As Katie Nelson coasted into the parking lot, the rocks banging under her car sounded like a loud popcorn popper. Noise was her enemy. She looked at the old brick building sitting across the alley. Butterflies danced in her stomach as she parked next to the car of her old boss and nosy friend, Melanie Armstrong.
She exited her car, cringing from severe anxiety. Crap, Katie thought. I worked at Green Earth Health Insurance five years ago and have no reason to stress. I left on good terms, she reminded herself. Katie forced a smile and walked to the bottom of the stairs. Come on, girl, you have nothing to worry about.
The stairs squeaked as each foot hit the metal surface. Katie held on to the handrail, trying to keep her steps light. Mellow out, Katie, she lectured herself at the top of the stairs. She wiped the dampness from her hands on her pants. Katie was jumpy. Sweat trickled down her back.
The door opened without a noise and closed the same way. Katie got to the end of the hall and saw Fred. He was in his sixties, sandy gray hair, skinny, and funny. Fred’s face lit with a smile, but she shushed him before a word left his mouth. He saluted and went back to work.
Melanie’s door was closed. Katie knocked. “Who’s there? Get back to work; I’ve got phone calls to make,” Melanie barked.
Katie smoothed her hair and opened the door. Here goes nothing. “Important phone calls better than seeing me?”
A surprised expression crossed Melanie’s face. “Oh my heck.” She jumped out of her chair and skipped around the desk to give Katie a bear hug. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to visit?”
She returned the hug. “Hi back, Mel. Looks like you’re keeping busy—so busy you need to rehire an old worker.”
“Old worker? You’re moving back?”
“Did. Now I need a job.”
“You’re hired, and I’ll take you out to lunch. I’m starving.” She grabbed her purse, walked out her door, and tapped Fred’s desk. “You’re in charge.” She pointed to the three ladies in the back of the office. “Girls, look my way. This is our new employee. Katherine…” She paused.
“Hello, all. I go by Katie.” She looked back at Mel. “And my last name is still Nelson.”
“Great. So, to your left is Brenda, in the middle is Shawna, and to your right is Heidi.” Melanie pointed to each person.
Katie turned to face Fred again. “How can you stand to still work here?”
“Got me.” He laughed.
“Bye, and nice to meet you.” She waved and followed Melanie to her car.
“Let’s go to Nettie’s café. Haven’t eaten there for a while,” Melanie said.
***
After being seated in a booth and the lunch served, Melanie got to the point. “Tell me what’s going on. Moving back home is hard to do. Why did you?” She put the nacho chip halfway in her mouth back on the plate.
“When I think of Autumn, my heart aches. I miss my little girl so much.” Katie put her hand on her chest. “I tried to stay. I looked for another place to live in my price range in a different area and couldn’t find one. I loved my job and the people I worked with,” Katie took a drink, “but knew I needed to leave. It felt like someone was watching me.”
In between bites of chips, Melanie asked, “Weird. I know it’s hard losing a child and going through a divorce, but do you ever think of Kevin and wish you were still with him?” One thing Katie remembered about Melanie, she dug deep for personal feelings.
“Sometimes I do. But he changed. I miss the old Kevin and the fun times we had before and right after we got married. Now, the hurt still lingers.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re related to Kevin. Didn’t you notice a dark side to him?”
“Family reunions were a no-go in our family even though we lived close to each other. Kevin’s mom and my dad, her brother, had a disagreement several years ago. So to them, we don’t exist.”
“Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. Now back to my question—what happened?”
Katie tapped her fingers on the table. “As time went on, he put more and more distance between us. It got to the point where I was walking on egg shells to make sure I didn’t say anything wrong. I couldn’t even say anything affectionate without him thinking I was being pushy. I didn’t say much at all and waited for him to be the first to make any conversation or moves. But then I couldn’t jump into a deep conversation or he’d shut down. I got tired of playing those games. At times, he got so angry he was on the verge of hitting me, but he backed off. I hoped having a child with him would make things better, but things just got worse. He wanted a boy and couldn’t give full love and attention to our daughter.” Katie rubbed her eyes, not wanting to relive it.
“You’re a strong woman and will pull through in time. Don’t let it get you depressed. You know you always have a friend to talk to, right?”
Katie took a chip from Melanie’s plate and ate it. “Yep. You’re the best.”
“Hey there.” She grinned. “I know, but back to men in general. Eric makes fun of how I talk or try to explain something. I mimicked how he flaps his hands and he’ll say, ‘Don’t make fun of me.’ Go figure. I’m always on defensive mode.”
“Men are hard characters to figure out.”
“I agree.” Melanie took a sip of her drink. “Where’s your place?”
“The White Italian Plaza on 2nd Street. It’s the building kitty corner from the park.”
Melanie gave a disgusted look. “That piece of crap? It’s puny.”
“I’m happy with it and it came furnished. My only addition is the decorations of unpacked boxes against the wall in the family room and a picture of Autumn on my nightstand.”
“No other pictures?”
“It was the only one I found after Kevin went through our apartment and cleared everything and anything out related to my girl.”
“Please tell me more.” Melanie leaned forward.
“Not now.”
“Okay.” Melanie scratched her head. “So back to your apartment. I have a friend who can do a home decoration party at your place so you can earn free decor.”
“I’ll pass.”