John Tullos was disconcerted by the chain of events. For three weeks after the funeral he had been trying to reach Marilyn by voicemail and text. She never responded back to any of his entreaties. After the first week, John applied for compassion leave for Marilyn and made the application retroactive for the first week. He had left the ending date open for Marilyn’s return, but sooner or later, he would have to take this up with his superior.
Didn’t she know what a predicament she was putting him in? Why won’t she call me to let me know what is going on? John thought. Maybe, she’s clearing the way to be with me, he thought hopefully. Then came a knock on his door.
“John, can I come in?”
A tanned, rested, serene Marilyn glided into his office and sat across him from his desk.
“Marilyn!” he happily sputtered and he rose to go greet her with a hug and kiss.
Abruptly, Marilyn held up her hand to halt his progress. “No, John, there isn’t any need to say hello to me.” She warned him and indicated for him to sit down. “I just came in to give notice that I’m quitting, John. I realize this put you in a spot, but, I can’t help that. I’ll be willing to stay long enough to get my replacement up to speed, but after leaving you in the lurch, I figure you’ve got someone already doing my work.”
“What the hell, Marilyn? You walk in here after disappearing on me for three weeks and the first thing you do is quit? What about us, Marilyn? Have you forgotten what we meant to each other?”
“John, we were never meant to be. You were there for me when I needed an emotional anchor and I will always cherish you for that. But, I only have loved one man in my life and that is my husband. For me to try to go into a relationship with you would be dishonoring him and me and you, John. You deserve more out of a relationship, John than I can provide. You deserve someone that loves you and that isn’t me, John. Ray will always have my heart and soul and you would always come out second best, John.” Marilyn looked onto the hapless man with sympathy.
“I’m leaving because I don’t want to remind you of what might have been. I came too close to losing the only thing left that I cherish. Ray and I have a fresh start and I owe it to him to give it my best shot and I can’t do that here with you around. It would be too easy to renew our little talks and that would lead me into a trap that I’m not going to fall in.”
Marilyn stood up and extended her hand, “Goodbye, John.”
John desperately gripped her hand as though to will her to stay and said, “Marilyn, we can work this out!”
With that she ignored his comment and slipped her hand out of his and walked out the door, out of his life.
Across town, Ray calmly sat across the conference room with every partner in the law firm in attendance to give a healthy dose of discipline to the upstart associate that thought he could go missing for three weeks and not suffer any consequences.
As soon as the meeting was called to order, Ray transformed into the attorney that made him renown throughout the state. He refused to allow the tribunal to go on the offensive. Instead, he began leveling a number of grievances he had suffered through while in their employment. Then, he listed the clients he had brought to the firm. Then, he listed the existing clients that he tended to on a regular basis. It was soon apparent to everyone in the room that Ray held the winning cards and any talk of punishing him would have to be shelved for the sake of the firm.
But Ray wasn’t through. He demanded and received a commitment to partner status for himself and three other associates that did the bulk of the work in the office. By the time he left the conference room the handwriting was on the wall for the elderly leeches that had not contributed to the firm for years. Ray was already contemplating his move into Charles Fletcher’s office as Karen Ferguson rushed to him and squealed, “Congratulations, darling, I was so afraid you were going to be fired! Now, we can get started with our family!”
Ray sadly looked down at the excited beautiful secretary and said, “Karen, we have to talk.” And he slowly dislodged himself from her embrace.
*************************************
Have nine years already passed? Ray thought as he viewed the calamity erupting in his house. Colorful wrapping paper was flying in the air as the last gifts were being opened by the twins. Between the shrieks of joy from the discovery of the gifts and the bartering that had already initiated between his daughter and son he continued to watch contentedly.
Beside him was Marilyn as she slipped her hand into his and gave him a long kiss for her Christmas gift of the expensive emerald necklace.
“You spent way too much on me again, Ray. I’m going to have to make it up to you tonight.” Marilyn warned him as she rubbed up against him.
Yeah, Ray thought, like that will ever be a problem for me! He wondered what she had in store for him, but he already knew he would enjoy his late gift.