"Dreams" - Her Story: Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

         A knock at the door brought her thoughts away from the work before her. “Come in.” She called.

          “There’s an Adam Callo here to see you.” Her youngest daughter peeked around the door. “He says he’s your new assistant.”

          “Send him in.” She placed a note on the papers she was holding and then placed them in the box at her feet. She looked up to see her daughter had disappeared. “Caitlin?” She called to her youngest daughter.

          “Yea, Mom?” Her daughter pushed the door open.

          “Where’s your sister?” She stood and moved around the room looking for what she needed next.

          “Monica’s mom called and said Brandy is there. She said that Brandy is going to stay put and you’re not to worry.” Caitlin told her mother. “She wants you to call her when you have a minute.”

          “All right.” She sighed and shifted stacks of papers around.

          “Mr. Callo, you can come on in.” Caitlin smiled at him and closed the door behind him.

         Adam Callo stood just inside the door and watched her move around the room shifting piles and adding some to the already cluttered desk. She wore a pair of faded blue jeans and a purple t-shirt that had a picture of an angry kitten and said, ‘I don’t do mornings.’ He smiled with the memory of his wife wearing a similar one.

         She looked up long enough to catch sight of Adam Callo standing at the door with his hands in the pocket of his black dockers. He wore a light blue polo shirt that was open at the throat. She shifted her gaze to see his eyes were a chocolate brown and his hair was a sandy brown that was neat and trim against the nape of his neck. She looked again to see his gaze had refocused on her.

          “I’m Abigail but please call me Abbi.” She extended her free hand for a handshake.

         He took her hand in his and was surprised her grip was strong and warm. “All right.”

          “You are here to dig me out of this mess?” She moved to place the arm full of papers near her keyboard.

          “That’s what I’ve been told.” He smiled at her. “Now I’m glad I wore my knight’s armor because you are definitely a damsel in distress.”

         She turned and saw the laughter in his eyes and the smile on his face. “Well, if you’re my knight in armor come to rescue me then we should get to work or we both will need rescuing from Mr. Ledford.”

          “He’s just a lot of hot air.” He shrugged his shoulders.

          “So true.” She laughed as he puffed his cheeks and crossed his eyes. “You are not funny and we need to get to work or we will have Mr. Hot Air venting at us.”

         His shoulders dropped in mock disappointment and stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. “Take a man’s fun and you have nothing.” He attempted to sound like a petulant child.

         She laughed even harder at the sight he made. She couldn’t believe Mr. Ledford had sent her a joker. She stepped around him and lifted the top box up and pushed it into his arms.

          “All yours.” She laughed at the look of astonishment he had.

         He grabbed the box she shoved into his arms. “You mean I actually have to work?” He smiled with a look of hopefulness.

          “If you’re a good boy and get all your work done, I’ll include a cookie with lunch.” She laughed again as the eyebrows rose in hope of a treat.

         He set the box on the table after she made room for him to work. He listened carefully while she explained what she wanted done and how. Confident he would not need any more help; she sat down behind her desk. She flipped through the papers on her desk and chose the pile she needed.

         Working in silence the hours passed unnoticed by either of them. Adam had started on the second box and had started sorting on the floor between the coffee table and her desk.

          “Adam, on the file cabinet behind you.” She pointed and opened the drawer behind her. “Bring me the laptop. We are going to enter for a while.”

         She sat with him at the coffee table and explained how and what she wanted as she plugged the laptop into the network. She showed him the programs to use and explained how and exactly what she needed done.

          “I hear that you are being moved out of the office and working out of your home.” Adam asked as his fingers input the data she required.

          “Starting this week.” She explained Mr. Ledford’s offer and her acceptance because of her daughters.

          “I had been warned about you when I was hired.” He told her.

         Her fingers stilled when she looked at him. “Why is that?”

          “Well, I was told not to expect anything from Ledford himself or any of the bosses because they only request you. Very rarely is anyone else given a shot.” He explained what he was told.

         She smiled at what she took as a compliment. “And I have seen them fire people because of stupid mistakes.” She explained. “Usually I will work with some of the others and recommend the ones I think can do the work. Unfortunately, the gentleman I recommended for this was fired because of this mess.”

          “Didn’t you train him?” Adam asked.

          “I trained him. In fact, he did great until this.” She checked her watch. “Oh wow, it’s past dinner time.”

          “Now that you mention it, I could use something to eat.” He closed the laptop and placed the finished papers in the box beside him.

         She led him to the kitchen and made them sandwiches. She told him where the chips and snacks were in the pantry. Abigail pulled out a couple of cans of cola and set them on the tray beside the plate of sandwiches.

          “I’ll get the door.” She handed him the tray with their dinner. “Oh, wait a minute.” She opened the cookie jar on the counter and placed a large chocolate chip cookie on the tray. She opened the door to the patio and walked over to the patio furniture. She sat down on the patio chair as he put the tray down between them on the glass table.

         Eating as they discussed work and how they could make the work go a little faster. They polished off their sandwiches and the entire bag of chips. She watched as he picked up his cookie and broke it in two and offered her half.

          “I think we should call it quits for today.” She suggested. “We can pick it up early tomorrow morning.”

          “Only if you promise to have coffee ready and I’ll bring muffins.” He negotiated with her.

          “Make mine banana nut and your on.” Abigail smiled at him.

          “Deal.” Adam pushed his chair back and stood.

         They carried their dishes back into the house and Abigail busied herself with cleaning up the counter as Adam leaned against it. He watched her as she cleaned. He wondered why she was raising two teenage daughters alone. He wondered when he should’ve been leaving.

          “I am going to get going.” He pushed away from the counter and turned to leave. “I will be here about eight.”

          “That’s fine.” She watched him leave. She dried her hands and went back to her office when she heard the front door close behind him.

         Abigail sat down behind her desk and went back to work. There was no time for rest. No time for dreams. She would make time when the work was done. For now the cool metal resting against her chest carried the promise she would cherish forever.



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