Holiday Escort (14 page)

By then it was after nine, so I popped into the shower then dressed, making sure I would look nice for my lunch date. I got done and began making phone calls.

"Handyman Fred," he said on the second ring.

"Hello, Fred," I said. "It's Madeline Burnet. You helped me decorate a month ago."

"I remember, Madeline. What can I do for you?"

"It's time to take the lights down, and then I want to talk to you about redecorating."

"I'm busy this week," he said. "But I can come out any time next week."

"Monday morning?"

"How does nine sound?"

Next I called my favorite tango teacher. She and I talked for several minutes before I told her, "Candice, I met someone."

"Ooh, what is his name?"

"Karen."

"I didn't know you swung that way."

"Neither did I. Is it a problem for you?"

"Absolutely not. I'm happy for you."

We talked about Karen for a while before I said, "I was wondering if you would be willing to provide some private lessons at our home. I can pay you whatever is fair for making you come to us."

She loved the idea, especially when I explained about the ballroom. Then we talked about hosting small
milongas
here, and she said she'd love to be involved in that, too. We agreed on prices, and she would start coming every Wednesday at nine.

"I know that's kind of late," I told her.

"No, it's perfect. You know us tango dancers, we're up late."

We talked for a few more minutes before signing off.

After that, I called a local cooking school. Yes, they had classes during the day. While talking to the head of the school, she directed me to their web site. We spent several minutes talking about where I was now. In the end she said, "You're past our basic class. You could take any of our specialty classes. But you know, you might want to just start with the right magazine subscriptions and go from there. Then see how you feel." She gave me some suggestions, and I decided that was a good idea.

After that it was ten. I called Karen but was sent to voice mail.
Instead of leaving a message, I texted her.
"Lunch with my lover?"

She called me back ten minutes later while I was sitting in the living room, feeling somewhat overwhelmed about the decorations.

"Hey," I said warmly.

"Hello, you," she said. "I only have a minute between meetings. I'd love to see you for lunch, but it's complicated."

"We can make it a different day," I said a little sadly.

"This is a lot to ask, but I'd love you to come today. But I don't know what time to tell you. Would you be upset if you had to wait? Could you find something to do in my office? It might be some time before I could pull myself away."

"Would you like me to pack a picnic and we eat there?"

"That would be amazing. Come by around eleven thirty, but it might be after one before I'm free. Is that asking too much?"

"No, Karen." I made sure she could hear the smile in my voice. "I'll be there."

"
Gotta
go. Sorry." She hung up.

Just hearing her voice for a few minutes left me all gooey inside.

I poked through the kitchen and found plenty of things to turn into a picnic. There was no picnic basket, so I used a shopping bag and packed everything.

On the way, I stopped by a bookstore. I bought books and magazines on interior design and one of each of the cooking magazines they had. I drove downtown and parked under Karen's building. I brought the magazines upstairs with me.

It felt odd to be back in an office building. I hadn't been in one since meeting with Karen in late November, and it was now January. My life for the past month had been so far removed from this. I looked around and missed it.

The receptionist was expecting me. "You can head back. Do you know the way?" She pointed.

When I got to Karen's office, she wasn't there, but she had a new gatekeeper. She hadn't told me. "I'm Madeline," I said. "Here to see Karen."

"I don't have you on the schedule," she said.

"And you are?"

"I'm Liz, Karen's assistant."

"Pleased to meet you, Liz. I'll wait in Karen's office."

"No you won't!" she said, standing up and blocking the way. "The receptionist shouldn't have sent you back. We're not equipped for guests."

I looked her up and down and imagined what my reaction would be if a strange woman showed up and tried to barge into Marsha's office. I decided it wouldn't be a lot different from Liz's reaction. I smiled.

"Liz, I am Karen's live in girlfriend."

"She hasn't mentioned you and you're not on the schedule. You are not going into her office."

"I am glad to see she has someone so fierce protecting her interests," I said, smiling. "We're having lunch, but she asked me to wait, as her schedule is hectic. What do you suggest?"

"You can wait in the lobby."

"Why don't you grab one of the chairs from her office and I can sit over there," I said, pointing near the windows. "The view is lovely, and I brought things to do."

She wasn't sure about the plan, but then I saw Charlie. "Charlie!" I said. He looked at me for a moment then smiled and walked over.

"Oh, hello, Madeline. I think Karen is dealing with some crisis. Was she expecting you?"

"Yes," I said, "But she didn't tell Liz."

"Liz, Karen won't thank you if you piss off her girlfriend."

"Liz is doing her job," I said. "I just need somewhere to wait. Over by the windows looks nice."

"I'll get you a chair," Charlie said. He disappeared for a moment and came back with a chair for me. Liz continued to block the route to Karen's office and looked like she'd feel a lot better if I meekly went back to the lobby to wait. "Liz, I'll take responsibility," he told her. He pulled the chair over near the windows.

Liz didn't look happy. I was within listening distance if she were on the phone. I considered it. "You know, I can wait in the lobby. Thanks anyway, Charlie." I hugged him quickly and turned around, heading to the lobby. I arrived, told the receptionist I would wait here, and sent Karen a text.

"In lobby. Dragon lady wouldn't allow me to wait in your office." I opened one of the cooking magazines.

I got a reply later. "Sorry, forgot to tell her. Busy for at least an hour. Sorry."

I wrote back, "I love you."

I waited for two hours. I finished the cooking magazines I bought and started in on the design magazines. I finished them and decided I hadn't learned anything from them. I went back to the cooking magazines and started looking through the recipes, wondering what I wanted to try to make first.

Karen finally came to the lobby. "Madeline," she said. I looked up. She looked guilty. "I'm sorry."

I stood up. "Please don't feel guilty, Karen. I want an
iPad
."

She laughed. "
Guilting
presents out of me?"

"No. It would be all I need to bring next time I come and wait for you."

She helped me carry things to her office. We stopped by and talked to Liz. "Liz, this is Madeline," Karen said. "In the future, she is welcome to wait for me anywhere she wants, including my office."

"I didn't know," Liz said.

"And you did what I would have done," I inserted. Karen and I then stepped past Liz and into Karen's office. As soon as the door was closed, I pulled her into my arms.

The kiss was a little chaste, but it was still a nice kiss.

"I want to tell you something," I said.

"Oh
oh
."

"Sit."

She sat at the conference table where she had during our interview. I stood. "Lunch with you is worth the wait. Do you hear me?"

She smiled. "Yes. Thank you."

"I had magazines. I was going to read them anyway.
I want lunch with you often, once or twice a week, if you'll have me, even if I have to wait. Do you understand me?
"

"I love you," she said in response.

"Good." I caressed her cheek.

Then I sat down and began pulling food out of the shopping bag, showing her what I had. It was all leftovers from the caterers, but she seemed to appreciate the delivery service.

We flirted while we ate.

I wanted the
iPad
, but I didn't want to tap into my reserves to buy it, and I didn't have an income stream anymore. Karen hadn't told me to get one, and I wasn't sure if I should bring it up again. That bothered me and stayed at the back of my mind during the meal.

When we were done eating, Karen said, "There's someone I want you to meet." She got up, and I followed her to another corner office.

"Linda, is he free?" she asked the secretary sitting outside.

Linda looked at Karen and nodded. I followed her into the office.

"David," Karen said. "This is Madeline Burnet. Madeline, this is David Foster. David is the company president, my boss."

David and I shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Karen took my hand. David noticed it and smiled. "Oh, the woman Karen has been smiling about."

"I hope so," I told him.

"What do you do, Madeline?"

"I used to be a personal assistant."

"Used to be?"

"Marsha Henderson, my old boss, retired last year.

"Henderson Travel?"

"That's the one," I said.

"My wife was very disappointed when Marsha retired," David said. "But we have a trip in February booked through them."

"The President's trip? I think
it's
Sydney this year."

"Two weeks in Australia. If Marsha isn't running it, who is?"

"Well, for the last two years, I ran those trips.
Marsha was going to, but she got sick.
Now I imagine Caroline Henderson is running it. She's a good agent; it should be a good trip. I'll be interested in hearing what you think." I looked at him. "Is your wife Jenny?"

"Yes! I knew you were familiar. Madeline. That's such an unusual name that I should have recognized you. You showed us around Scotland two years ago."

"Oh, that was a lovely trip.
I'm sorry
Nessie
didn't make a showing.
"

He laughed. "I wasn't really counting on seeing
Nessie
." He paused. "You're not with Henderson Travel anymore?"

"No. There wasn't a good fit for me after Marsha retired."

"Where are you now then?"

I laid my head on Karen's shoulder and smiled.

"Housewife?" he asked.

I nodded.
"We're giving that a try."

He looked at Karen. "We didn't have anything for her?"

"She interviewed for my assistant, but she hasn't any legal experience.
That was how we met."

"Hmm. Well, if something opens up, I know how to reach you, Madeline. It was good to see you again."

"I'll be interested in hearing how you enjoy Sydney. It's one of the cities I haven't been to yet." I looked at Karen pointedly. "That and Buenos Aires."

I shook hands once more with David before Karen pulled me away. "I can't take you anywhere."

I laughed. "You love showing me off."

"Yes, I do," she said.

Then there was a sound behind us. "Madeline?"

I turned around. David was outside his office. "I wouldn't suppose you're the source of the
krumkake
that's been outside Karen's office?"

"I am."

"Did you bring any today?"

"No, I'm sorry. But I'm not above sucking up to Karen's boss by sending some in tomorrow."

He laughed. "Good. Karen, you'll go far in this company with this woman fattening me up."

"We're out of
krumkake
," she said on the way back to her office.

"Easily remedied. Find out what else he likes."

She kissed me once more then helped me pack up. "Thank you, Madeline. You've brightened my day."

* * *

We settled into new routines. Karen's schedule was still
topsy
turvy
, but she was far more likely to come home closer to six most nights. She frequently brought work home with her, but she was mine every night beginning at nine, if not sooner.

We had lunch twice a week, sometimes a
picnic,
sometimes she took me to a restaurant.
On days we were meeting for lunch, I would bake something fresh in the morning and bring it with me, which earned me friends in the office. The receptionist's name was Hillary, and she loved snicker doodles. "My mom and I used to make them." David loved everything. Liz was hard to bribe until I discovered she loved my flourless chocolate torte. Karen's other employees would eat anything I brought them.