I wondered if he’d passed his course.
Settled in his job.
Moved on with someone else.
For all my plans to leave him behind, now a year had passed and all I could think was - had I made a mistake? I asked God for a sign and carried on with my life.
My boss was cursing about our computer systems.
“There has got to be a better way of doing this, Meredith. There has gotta be.”
I looked up at him. “I knew someone whose family looked at systems for a living. Maybe you could give them a call?”
“Find me their number, would you? This needs sorting and fast. Time is money.”
As I tried to Google Garrett’s family business, I hid a wry smile. The pace of life here was so different from New York. My boss, Jack, would have had a heart attack working in the city.
I passed my boss the number and let fate decide if they could help Jack and if they could, who would come to look at our systems.
Garrett
“I don’t want to travel to Rhode Island. Tonight I have a hot date.” I told my dad.
“Cancel it, family comes first, son.” He quipped.
“This is business, not family.” I protested.
“It is a family business.” Dad retorted.
I’d been working here for a few months now and my dad liked to send me on any jobs where there was a little more travel involved. He said I needed to expand my horizons. He didn’t condone my one night only behavior with women and it had become a bone of contention, with him pulling me to one side last week and telling me I had been raised better than that and to look for a lady I might settle with a while.
I didn’t tell him I had done that. I had found the woman for me.
That she had left me, broken for anyone else.
I couldn’t do relationships. My heart still belonged to her, and I was scared it would do until it no longer beat.
I went home and packed a duffle bag with some belongings in case I had to stay over to get the job done and then I said goodbye to my pops and took to the road.
It was only approximately one hour and a quarters drive from Boston to Rhode Island and if I got the job done quick I could get back for my date with a blonde chick I had chatted up in a diner the day before.
I arrived, found somewhere to take a leak and grab some lunch, and then I made my way over to the Accountants. I hated wearing a suit, but that was how my father insisted I dress, with me looking the part. Loosening my tie I walked towards the door, knocking and then walking inside.
I heard a gasp followed by the words. “Hello, Garrett.”
My eyes fixed on the owner of a voice I would know anywhere. It haunted my dreams.
“Meredith. What the fuck is going on?”
Meredith
I spotted him walking
towards the doorway. They had told Jack to expect Mr. Garrett James by midday and here he was at 11:39 am. I had never seen him in a suit. He looked oh so handsome, but so awkward. I had watched as he had pulled at his shirt collar as if it were strangling that corded, thick neck. He had always looked mature for his age but in his suit, he looked every bit the mature businessman. I wanted to throw myself at his feet and beg for forgiveness but I couldn’t. Not right now at least. He was here to do a job.
“Meredith. What the fuck is going on?”
His steely blue gaze landed on me.