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A whole day.
What would I even do with myself?
I straighten my back up and lift my arms to the sky for a stretch. Outside, evening is falling. I check my phone again while imagining what twenty-four hours off would feel like. Maybe I’d actually sleep in, for once.
That’d be a real luxury.
Or, maybe I could meet up with Mortimer again, and—
My thoughts of Mortimer abruptly halt as I catch sight of him, across the lobby. Designer suit. Receding hairline. Pointy, shined dress shoes. Gold watch. He turns back toward the elevator, and a petite woman steps out.
Her raven-black hair is cropped close to her head. Long earrings sweep across bare shoulders. She’s in a sleeveless, blue wrap dress.
The same woman I saw him with, at the Kendall Square Starbucks.
What is going on here?
Mortimer says something, and she laughs.
The two head across the lobby. When Mortimer spots me, his laughter dies. “Gemma! What are you doing here?”
“It’s Monday.”
His face screws up with confusion, then pales as awareness dawns. “Oh, wow. I am really sorry. IknewI had something I had to do today. It kept nagging me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. ”
“Don’t be sorry,” I choke out, as I scramble to collect my laptop, notebook, and empty latte cup.
I don’t want a visit with me to be something that he ‘has to’ do. Something that ‘nags’ him.
I thought he would be looking forward to this reunion—like I was.
Or, was I?
I just sat here in the lobby for hours and hours, and I don’t think I felt genuine excitement or giddy anticipation for even one minute.
My pen rolls to the floor. I stoop to grab it, and my notebook slides forward. I manage to gather it back into my arms before it falls, too.
Mortimer rushes to help. “Here, let me—”
“No. No! I can get it.” I stuff the pen into the side compartment of my bag. In my periphery, I see the petite, dark-haired woman hovering nearby, looking confused.
That makes two of us.
“It’s—It’s no problem—” I stammer, while I grab my coat off the back of the chair. “I was in the area anyway, like I said on the phone. Vermont’s so pretty this time of year. I felt like taking a drive. Hey, we’ll catch up another time or something.”
“No, wait. I feel bad about this. Why didn’t you call?”
“I did. I texted, too.”
“Shoot. I think I put my phone on silent” He pulls the device out and makes a big deal out of scrutinizing the screen, like the answer to this mess might be spelled out on it.
My vision’s blurring.
I think I have a fever, because my cheeks are flushed and burning. “I have to go.” I get those words out without crying, but I think if I tried to say more, tears might start shooting out of my eyes.
I am an idiot.
A total fool.
