him, “What’s it you want to talk about?” I asked.
“It’s nothing to worry about. I was just wondering what your long-term plans are? You know, I mean do you plan on staying here or moving on? That sort of thing,” he said.
“I’m happy here, and a job has never bothered me that much. I just want a happy life, you know us country girls,” I said with a giggle.
“Well, I have not had many dealings with country girls, so I’ll take your word for it,” he replied. “I’m just asking, because I have to consider all options and look at all aspects where the business is concerned, and I don’t want to just find in a short while if you decide to up roots and head off back home.”
“Peter, I’ll try and put your mind at ease, I’m not power hungry, and money is no real motivation, I’m quite content to just to lead a happy life. That is my driving force more than anything, but this isn’t to say I have no motivation. I have a lot of it,” I responded.
“So, you wouldn’t just leave on short notice?” he asked.
“God no! I would always give plenty of time for a replacement to be found. Between you and me, I had actually considered leaving Elijah before he had his accident, but I stuck it out, and that came out bad… look what happened to me,” I said stupidly.
“I know what you mean, and that situation is slightly different, and we both know that,” he said as he laughed.
“I’m quite happy here with you, the work is interesting, and there is no real pressure compared to Elijah’s place, so as far as I can see, I’m rooted here,” I said with a grin.
“I’m happy to hear that, that is one thing I hold close to me. Honestly, once you have that, everything else comes easy in my book,” he replied.
“So, how are you coping so far with the Elijah situation?” Peter asked.
“So far so good, I have tried to remain occupied and not dwell on it, it’s in the past and has happened, so there is nothing I can do to change that,” I explained.
“Well, I have not heard from, him in the last couple of days, so I have nothing to report, and as they say, no news is good news,” he said.
I returned to my desk and thought about the conversation I just had with Peter. It was obvious something had crossed his mind to do with me, and I wasn’t totally sure. He could just be over cautious.
I sat at my desk and ran through how I did feel about Elijah now, and I realized that I had kept myself occupied, I had let the situation bother me less, even though I did think about it at home. I had a lot of feelings for him, but it was no longer dictating the way I thought about things.
I looked at the clock, and it was nearly time to wrap things up for the week, it had been a short one for me since I had only really started work on Wednesday, and the past couple of days had flown by, which I was thankful for. But for tonight, I said I would pass by Mandy’s house and keep her updated with the events of the week.
***
I arrived at Mandy's house, and I could see she was excited as she was stood in the driveway waiting rather than with her face pushed against the glass of the window.
“Come on, quick, quick, get inside,” Mandy said hysterically.
“Relax girl, you are overacting,” I said.
“I know, it has been nearly a full week since you have spoken to me, I just want to see how you have been doing?” she asked as she curled up on the couch with a large cushion.
“So, when was the last time I spoke to you?” I asked.
“Last Sunday was the last time you were here, yet you called me briefly and said something about him being in your driveway, what was all that about?” Mandy asked.
“You mean, I didn’t tell you properly?” I asked.
“Tell me what?” she replied.
“You are gonna kill me!” I said with a grin.
“Don’t you dare say you have forgotten to tell me something Kendall,” she said.
I nodded my head, “Yup, I have forgotten to tell you something, and it’s something major,” I said sheepishly.
“You’re not pregnant?” Mandy asked.
“Hell no, what do you take me for. Anyway there is no chance of that for a long time,” I replied.
“Why the hell not? I thought you guys were banging till the early hours, at every possible chance,” she said in a fit of giggles.
“Not anymore,” I replied.
“Huh, what do you mean? Mandy asked highly confused.
“Well, after I left here on Sunday, Elijah was waiting for me at home. He explained all about his trip to his mother and out of the blue. He ended us, just like that,” I explained to a shocked Mandy.
“No freaking way, you mean he dumped you?” she said.
“Sort of, yes, he said it was because he didn’t want to hurt me,” I said.
“So, what about work and all that stuff, it must be awkward now, not dating and working in the same place? Surely you now have to look for another job?” she said as she quizzed me.
“I’m not working there anymore, Elijah got me a job with Peter, and I have been there since Wednesday,” I said as I waited for the backlash.
“Damn you, girl. I’m gonna kill you. There is so much you have not told me. The biggest thing in your life happens and you forget to tell me? Your best friend? What the hell?” she asked with a giggle.
“I have just been too busy and pre-occupied to call you, with starting a new job, speaking to Mom and other things. I’m not sure where the time has gone this week,” I said as I slumped on the couch.
“So how have you been since all this shit happened?” Mandy asked me, “Did you get all emotional on his ass?” Mandy asked.
“To be honest, I never had the chance, one minute he was there and then one minute he was gone,” I explained. “He just got in his car and drove off as if nothing had happened.”
“What about your emotions? How have they been?” Mandy said.
“I have been alright, apart from Wednesday. I have been busy with Peter, and have not thought much of it until today when Peter asked me how I was coping with it,” I said. “It has been the night times that have been the worst for me when. When it’s quiet, and I’m just curling up with Bo.”
“Well damn you girl for not telling me, but forget all that, and I’ll not even tell you I told you so, I reckon your mom let you know that part well enough,” Mandy said.
“You know her too well, and she did make quite a few points about reminding me she was right,” I said.
“So, there is no sign of Elijah on the cards now then?” Mandy asked. “I just have to get it clear.”
“Correct, he’s totally out of the picture,” I replied.
“And, what about dating, obviously, you have no plans yet?” Mandy asked.
“Damn, give me a chance. I have only just pulled my panties up, and you are asking if I’m considering dropping them again?” I giggled.
“Well, you have to be sure you know. You have to get back on the horse and all that,” she replied.
“So why are you asking anyway?” I said.
“Tomorrow night, we are going out, out. It has been too long since we hit the town just you and me,” she said excitedly.
“I would normally say, ‘no,’ I’m not going, but ‘hell yes,’ it could be just what I need to keep me occupied and busy then I have no way of moping about the house,” I said as I perked myself up a little.
“So where do you want to go? “Mandy asked.
“That my dear, I’ll leave entirely up to you, just surprise me,” I replied.
“Uhuh, I’ll decide, just wear something sexy, I know nothing will happen, don’t worry, but it doesn’t hurt to look good. You can just be some eye candy for the night and make the most of it,” she said beaming a wide smile.
Mandy was right and going out seemed like a good idea, I had not been out since before Elijah had his accident and most of my focus had been on him. God, it showed how much I had fallen for him, and now, he had put a stop to all that.
“This will be fun, window shopping for men, just how long is it since we did that? God, it must be years,” Mandy said as she stood from the couch.
“Well my dear Mandy, I should be getting home, Bo is home alone, and he will be worried where I’m,” I said as I stood up and started to walk to the door.
“Give me a hug,” Mandy said as she squeezed me tightly. “I’m just trying to see if there is any more information in there you forgot to tell me.”
“Honest, there is no more, nada, nothing, zilch, zero,” I said.
“Yup, I get the idea. You’re just a dumb blonde,” Mandy said in a fit of laughter.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, butthole. I’ll be here at 8 to 8:30, make sure you are ready,” I said as I climbed into my car. I watched Mandy as I reversed down her drive, she turned and skipped toward the front door.
Damn, that woman needs to get out more often, I think to myself.
I headed home and entered the house. It was just Bo and me again, my faithful friend and supposedly my protector, maybe he would lick an intruder to death.
As I curled up to Bo on the couch, I gave him his instructions, “Bo, if any man tries to enter the house, you have my full permission to bite them, alright, Bo?” I looked at Bo’s face, “Bo, did you hear me?”