"Well, are you talking to me?" asked the Operator.
"Yeah."
"Then it's working, isn't it?" She disconnected me. It was five o'clock and that was the third time I checked.
Maybe Thea was still in L'Atrice's office-- confronting her for me. Or rather, talking to her to get to the truth. Or, she hasn't called because she waited until the end of the day when it was quieter. Or...
Relax, Fran. Geez, you're "or-ing" yourself to death.
I realized I needed to relax and that I'd find out soon enough.
I sat on the couch and waited for Thea to call. I couldn't read, I couldn't eat, and I couldn't watch the TV.
The silence was deafening.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, I called the office. "She left, about an hour ago," blared our receptionist. I called her house, no answer. I felt like a fool.
I tried stopping my knee which was bouncing up and down in nervous energy. I crossed to the kitchen and opened the pantry cabinet. I looked through the various holiday bottles of unopened wine collecting dust until I saw the magic liquid that just might help.
Tequila. I slapped it down the back of my throat and waited for its effect. Nothing.
I was about to do another shot when there was a knock at the door. Peering behind a grocery bag clutched to her chest-- was the smiling face of Thea.
"Hi," she chirped and came inside.
"Why didn't you call me?" I asked.
Thea didn't stop moving as she pulled the makings for pasta and red sauce out of the grocery bag.
"Hon, I wanted you to rest."
She could see I needed more than just a pithy response.
"Look Fran, I think you should take the night off from worrying about it. I just want you to eat my fabulous dinner and chill."
"What about L'Atrice? My design?"
"Let's talk about it tomorrow. For now, let me wait on you." She pulled out a dark red bottle of wine, displaying it in her hands.
"Are they going to fire me?"
"No! What are you talking about? You are way out of control." She twirled the screw in the cork and tugged it out, poured the wine, and handed me my glass with a flirtatious grin.
"Who would fire the sexiest chick at the company?"
She was right. I didn't want to talk about work anymore.
