Page 58 of Every Now and Then
Annabelle
Now
Since the house has been on the market, it's been chaotic with showings and an open house. Marsha called me this morning to say the feedback has been positive, so I’m crossing my fingers that an offer comes in soon.
But… I’m not entirely sure that getting an offer this quickly would be a good thing because I haven’t made any progress in finding a new place. I’ve widened my search criteria, which has only made things more overwhelming. Now I’m buried in listings. Instead of struggling to find anything, I suddenly have too many options, and I think I’ve hit full-blown analysis paralysis. I just can’tdecide.
The only good part about being so busy is that I haven't had time to overthink my therapeutic cry session with Hayes and contemplate his words.
Okay, that’s a lie. I can’t forget the way it felt to be held. How he drew me into his arms, steady and unyielding, supporting me when my strength gave out. In that moment, I let myself collapse, and Hayes’ quiet reassurances unlocked something deep inside me.
And his words.Read faster, Annabelle. I’ve already reached the end of the book. I’m just waiting for you to catch up. I mull over those words every night as I’m lying in bed before I fall asleep. They’ve become a kind of comfort, like a child clutching a favorite blanket. Hayes’ words soothe something in me, quiet my thoughts, and give me something to hope for.
Today, Hayes picked me up as usual, and we ate lunch at my favorite little hole-in-the-wall burger place. We spent the entire hour teasing one another and laughing. Throughout our time together, he touched me freely, and my heart hammered with excitement each time he held my hand or slung his arm around me. We still haven’t kissed, but it’s feeling more and more like we’re building a solid foundation for a romantic relationship.
When I stroll back into work, it’s with a big smile plastered across my face. I knock on Laura’s office door, ready to fill her in on the latest Hayes update. I turn the knob to go inside, but the door doesn’t budge. It's locked. Looking under her door, I notice her office lights are off. Assuming she must still be at lunch, I head to my desk to tackle my afternoon to-do list.
A while later, a throat clears nearby. I glance up from my work to find Dave, one of the morning show radio deejays, lingering outside my cubicle. I rarely see Dave around the office because of our differingschedules. His workday begins and ends much earlier than mine. Laura insists he still has a crush on me, but I refuse to believe it.
Dave and I rarely interact, so how could Laura know if he has a crush on me or not?
“Hey, Dave. What can I do for you?” I ask, wearing a polite smile.
“I have some information Laura requested. Since she’s not in, could you give it to her?” He steps into my cubicle and holds out a few papers for me.
“Sure.” Reaching for the paperwork, I take them from his outstretched hand and place them on the corner of my desk. My eyes wander back to my computer screen, hoping Dave will take the hint and leave, but he lingers awkwardly.
Perhaps Laura’s right, and Dave does have a crush on me. Unfortunately for Dave, I have a pretty big crush on a certain sexy country singer.
Finally, I say, “Is there anything else you need, Dave?”
“Laura mentioned you were moving soon, and I wanted to tell you I own a nice rental house. Two bedrooms, one bathroom. It’s in a safe neighborhood with excellent schools. Let me know if you want any more information about it.” He winks. “I can cut you a friends and family discount on the rent.”
I’m sure he didn’t mean his last comment to sound smarmy, but combined with his corny wink, it did. “Thanks. I’ll let you know if I need more info on it, but I’m planning on buying something, not renting.”
“Of course. Totally. I usually only offer year-long leases, but since we’re friends, I’d be more than happy to let you rent it month-to-month until you find your dream home, if needed.”
“That’s kind of you.” This time when I smile at him, it’s genuine. I feel guilty for having thought he was smarmy just moments earlierwhen he was really just doing me a favor. “You know what? If you could get me more info on the house, I’d like that. In this crazy housing market, it’s a good idea to have options. Thanks for thinking of me, Dave.”
“Always, Anna. I’m always thinking of you.” His eyes hold mine just a beat too long to feel comfortable.
Smarmy is back on the table.
Is he creepy or quirky? I’m undecided.
After Dave leaves, I push the semi-uncomfortable exchange out of my head and attempt to get back into work-mode, but I’m having difficulty concentrating. Stretching my hands over my head, I lazily roll my neck around to work out the kinks that I get from staring at a computer screen for too long, and I let my mind wander.
I think back to Dave’s comment about Laura not being in her office. Even if she took a long lunch, she should be back by now. I gnaw on the inside of my cheek. Maybe she had an appointment or an off-site meeting that she forgot to tell me about?
When my cell phone rings, I rummage through my purse and pull it out, already bracing myself.Please don’t be the school nurse. I’ve got too much on plate to deal with a sick kiddo right now.
The number is local, but not one I recognize. Whoever is calling, they aren’t saved in my list of contacts. It’s just ten unfamiliar digits staring back at me.
Curious and a little wary, I answer. “Hello?”
An unfamiliar woman’s voice greets me. “Hello, is this Anna Morris?”
“Yes, it is,” I say, my voice tight with unease. For the first time in my life, I hope it’s a telemarketer calling to offer me an extended car warranty or a special deal on cable television.
