Something Like This (Secrets) (4 page)

“What happens?”

“The world goes dark and no one knows why.”

“Literally goes dark as in no more sun?”

“Yes. And then they start coming out.”

I downed the last sip of my coffee. “Who does?”

“Creatures of all kinds. Zombies, vampires, witches, and more. They descend upon the earth and take control of everything.”

“Makes perfect sense,” I said.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Of course not. It really does make sense. That creatures would hide when the sun is out and wait for total darkness to come out. That’s when we humans are most vulnerable, so like I said, makes sense.”

He reached over the table and touched my hand.

I flinched.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...”

“It’s okay, I’m naturally jumpy.”

“It’s just that well, you get it. When I told my friends they laughed.”

“I think I have a creepy mind,” I said.

He lifted his cup. “Here’s to creepy minds.”

I raised my empty cup. “Here’s to creepy minds.”

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“About having lunch with me tomorrow?”

Damn it, there it is, heat on my cheeks. Yep, I’m completely blushing.

“Fine, yes, I’ll go to lunch with you.”

“Perfect. I’ll come by around noon to pick you up. Does that work?”

“Yes, okay.”

“Any restaurants that are off limits to you?”

“Let’s see, well, I don’t like Chinese food or Indian food or Italian or...hmm, what else?”

“Are you serious?”

“Nope. I’m messing with you. Anywhere we go will be fine, I’m sure. Now I really need to get back to work.”

He stood. “Yes, okay, we wouldn’t want to push it with my uncle.”

“Exactly.”

***

W
hen I got back to my desk, I was greeted with a new computer. And sitting right next to it was a tablet. I immediately knocked on Mr. Walker’s office door.

“Come in,” he said.

“I wanted to say thank you for the new computer and tablet.”

“Ah yes, they both came in today. But, I’m warning you, your new toys are today’s office gossip.”

“Pardon?”

“Not everyone got a new computer, let alone a tablet. My colleagues’ assistants are, well, let’s just say they’re a tiny bit jealous.”

The All Write Literary Agency was comprised of four literary agents, including Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker was the boss, though. He started the agency fifteen years ago. Anyway, each agent had an assistant.

“Will they be getting new computers and tablets?” I hoped his answer was yes.

“Yes, but not for a while.”

I hadn’t really had much interaction with the other assistants, other than a casual good morning or good night. Any chance I had of getting to know them better flew out Mr. Walker’s window. I was now officially the teacher’s pet.

“Don’t worry about them. They’ll get over it,” he said, obviously noticing my frown.

“Okay, well, I just wanted to say thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“Is it okay if I take my lunch at noon tomorrow?”

“Yes. Should I be concerned? You’re not interviewing somewhere else, are you?”

Smiling, I said, “No, of course not. I’m very happy here. I just got here.”

“Good. Now then, I may need your help sorting out some manuscripts later today. My reading pile seems to be getting bigger and if you’re up for it, I’d love your help reading through some of them. You can tell me what you think of them.”

“Really? I would love to help.”

“Great. Come by after lunch and we’ll get started.”

“Sounds good,” I said and then walked out.

I was overjoyed. Mr. Walker trusted me enough to let me read manuscripts. I fell into my chair and let a huge smile take over my face. I wished I could share the news with someone, someone who cared about me, someone for whom I cared.

I looked around at my surroundings. I couldn’t believe where I was. It was too good to be true. I was sitting in a comfortable chair with a new computer and tablet in a clean office environment working for a big literary agent who saw something in me, who hired me despite having no publishing experience, despite only having gone to community college for two years.

I picked up my cell phone and called my aunt Conchita in El Salvador.

“Hola,” she said.

“Tia Conchita?”

“Si, si, que pasa? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Jadie.”

“You never call me. Are you okay?”

A few times when I had been at my lowest and darkest points, I had almost dialed her phone number, but my shame had prevented me from going through with it. What was I going to tell her? That I had found my father and that he was homeless and I had run away from him?

“Jadie? Say something.”

“I’m having a good day today.”

“Bueno. That’s wonderful. Tell me about your day.”

I swallowed and held back tears. Hearing her voice reminded me that I still had family, that maybe I wasn’t alone in the world.

“My boss just gave me more work. I have more responsibility.”

“I see. That means you’re doing a good job.”

“I’m going to be reading manuscripts. He wants to know what I think about them.”

“What’s his name?”

“Mr. Walker.”

“Señor Walker sounds like a smart man. I’m proud of you.”

“Tia?”

“Si.”

“I miss you.”

If she had been standing in front of me, I would have thrown my arms around her and held on tight.

“I miss you, too,” she said.

“Tia?”

“Yes.”

“When will you visit again?”

She sighed. “Maybe soon, maybe not for a long time. I’m very busy at work. I don’t have enough money saved up for a visit.”

“Do you think you might be able to come in a month or two?” I didn’t care that she had just told me she didn’t have enough money. Hearing her voice made me want to cling to her.

“I’ll try. I’ll see what I can do,” she said.

“Really?” I wanted to jump through the phone.

“You’re my niece. You’re having a good day
today
. But, I sense you have more bad days than good.”

“I’m okay.”

“Being okay is not enough. I’ll call you when I know I’m coming.”

“I have a lot to tell you,” I said.

“We’ll talk over a café con leche, esta bien?”

“Yes, sounds perfect.”

“I’ll see you soon, then.”

“Okay, call me,” I said.

“I will.”

“Tia?”

“I’m still here.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re not alone. I may be far away, but you’re
not
alone,” she said.

“Tia?”

“Yes.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Tia?”

“Si.”

“I like lots of sugar in my café con leche.”

“I remember.”

“See you soon?”

“It’s a promise,” she said.

“Bye.”

“Adios.”

Peace overcame me. And even though I knew it was only temporary, I welcomed it. My aunt had told me what I wanted to hear, what I
needed
to hear, that she would come for a visit, but I understood she was only telling me that because she loved me.

“We thought we’d come over and say hi,” a voice said, jarring me from my thoughts.

Standing in front of me were two girls. I recognized them. They had passed me in the hall several times, but had never said a word to me.

“I’m Vicki, Ms. Jones’ assistant.

“And I’m Rose, Mr. Ace’s assistant.

I had never met Ms. Jones or Mr. Ace. The other agents in the office were a complete mystery to me.

“I’m Jadie.”

“We know,” Vicki said.

“Nice to meet you,” Rose said.

“We’ve passed each other in the hallway,” I said.

Vicki bit her lip. “We have?”

“Don’t be dumb,” Rose said.

I stood and put my hands on my hips. “Excuse me?”

“Not you,” Rose said. She then pointed to Vicki. “Her. She knows we’ve passed you in the hall. We’re embarrassed we never said hello.”

Vicki gave my new computer and tablet a stare down. “Do you and Mr. Walker know each other?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Rose folded her arms. “She means just that. Do you know each other?”

“He’s my boss,” I said.

Vicki leaned in as if she were about to reveal a secret. “Did you know each other
before
you started working here?”

I backed up. “No.”

“I see,” Rose said.

“See what?” I asked.

“You and him,” Rose said.

I sat in my chair and crossed my legs. “Still not seeing. What are you implying?”

“We asked our bosses about you. They told us you have zero publishing experience. And only two years of college,
community college.
”

“So?” I said.

“I worked at two other agencies before coming here. I also have an English degree from Columbia University,” Vicki said.

“And I worked at three other agencies before coming here. I graduated from American University, yet here you are,” Rose said.

“Aha, now I see. You don’t think I belong here. You don’t think I deserve to be here. You think that Mr. Walker and I...”

“We didn’t say that,” Vicki said.

“You implied it,” I said.

“We think we should get to know each other better. Maybe we should all go out to lunch one day?” Rose said.

I sat back in my chair. “Maybe, but not likely.”

“Why not? Does Mr. Walker keep you too busy?” Rose asked.

“Actually, yeah, I’m very busy. Thanks for stopping by. I’m sure we’ll see each other in the hall again.”

“We’ll make sure to say hello,” Vicki said.

“Great,” I said.

“Good,” Rose said.

They didn’t move. Stood there staring at me. I stared back.

All of maybe five feet, pixie haircut, and too thin, Rose placed her hand on her hip, then at her side, then at her hip again.

Thick eyebrows, and thick dark, wavy hair, Vicki sighed, then looked over her shoulder as if she was expecting someone to pounce on her.

“I have lots of work to do, so if you both don’t mind...,” I said.

“See you around,” Rose said.

“Yeah, see you around,” Vicki said.

I hoped that was going to be the last interaction I was going to have with Vicki and Rose, but something told me they were going to keep an eye on me. Me getting new tech toys had obviously ticked them off. They had pretty much come out and accused me of sleeping with Mr. Walker.

As much as they had irritated me, I was not about to let them ruin my day. If they felt threatened, that was their problem, their issue to deal with. Mr. Walker had hired me because...because...because, I had to admit that Vicki and Rose had now made me wonder just exactly why Mr. Walker hired me. Their intimidation had worked. I was now questioning my abilities.

I had an urge to walk into Mr. Walker’s office and flat out ask him why he hired me. I forced myself to stay put in my chair. That part was easy. Getting rid of the doubts Vicki and Rose had so easily instilled me, yeah, that wasn’t so easy.

Still, I decided to ignore them. As long as I didn’t let doubts cripple me, I’d be okay. Moments earlier, Aunt Conchita had said being okay wasn’t good enough. Maybe she was right, but okay was all I could strive for right now.

––––––––

T
he next day while I was reading a manuscript, Reece came to my mind. We had a lunch date today and I didn’t think I would be able to go through with it. It was 11:30 in the morning; he would be arriving in about thirty minutes. I panicked and put the manuscript down on my desk.

Quickly, I wrote a note for him:
Reece, something came up. I’m sorry, but I can’t make lunch.
I left the note on my desk and left.

I was a jerk, for sure.

I didn’t return back to my desk until 1:30; I spent the time sitting on a bench in a cathedral two blocks down from my office building. I’m not a religious person and to be honest, I’m not sure I believe in God, but as I walked by the church I had a sudden urge to enter. It was probably my guilt that drew me in.

I didn’t say a prayer, just sat there staring at a cross, my thoughts on my father.

That evening, after I left work, I rushed to see my father. I had to see him. I wanted to talk to him, to tell him who I was, to share with him everything that was going on in my life. If I could sit next to him, hold his hand and let him know I was his daughter. If I could forgive him...all would be well and I would begin to live a normal life.

He was propped against the wall, eyes closed. I stood, frozen in front of him, daring him to open his eyes and see me. Would he recognize me? I cleared my throat, loudly. His eyes remained closed. I moved in a little closer and cleared my throat again. He tilted his head to one side, but didn’t open his eyes.

I clapped my hands together. He opened his eyes. I didn’t move or make any other sounds. My eyes met his.

He was staring at me.

I started shaking and before he could figure out who I was, I took off running. I was a coward, brave enough to tempt reality, but not yet strong enough to face and conquer it.

My heart was beating so fast I thought I was going to collapse and die. Sweat beads trickled down my face as I flew down the sidewalk, not taking a second to see if any cars were coming when I crossed the street. When I made it to the other side, I took in a breath, bent forward and rested my hands on my knees.

I should have said something to my father, anything. I should have asked him if he knew who I was. I was too afraid to know the answer. His not recognizing me would have crushed me. It would have been worse than when I realized my father was never coming back, when I finally understood that he had abandoned me.

Someone’s hand touched my shoulder. Startled, I looked up.

It was Reece.

“Jadie, you okay?” he asked.

I stood up straight. “I’m fine. Just a little out of breath.”

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

“I’m late for dinner. One of my roommates is making dinner.” I lied.

“If you want, I can give you a ride. My car is parked right there.” He pointed to a black BMW.