I really liked Eric's secretary, Janeanne. She seemed to instinctively know that Eric and I were lovers -- without saying anything in this TOTALLY homophobic clinic. The honesty was appreciated, greatly appreciated.
I was at the clinic to pick Eric up. I'd checked with Janeanne and asked her to clear his schedule for the weekend -- told her I was surprising him with a much-needed vacation. She didn't bat an eye -- no questions like, "So, what're are you two doing?" Or, "How do you two manage to be such good friends AND roommates?"... A breath of fresh air this Janeanne.
"He's just finishing with a new patient, Andrew. If you want to wait in his office, it's okay."
"Nawww, this is fine... so how long you been workin' at the clinic, Janeanne?"
She told me it'd been a few years, since her divorce. Said she had wanted to be a graphic artist but she'd gotten married to what sounded like a major loser -- finally realized she should move on -- did -- and took this job, "to pay for my movie addiction."
I told her to call me if she wanted company at the next big movieopening -- and I meant it -- because I liked her right away. Eric buzzed her to say he was on his way upstairs. She looked at me and I gave her the sign not to tell him I was there. She winked.
"Uh, no Eric -- I haven't heard from Andrew... do you want me to put a call in?"
She winked again and told him she'd see him in a few minutes. I went into his office to wait.
I couldn't believe what I'd seen. Of course, no one's supposed to snoop and I remembered the lesson -- "be prepared for what you may find" but I wasn't. I wasn't prepared...
22.
22 messages.
22 messages from or to -- Mark Fitzgerald. Gee, I thought -- 'I had NO idea.'
"I had no idea you and Mark had that much to talk about, Eric." I decided to bring it right up, the moment he came into his office. Of course Eric chided me for looking at his desk -- but not too much because that would make it look like he was covering something...
"Are you covering something, Eric? Do you have a little crush on my ex?"
Eric froze, then laughed, then got angry, then defensive -- all in 1 SECOND. I had forgotten the power Mark had over men, over women too, for that matter. I had forgotten how easy Mark had swept me off my feet all those years ago and how he still could.
I felt sorry for Eric because maybe he was under his spell.
"A bit of advice, Eric -- stay away from Mark Fitzgerald. He's bigger than you think -- in every way."
Eric apologized for being so much in contact with him and said, "I didn't know it was a problem if we spoke without your knowledge."
"Problem? It's not a problem for me, Eric. But it'll be a problem for you, if you're not careful -- trust me. Now, let's drop Mark Fitzgerald and get the hell out of here."
Eric as utterly confused. "Darlin'," I said, "We're goin' to 'PS, I love you' right now!"
"Palm Springs? I -- I can't, Andrew -- I've got patients, and golf with Robert tomorrow."
I informed him I'd cleared his calendar till Monday morning -- I pushed him out the door -- got the thumbs up from Janeanne -- and we were gone.
