***Present***
Thursday marked a long-awaited reunion with my brother, Dale. Anticipation fluttered within me as I navigated my way through the bustling workplace, heading toward the reception desk to announce my arrival. With formalities complete, I embarked on the journey to Dale's office, each step akin to traversing the threshold of a cherished chapter.
A gentle rap of my knuckles against the door served as my prelude. As the door creaked open, revealing a slice of the scene within, a curious tableau met my eyes. Unbeknownst to me, my brother's office harbored an unexpected guest, a man whose presence I had not foreseen.
Intrigue swirled within me as I registered the two figures in the room. Dale, his face radiant with familiarity, occupied his usual space. The subtle lines etched by time and experience were softened by the genuine smile he reserved solely for moments like these. And then, there was the other man, an enigma whose identity danced just beyond the periphery of my knowledge.
It was a tableau frozen in time, the air thick with an unspoken narrative. The tendrils of conversation seemed to hang suspended as if awaiting my entrance to weave them back into motion. The room, imbued with a sense of anticipation, beckoned me to step deeper into its tapestry.
Yet, despite the surprise, a warmth enveloped the space. A connection, palpable even from the doorway, seemed to weave these two souls together. In their shared presence, a sense of camaraderie bloomed, punctuated by the familiarity of shared experiences and the promise of stories yet to be told.
As I stood poised at the threshold, a cascade of emotions swirled within me. Curiosity mingled with joy, and the tendrils of uncertainty were embraced by a deep-rooted sense of belonging. In that instant, I realized that this unexpected encounter was but a testament to the beautiful unpredictability of life, a reminder that even the most meticulously scripted narratives can give rise to moments of exquisite spontaneity.
"Hey there, beautiful," Dale greeted me.
I waved and smiled politely at both of them, a bit taken aback by the affectionate welcome. Perhaps he had picked up this level of warmth from his therapy or his girlfriend, or perhaps both. The other man gave me a once-over before excusing himself.
"Take a seat. I'll just be five minutes," Dale apologized.
"No rush. Take your time," I replied, remaining on my feet. "Actually, should I go find Josiah?"
"Nah, Craig is probably handling that right now," Dale smirked, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"Craig?" I inquired, settling into a chair. Before Dale could respond, the door swung open once again. It was Josiah, accompanied by the same guy from before.
Josiah's eyes widened when he saw me, and then he turned to the guy. "Craig, not a hot date! That's his sister!"
"Oh, my apologies. He mentioned a lunch date, didn't realize his sister looked like that," Craig exclaimed, raising his hands defensively.
"Yeah, this is my lunch date: my sister Katy. What do you mean 'looks like that'?" Dale chimed in, standing up and putting Craig on the spot. I concealed my grin.
Turning red, Craig stammered, and Josiah burst into laughter. I couldn't help but join in, and Dale smiled at both of us.
"Nothing! I should get back to work. Enjoy your lunch," Craig blurted out, flustered, before making a hasty exit.
"That was a bit mean," I remarked, shaking my head while maintaining a smile.
"That's what he gets. I'll be right back," Dale said, leaving the room as well.
"So… you two made up? That's why he was occupied on Saturday?" Josiah inquired.
"Yep. Thanks for facilitating that. I can't even be mad at you for not filling me in on what was going on with Dale," I responded.
"Hey, I tried. I came to California to knock some sense into you. It's not my fault you weren't listening," he shrugged, perching on the arm of a nearby chair.
"I would have listened if you'd told me Dale was about to go all Incredible Hulk at work!" I exclaimed.
Josiah chuckled. "That was quite something. Not Dale losing it, but the way he put Josh in his place? Hilarious."
Dale rejoined us in the office. "Ready whenever you two are."
"Just give me a second. I want to fill her in about Josh," Josiah interjected.
Dale shook his head. "Please don't."
"He had it coming," Josiah continued, ignoring Dale's plea. "He was a supervisor who couldn't be bothered to do his job or learn ours. Our projects suffered because of his unrealistic promises and deadlines. He blamed it on poor time management. And then Dale let him have it. He said everything everyone was thinking and had observed about him, but Dale had collected evidence for months. He laid it all out and told him he couldn't manage his way out of a paper bag, let alone a team." Josiah laughed.
"What happened to him?" I asked, stunned and impressed by Dale's assertiveness.
"He quit before he could be fired," Josiah informed me.
"Can we get going now?" Dale inquired.
"It was epic, Katy! I only wish I had recorded it," Josiah said, as we headed toward the parking lot.
"You know what sounds good? That Pop Dina place," Dale suggested.
Josiah made a face but kept his thoughts to himself.
"No objections?" I asked him.
"No, I'll tough it out. I know you two haven't been there in a while," Josiah sighed.
"We were there last weekend," Dale casually mentioned.
"What? No way, then. We're heading to Applebee's," Josiah declared.
At Applebee's, it was as if nothing had changed among us. The camaraderie was evident, even though the food was quite ordinary.
After lunch, I returned to work for my final appointment before heading home for the day.
"Hey, Katy," Roxanna told me as I entered the living room.
She was home unusually early, still dressed in her work attire, which indicated that she wasn't feeling unwell.
"Hey there. Back home early, huh?" I greeted her, joining her on the couch.
"Yeah, work was getting on my nerves today. I needed to escape," Roxanna sighed, stretching.
I grinned. "Well, I've got some good news for you," I announced, plopping down next to her.
"Let's hear it," she said, turning to face me.
"Caroline and I found an apartment. Our application got approved today," I revealed, my excitement evident.
Her expression remained somewhat indifferent. "Okay. That's nice."
"Wow, don't get too excited," I retorted, my patience wearing thin. While we had called a truce, her lackluster attitude was starting to grate on me. "I don't know why you think I can't handle Caroline. I manage you just fine."
She nodded and offered a sad smile. "Yes, you do. I'd be proud if it weren't directed against me."
This demeanor is more unsettling than her venting at me - that, at least, had become familiar. "What's happening, Roxanna? I thought you'd be thrilled to have your space back; you know, to have some intimate moments with your man again."
"Yeah, makeup sex is unbeatable. It's the constant arguing that's the issue," she sighed.
What?!?!?
"Explain…" I urged her.
"We were arguing all the time before you moved in. It felt like we skipped the honeymoon phase and just plunged into constant bickering."
This revelation caught me off guard. She hadn't mentioned a word about their problems while I was in California.
"That was just an adjustment phase. You two get along so well now!" I reassured her.
"Sure, because Leon genuinely enjoys having you around. You act as our buffer," Roxanna clarified.
I shook my head. "I don't think that's it. I'm a guest here. You both are on your best behavior around me. It simply indicates that you both need to treat each other better. Roxanna, I love you, but let's be honest, you're not the easiest person to coexist or harmonize with."
"I know. And I also know I'm not about to change."
I understood that. Her mother had raised her to be strong, and independent, and to never take any nonsense from anyone, particularly a man. Empathy, compromise, and understanding weren't high on Mama Clayton's list of priorities when it came to Roxanna, if they were even on the list at all.
"Roxanna, I'm not suggesting you should change. I love you. Clearly, Leon loves you too. He's gone through a lot to win you over. All I'm suggesting is toning it down a notch. Reel it in. Choose your battles. Stop being confrontational."
She smirked. "I can give it a shot."
"No 'trying,' Roxanna. Just do it. Ask yourself: do you want to prove a point, or do you want to find happiness?"
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Alright, Dr. Phil."
I grinned. "He's got that 'doctor' title for a reason."
A small smile finally appeared on her face. "I don't get it. We can compromise. Why can't I do that with Leon?"
I took a deep breath, deciding to lay my cards on the table. "Perhaps because we don't really compromise. I tend to cave or bury my feelings."
She winced. "Oh, god—"
"But that's not entirely your fault. I'll take my share of the blame for that. You teach people how to treat you, and that's another nugget of wisdom from Dr. Phil."
"Alright, fair enough. We'll both make an effort."
"Absolutely."
Following our heart-to-heart chat, we settled in to watch reruns of Roxanna's guilty pleasure, The Real Housewives. As we observed the extravagant parties, shade-throwing, and arguments among the women in their lavish lives, my mind drifted to my own relationship status. It reminded me that I would never attain the role of a housewife unless I stopped procrastinating and confronted Carter.
I retrieved my phone and composed a text message for him.
Me: Hey. Is it Shana's turn with CJ this weekend? If so, can we catch up? If you're available—I know it's Father's Day weekend.
Before I could second-guess myself, I pressed send.
Later that evening, I received a text from Carter.
Carter: Yes, it is. I'll be meeting them on Sunday afternoon. I'm free for brunch on Sunday morning.
Me: Yes, PLEASE.
Carter: How about Buttons in Addison? I'll let you know the exact time once I have a reservation.
Me: Sounds perfect!