A Life More Complete(110)
I won’t say anything to him when he comes home tonight. Confrontation is hard. Going into this I know I have every right to question his whereabouts, yet during the course of this hypothetical argument I’m having in my head I begin to question my reasoning. Just thinking about it makes me anxious and I silently tap my fingers. This is what he does to me in a way that no one else can.
“Why are you doing this to yourself?” she asks sounding irritated which is justified. “Just leave him already. It’s obvious you’re going to be doing this alone even if you are still married. If you’re worried about the money he can’t get out of that part regardless. Child support. Divorce him and then sue his ass for the thirty percent you’re allowed by state law. Can you imagine what thirty percent of his salary is? You’d probably be able to live on just that. I know I could if I were as cheap as you are.”
“I’m not cheap. I’m frugal. Not everyone needs sixty pairs of thousand dollar shoes. Not that I’m complaining about your spending habits. The hand me downs are awesome.”
“Sixty pairs? You’re underestimating. It’s more like six hundred. I’m trying to cut back. Maybe you could give me some tips?” she jokes. Her office phone rings and she raises her perfectly sculpted eyebrows in response. “Strange, that sucker never rings. You’re standing here, so I know it’s not you.” I shrug my shoulders in response as she answers. “Melinda Roberts,” she says in her sweetest tone. “Oh, hey Noah.” Her eyes widen in surprise and her mouth drops open a little. I blow her a quick kiss and back out of her office closing the door behind me.
I scroll through my emails and send a few quick responses as Ellie walks into my office.
“Kristin,” she says in her authoritative tone.
“Yeah, Ellie,” I respond back without turning from my computer screen. Even Ellie and all her bossiness will not ruin my high.
“I need the minutes from the production and advertising meeting this morning. Please use the outline format that was sent in the high importance email last week. You know which one that is, correct?”
“Yes, Ellie.” As much as Ellie had softened toward me she could still be incredibly annoying.
“I wasn’t sure since it seemed to have slipped your mind to respond as requested. Whatever. Just make sure they’re on my desk by the end of the day. I need three copies and email me the file, too.”
“Sure, no problem.” Sometimes it’s easier to just go along with her routine of bitchy, demanding boss than it is to argue with her over the tone she uses.
Just as she is stepping out of my office she says, “Oh yeah, I’m leaving at three today, so don’t think you can come running in at five and drop them on my desk.”
“You’re leaving at three?” The tone in my voice is a little too obvious. I’m shocked. “Yes. That’s what I said. Don’t sound so appalled.”
“You never leave early. Anything going on?” I ask trying not to sound like I’m snooping, but that’s exactly what I’m doing. Gossip on Ellie is like finding a Bigfoot in the mountains of Montana.
“How would you know what I do? Do you track my every move?” She is far too crabby to press the issue.
“Don’t be mean Ellie, I was just curious.”
She calms slightly, “Meeting with a client. Just trying to keep a story from blowing up. Really nothing exciting.”
“You want some help? I’ve got nothing going on.”
“No. Just want those minutes and the longer I stand here talking to you the less likely you will get them done. And really, if I know you, you won’t start working on them until two thirty because you’ll have been too busy playing FarmVille or talking to Bob or eating red velvet cupcakes or my personal favorite, posting Facebook statuses about your,” she pauses and uses her fingers to quote the last part, “‘sucky ass’ job.”
I close my eyes and pray that she leaves my office now. I’m that transparent and now I know she likes me because I should have been canned for my references to my “sucky ass” job that now have a digital footprint.
“Just a reminder, it’s a work issued computer. I’m like the Wizard of Oz. All knowing.” I watch her leave my office, her red ponytail swishing along as she walks.
“Sorry,” I yell.
“No you’re not,” she yells back. True, totally true.