After checking the refrigerator to see if she had left more, I pulled out a second plate, putting it close to the first. No reason for it to grow cold. I’d eat both of them soon enough. I went through my normal routine, stopping by the laundry room and undressing, then on to the bedroom to wash the day’s grime from my body. I stopped short when I saw a new box on my side of the bed. Based on size and shape, something I’d gotten very good at judging due to my employment, it was a cell phone.
I shook my head and grinned. My guy had to go big, hitting it hard right now, because there was no way he’d make it as a lower income individual. The box called to me like a siren, guiding me in that direction. A Sony Ericsson box. My ass hit the bedspread as I lifted the box, shimmying off the lid. Inside was a ridiculously nice gadget-filled cell with a full keyboard and camera lens along the back. There was no way this was a free-with-contract device.
The phone had some weight to it with a row of lenses along the back, a plastic flap covering them. What would I ever do with so much phone? Back inside the box, different compartments held earbuds, a charger, and an instruction pamphlet. A handwritten note fluttered from the folds. It held an easy-to-follow guide on how to start the device and what the different key combinations meant.
With a press of the power button, I started the phone and waited for it to begin. The charge was one hundred percent. Dash had thought of everything. Of course, he had, when didn’t he?
I tossed the phone aside and took a quick shower, letting my hair go wild, before grabbing my athletic shorts. The entire time, my thoughts remained on how much it cost. How long of a contract did he have to sign? Did it have the same video game options Dash’s phone had? I hoped it did. I’d enjoy that feature. Except the cell needed to go back. My old phone was good enough. It had a long life still to go.
As I pulled up my shorts, the musical ringtone startled the shit out of me. I’m ashamed to say it took a second to figure it out. My mind first went to a new fire alarm tone because Dash loved music. I feared for the tacos before my own life. Then, I was drawn to the bed on the second ring. I leaped there and answered on the third peal.
“Why did you get me this phone?” I asked in lieu of a standard greeting.
Dash’s immediate chuckle said everything I needed to hear. “I don’t know why, because you’re generally ungrateful for my efforts, and maybe that your old phone barely works. We’re going to need better communication while being apart like this.”
In theory, I agreed, but wasn’t willing to let my side of this argument go. “Then call me on the landline,” I suggested.
“No, it’s not my preferred way to communicate with you. I’d only have a few hours when you’re off at night.” The way he said those words made them sound reasonable and thoughtful, which they weren’t at all.
“Dash, this is too fancy and we’re on a budget.” I did my best to remind him gently.
“We’re in a better financial place now, and I miss you. I can’t believe how hard it was to leave you again. I think it’s easier if I just take a cab to the airport next time. I’m a big crybaby. Now say it back,” he explained. He had turned on the waterworks this morning when I dropped him off, but outside of that, I sensedthe positivity, relief, and happiness in his tone. The first day of school had to have started off great.
“You’re a big crybaby,” I repeated, staring at the ceiling tiles that always drew my attention. They were pretty and mind occupying while following their paths.
“Ha. You’re not very good with the jokes. You need to leave that to me. Now say it back,” he teased. I could hear the smile in his tone.
“I love you. Is that it? Do I add I miss you?” I said.
“No, you did real good. I’ve learned more about my father’s practices. What happened in Sea Springs is my father’s normal business habit. Every time he builds, the trajectory of his business dealings end with the community’s destruction. It’s only gotten worse over time.” It was hard to believe that Jack Richmond’s company could be meaner than what he did to my grandparents’ lives and livelihood.
I didn’t voice my thoughts aloud. It’d bring Dash’s happy mood too low. Best to let him sift through the ugliness on his own. “Hmm, that’s too bad.”
“Joy says my dad heard about UC Law and Carter’s help. His face turned bright red. I guess all this worked out for Carter.” Again, another loop into a conversation we didn’t need to have now, or ever again for that matter. “Let’s change the subject. I’ve decided to come home Friday night to finish my to do list and talk to Amelia’s family about her moving into the house. And I’m coming home because I miss you,” he added, sounding like an afterthought. I could almost hear the cogwheels turning inside his head. “Did you find out about a transfer with work?”
“No, I only put in the request on Friday,” I said. “It’ll take a minute.”
“Can you go to my desktop computer in my office?” he asked. “We can Skype. I wanna see you. This is truly a beautiful home. The city has so much to do. I think I may want to live hereforever, but the sparkle in my life is sitting at home in Dallas. I need you here with me.”
“Can I eat before we Skype?” I asked, stunned that those words left my lips. I liked my time with him too. “It’s just that Amelia made her tacos and tamales. They’re still warm, smell great, and look even better.”
“Oh, man, I’ll miss those things. We’ll have to request she make them when we come home to visit. It appears the only real flavoring they use here is butter,” Dash said with a chuckle. “Give me twenty minutes. I’m starving too, and I need to see what restaurants are around me. We can have dinner together. When we’re away from each other, I want us to keep our routines. Eat together, unwind from the day together, sleep with the phones on together. It’ll be what makes our separation bearable.”
“That sounds good. I need to put some clothes on and dry my hair…” I said, but he interrupted me.
“Don’t. I like you all natural and rugged,” Dash said. I guessed we were the same then. I liked him a little mussed-up, which he refused to be most of the time.
“Only if you do the same,” I said, knowing full well that was never going to happen. Dash gave a sudden bark of loud laughter as my answer.
“Twenty minutes. I’ll call you, or call me, I guess.” The humor was still in his voice. “I don’t want you to be lonely while I’m gone.”
“It feels like you’re here except I’ll go to bed earlier. Might actually get a full eight hours of sleep,” I said. Four-thirty in the morning came early when staying up late on the computer at his desk..
“Good. Can’t have you forgetting me while I’m gone,” Dash said, quietly, with meaning.
“You’re unforgettable,” I said to his tiny amount of insecurity. “Nineteen minutes now. Get moving.”
“On it,” he said and abruptly disconnected the call. I loved that silly man, and I was getting homemade tacos. I’d have the first plate gone by the time he called me back. Then the second plate would become my first, and we’d eat that together. Screw portion control.
