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Joe breathed a sigh of relief upon completion of the presentation he and Sam intended to use on Monday to pitch a potential client who was looking to demolish the entire contents of two city blocks in the middle of downtown Chicago. The redevelopment plan included constructing modern high-rise office complexes with some retail establishments. He hoped to land this architectural contract; it would be the largest contract they secured thus far for their business.
“Well, we should be all set for Monday, so let’s head on over to your neighbor’s and take her up on her drink offer.”
Sam seemed to be in a hurry as he quickly ended their conversation and stuffed his laptop into his bag.
“What are you talking about?” Joe asked.
“Your neighbor. I met her and her friends in the driveway before I came in here. They invited us over for drinks.”
Joe chuckled. “My neighbor, Elizabeth, invited us over for drinks?” He eyed his friend. He couldn’t possibly be serious.
“Well, truth be told, her friend did, but what does that matter, we’re invited and we’re going.”
“Oh no I’m not. I’m not going over to her house, and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want me over there either.”
“What in the hell are you talking about? How do you know that?”
Joe shook his head. “I’ve already met her, and let’s just say it didn’t go very well.”
“Well, she seemed okay with it a little while ago, and let me tell you, you don’t want to miss this, her friends are hot. They’re all hot!”
“I wouldn’t care if Catherine Zeta-Jones was over there, I’m not going. And did you forget I have two young children to look after,” Joe said as he tilted his head in the direction of Max and Molly who already had their pajamas on and were ready for bed.
“Maybe it’s time you stop using your kids as an excuse for not getting back in the game. I don’t want to sound harsh, but it’s been almost five years since Amanda passed.”
Joe stood silent for a moment staring at the floor. He knew his friend meant well, but hearing his truthful words felt like a sucker punch, only worse. Amanda was gone, had been for a long time, and she wasn’t coming back, yet, the associated guilt that came along with the mere thought of finding someone else someday nearly tore his heart to shreds. And now, on the rare occasion family or friends broached the topic of him seeing someone else, he found it easy to hide behind the ‘kids’ excuse.
“I’m not discussing this with you, not now, not ever.”
“Fine, we won’t discuss it. Just get old lady Marsh over here to watch the kids and get ready.” Sam reached over, grabbed the phone receiver, and handed it to him.
Mechanically, he dialed Mrs. Marsh’s number. As to exactly why, he wasn’t quite sure. He could use a break from his domesticated life, even if only for an hour or two, it might do him some good, or not, he wasn’t sure. His indecisiveness was tiring.
The phone rang for the third time, he was near escape, and was about to hang up when the kind old woman who watched his kids on occasion answered, and agreed to watch the kids.
The next thing he knew, he stood behind his friend as he knocked on his neighbor’s front door.
A beautiful, blonde-haired woman answered, and Sam introduced her to Joe. Holly led them through the entryway and past the picture-perfect living room furnished with oversized, dark brown leather furniture and sophisticated, antique-looking end tables and lamps. It looked like the kind of living room that never got used, and was only for show.
“I bet nothing will ever be out of place in this living room,” Joe whispered, catching a scowl from his buddy.
They followed the woman into the kitchen where Elizabeth and another lady were sitting on stools at the large island in the center of the room. Holly introduced Jody to him before he and Sam pulled up stools.
“Can I pour you guys a glass of wine?” Holly asked as she turned her attention to Sam.
His buddy, the master of seducing females, seemed totally smitten with this woman already, and all she did was bat her eyes, and offer him a drink.
“Sure, I’ll have some,” Sam replied before she shot a glance in Joe’s direction.
“I’m more of a beer kind of guy.”
“Figures,” Elizabeth mumbled. “I don’t have any beer.”
She didn’t bother to camouflage her disapproving tone.
“I figured as much, so I brought my own,” Joe said with the added effectiveness of a smirk as he held up his six-pack of Miller Lite bottles for her to see.
