AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mortimer—”
“Coughlin or whatever. You’re visiting him.”
“Laughlin. And yeah. We’re getting coffee and catching up.”
“Queenie misses you.”
“I’ve only been gone for like two hours.”
“She says she wishes you cooked some breakfast.”
“She doesn’t eat breakfast. You’re projecting your own desires onto my cat.”
“Sometimes I wish you weren’t a therapist.”
“And sometimes I wish you’d grow up. Are we done?”
“Almost. One more thing. It’s Karaoke night at the bar. So you should really stop in, when you get back to town.”
“I don’t sing.”
“I’ve heard you sing. You once belted out Mariah Carey’s ‘Fantasy’ while wearing a pink tiara and using a fairy wand as your fake mic.”
“That was when I was too young to realize that I’m totally tone deaf. Plus, I remember that afternoon. Me and Carly were alone in her bedroom and you were spying on us.”
“I wasn’t spying, I was trying to get a frisbee off the roof and I happened to look through the window.”
“Yeah, well, that was a private moment.”
“I like tone deaf Gemma.”
“You might be the only one. I don’t want to break anyone’s ears.”
“Eh, they’ve heard it all. Annie usually does a few Broadway numbers, and there’s a guy named Frankie who likes to do his best with some country. You thinkyou’retone deaf, try listening to that guy. Starts at seven, goes until closing time.”
“I might not be—”
“See you there,” he says, before hanging up.
I slip my phone back into my purse and surprise myself by laughing quietly.
When I turn on my heel and head for the revolving doors again, I can’t even remember one word of the points I hope to get across to Mortimer.
Parker’s voice is still ringing in my ears as I make my way to one of the sleek chairs set around a stone table in the hotel’s massive lobby. I’m early, so I settle into one of the chairs.
To my right I can see through a wall of glass to a fancy looking restaurant. To my left there’s a row of shiny countertops, backed by a line-up of hotel employees poised at computers, ready to help guests.
After setting up my computer, I send Mortimer a quick text to let him know I’m here ahead of schedule. Then, when I don’t hear back, I call him.
No answer.
No big deal.
I know how busy he always is. He’s probably neck-deep in research today, getting ready for his upcoming speech and lectures. Sometimes when he gets really immersed in research, he loses track of time. I do the same, when I’m in the zone.
This lobby is a wonderful place to work. A hushed quiet extends from the floor to the vaulted ceilings. Luckily, I have plenty to keep me busy, so I don’t even stress about the fact that Mortimer isn’t calling me back.
Before I know it, I’ve downed two lattes from the restaurant and spent the entire afternoon ticking off most of the tasks I’d set myself for the next day. I rarely get this far ahead, and it’s exciting to think that maybe I have an actual day off on the horizon.
