“That’s not true, lover. I’ll show you how much on Saturday after he leaves for work! He’s due to tromp down the stairs expecting me to have his breakfast ready, just keep thinking Saturday” Then she hung up. “Honey, you’re going to be late so hurry it up” she yelled up the stairs.
I shook myself awake, then I put down the receiver in my hand slowly. Then hardly noticing it, I finished getting dressed and went downstairs, she put two eggs and two slices of bread along with a couple of pre-cooked sausage links on a plate setting it in front of my chair then she poured some coffee into a mug and set it beside the plate.
“I’m not hungry anymore, thanks” I picked up my briefcase and started for the door.
“What about my kiss, baby?” she had a confused look on her face.
I opened the front door as she came hustling around the table towards the door, Just as she got there and pursed her lips, “I’m running late” I said and pulled the door closed. Don’t ask me how, but I got into the car and a second later, I was pulling into my parking spot at work. I saw Jerry he was holding his hand up to the phone so no one could hear. He kept looking at me, he had the look of someone trying to figure out a problem.
Around 11 am, Jerry came into my office, “How’s it going, Dale? you look like you have something on your mind, anything I can do for you, Buddy?”
I got up from my chair and walked right past him, then I headed through the door of my office, “I’m working, I have to check on a few things” I just left him standing there. I found our processing manager, “Hey Reggie, your son-in-law still a PI?”
“Yeah, he’s still working at it, hopes he’ll get a solid case so he can play in the big leagues” He looked me in the face, “You look like you want some help with a problem, Dale,” He wrote down his address, “I’ll give him a call and let him know you’re coming, anything else?”
“No, my friend, just getting my ducks in their proper rows if I need them. I leaned in closer, keep your head down when it gets nasty here” I gave him a pat on the shoulder, then walked away.
Reggie and I had known each other since the 7th grade. He knew something was going to happen here, and it was going to be big. He knew I never did anything half-assed.
I walked back up to my office and grabbed my jacket. I told my secretary that I might be a bit late coming back from lunch. “You never take a long lunch, you always come back 10 minutes early. So spill the beans, Dale, you know I care about you, heck, I always had your back”
“Lisa now isn’t the time to talk, but can I give you two things to think about. First, how much do you value your job here? The second is, do you have the courage to walk out of here with just your own, with just your confidence that you will find one shortly after walking out?” I leaned in close, “There’s a shit-storm coming, and I worry that you might be found ‘guilty by association’ I’ve got your back as well. Think about it and then give me your answer by the end of the day, ok?” I walked out for lunch knowing she was giving me a thoughtful stare.
First I drove to the bank and got everything ready to go, It helped that Skylar had a son who I had also helped out as well and we became very close friends.
I went to a lawyer who was recommended by a friend for the divorce. I spent a half hour there first telling him what I wanted to be done, which took ten minutes
The other 20 minutes were giving him tips on how to brew better beer. He had pictures of him brewing, all over his office wall.
The last thing I did was to stop by HR so I could give them my new account info how much to send my investment counselor and how my 401K was going to be divided up and sent to the right places I had indicated.
After all that was taken care of, I ran across the street and ordered two sandwiches with fries and a couple of sodas. then I took the elevator up to my office. As I walked up to Lisa, “One ham and cheese with extra mayo and fries” Then I pulled a can of her favorite soda out of my jacket pocket, “I would let that settle down a minute before opening it” Then I went into my office and got ready to eat my roast beef sandwich with extra horsey sauce and extra cheese, I had a side cup of mayo to dip my fries in.
Jerry came into my office and focused on a handful of paperwork. Rattling off what he wanted me to do to fix a screw-up, probably his making, and then he looked up at me, “What are you doing?”
“Eating my lunch if you want to know” I mumbled with a mouth full of food.
“Eating your lunch?” He asked.
“Yes, it’s the meal in between breakfast and dinner, I thought everybody had a leg up knowing that. Well, it won’t be the last time I was proven wrong” Then I took another bite. I saw Lisa walking toward the doorway of my office, then put her hand over her mouth trying to stifle her laughing, and turned back to her desk.
“I need you to drive to Eldonde, they have a chemical spill and the board wants our best man on the clean-up crew. You are going to have to leave Friday night and you should be back by early Tuesday evening. They’ve already set you up with a place to sleep, and keep your receipts for your meals so the company can reimburse you.” He spits the bullshit rather well now.
“Fine by me, bud!” I stood and grabbed my jacket.
“Where are you going? You still have to set up the event for the government. I’ll ask Fred to do the demo” He started to raise his voice.
“Then have Fred set it up, I have to get ready to take off” I wrapped up the other half of my sandwich, “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine, you’ll be there with him, RIGHT?
Jerry’s eyes narrowed enough that I could tell. “Chill out old man, you should remember enough chemistry from freshman year in high school to do it and make it look good. Remember, if you can’t befuddle them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit!” I gave his back a few slaps like you would give a small child. “You got all you need to fertilize their brains!” I walked out of the office and down the hall. When I passed Lisa at her desk, stuck my tongue out. Then proceeded to walk out of the building.
I got into my car laughing so hard, I had to fight for breath. It wouldn’t have looked good with me rolling in the parking lot doing it. After I pulled out of the lot, I stopped until I could get my laughing under control. After I took a few deep breaths I pulled the ace out of my sleeve. I pulled up my contacts and found the number I needed, then pressed the call button.
“Mrs. Adler? My name is Dale Farmer, Remember me? I saved your chiffon dress by getting that chocolate stain out at the Christmas Party. ”
“Why yes Dale, I remember you. I called you Mr. Science the rest of the night. Thank you again for that, I wore the same dress at our niece’s wedding a month later and it still looked excellent. So what can I do for you, my boy? are you calling me to call your marker in while my husband is still at work? Then she laughed that stunning laugh she had. I knew she was joking, both she and her husband like to banter back and forth like that.