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There was no way she was traveling down the rabbit hole of a relationship ever again, because it hurt too much to lose someone. It was painful enough to realize that your partner couldn’t talk to you, couldn’t trust you enough to open up, couldn’t lean on you to help them through their addiction… and she would never admit to anyone how much it hurt, nor the betrayal that left a sting in her soul.
Hitting reply, she began to type and hesitated, because this was opening up to a perfect stranger. He needed to either go away – or…
What?
What do you want June?
Cracking her knuckles, she buckled down and launched into a reply.
Dear Ian,
See? I left off the Mr. Selkirk – and will never ever address you as ‘Daddy’.
Perhaps you are right, and you do need to know a little more about me – if we are to continue to write each other… or decide to finally buzz off? I never intended for a pen pal, but laughed at a few spots in your last email, definitely starting my day out with a smile.
Congratulations. You’ve done something most haven’t been able to since my husband died. My husband passed away from a drug overdose at the age of twenty-seven… and I never saw it coming. There were no signs, no indication that he was using; either that, or I was too stupid to notice.
You keep implying a date to a basketball game, referring to what’s in your pants, and commenting about how irresistible you are?
COMPLETE TURN OFF, BUDDY.
I’m not looking for a relationship – nor are you my type. I don’t go for the brash, arrogant, egotistical men who think women are just standing around waiting to fawn all over them. If we’re going to write each other, it has to be with the understanding that whatever is said, is between two FRIENDS – that’s it.
I’m a very busy woman who doesn’t have time to indulge in romantic fantasies. I’m a real estate agent, read entirely too much, like to crochet during my down time, and really a very boring person deep down inside.
I do not have a wild streak in me – and sushi is about as crazy as my food choices get… and my selection of ‘crazy or egotistical’ men is zilch.
Zilch – get it?
Try to cool your ardor, pen pal. I’m not your girl.
June
P.S. You do NOT have a shy bone in your body.
Clicking send, she looked up as a delivery driver walked into the office – carrying a massive bouquet of long-stemmed, pale-pink roses. There had to be two dozen there, and half of them were still curled into tight buds.
June looked over to see Amanda preening and fought the urge to roll her eyes. The woman was newly married, and the couple was sickeningly sweet, making kissy noises on the phone and whispering cutesy comments when they thought no one could hear them.
Going back to her search, she looked up as a shadow blocked the sunlight streaming in on her desk… only to come face-to-face with the bouquet and Donna’s stunned expression.
“Yes?” June said bluntly, not moving.
“This is for you.”
“That’s not even funny, Donna.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Are they from a client?” June asked as the other woman set down the massive cluster and smelled them.
“They’re not really perfumed much, but it’s awfully lovely just the same.”
“Can you double check the card?” Amanda said sweetly from her desk. “Just to be sure?”
June plucked the card out of the bouquet and opened it, swallowing hard as she stared in disbelief.
Thank you for giving me something to look forward to. I needed it ~ Ian.
