As I replied to a client’s email, my phone began playing “Hail to the Chief,” the special ringtone I’d assigned to Patrick Donnelley.
“Mr. President,” I answered teasingly.
“Hey, Sean. How’s it going?”
“Same old stuff,” I replied. “Just busy with work. How about you? Staying busy leading the free world?”
He chuckled. “Pretty much.”
When Patrick was elected president two years ago, I wasn’t sure if it would change our friendship. But he was the same guy I’d met over twenty-five years prior, only he had a lot more responsibility than back then.
“So, I was calling to let you know Mary and I will be in Boston this weekend, and we were hoping you could join us for our family dinner on Saturday.”
“Oh. I’d love to see you both, but I have plans on Saturday evening.”
Declan and I had reservations for dinner at a new Italian restaurant that we wanted to check out. As much as I missed my friends, I needed to show him that he held a special place in my life, and I wouldn’t bail on him just because other things came up, especially because things hadn’t been fixed yet with my kids. I never wanted to give him a reason to doubt his importance to me.
“That’s too bad. Is it a boring work thing?”
Until recently, the only thing that would have kept me from meeting Patrick when he was in town would have been work. I could have agreed and said that was the reason, but I was tired of keeping secrets.
“Actually, I have a date.”
“Hold on a second. Are you serious?” He sounded more excited for me than surprised I was dating.
“I am.”
“That’s great news. Why don’t you bring her over so Mary and I can meet her?”
“Uh … there might be a slight problem with that.”
“Why?”
I took a deep breath. I hadn’t expected to drop this bombshell on my best friend over the phone, but I went with it. “Because there is no woman for you to meet. I’m … dating a guy.”
There was a beat of silence, and then Patrick said, “Huh, I didn’t see that coming. But the offer still stands. We would love to meet whomever you’re seeing.”
I was about to tell him he already knew my boyfriend, but before I could, he said, “Sean, duty calls, so I need to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“All right. Bye.” I disconnected the call.
I pushed back from my desk and walked over to my door. “Hey, Declan. Can you come here for a minute?”
“Be right there, Bossman,” he called out.
I went back to my chair and sat while I waited.
“What’s up?” he asked when he stepped inside.
“Close the door.”
He did as I instructed and then sat in the chair across from me. “Now I’m worried. You usually only call me in here to push me against the wall and kiss me.” His voice had a hint of humor, but I could also hear a small amount of concern.
“It’s nothing bad. At least, I don’t think so. I just didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing in case we aren’t alone.”
“Okay.”
“Patrick Donnelley invited me to have dinner with him and Mary on Saturday.”
