Celia was silent for a minute. “I guess you’re right.”
“What kind of stuff was he buying?”
“I have no idea. I had just taken out an entire end-cap display of trash thingies. I was thinking about how stupid I looked. I never thought to check out his purchases.”
“What do you mean, an entire display? You said you knocked over a few trash barrels.” Kate laughed. “You took out an entire end-cap. I knew it! I knew it wasn’t as simple as you tried to make it sound. You’re too funny.”
“Stop.” Celia was used to feeling this sort of embarrassment.
“You’re so klutzy, it’s comical. Are you still in the parking lot? See if there’s a Navigator in the lot. Maybe he bought that car he was looking at.” Kate found Celia’s mishaps, of which there were many, very amusing.
“You’re a genius. Why didn’t I think of that?” Celia turned to her right and then craned her neck to look behind her car. “I don’t see anything.” She continued to peruse the parking lot for his car.
“You could wait until he leaves the store, then you could see what car he goes into. Would this be considered stalking?” Kate didn’t expect a serious answer to the question.
“I don’t know. I think it is stalking. I’m going to Google stalking to see if I fit into the stalker category.”
“He probably lives somewhere around there.”
“I wonder if he does. I feel like a real jerk.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure it wasn’t that bad. Right?”
“Yeah, right.” Celia didn’t believe her own words.
Before going up the three flights to her apartment, she ran down to the basement, unlocked the padlock to her storage bin, pulled out her laundry detergent, ripped open the package of sheets and pillowcases, and threw them into the coin-operated washing machine. She fumbled into her pockets and found the correct change, fed the money into the coin slot, and tossed in the bath towels as well. She wanted the sheets as soft as possible when she climbed into bed and the towels fresh and fragrant for her morning shower.
The comforter made its way onto the bed, the pillows into their pillow shams, and the dish strainer and knickknacks were placed appropriately around the small apartment. She was excited and looked forward to getting into bed with her brand-new comfy cozy sheets, a book, and a lollipop—or cigarette if she couldn’t shake the image of the trash barrel incident at the Linen Closet. Decision made: her treat would be a lollipop. She didn’t want to lose the fresh scent of the cleaned linens.
We Have a Winner
“Lunch. Noon. I’ve got a funny story for you.” Emma barely stuck her head into Celia’s office to make her lunchtime announcement.
Celia was about to respond when she realized Emma was no longer at the doorway. She anticipated an entertaining lunch.
“I’m excited to tell you this story.” Emma sat down across from Celia. “It’s one for the books—literally.”
“Start chirping.” Celia took her sandwich from her lunch pouch and then poured out a bag of mixed nuts from a small plastic container.
“It’s probably not as good as I think, but it’s classic of how she lies to antagonize me. She fabricates stories that go on and on.”
“Since yesterday was Father’s Day, I’m going to guess you spent some time with Freddy and Edie?” Celia pushed the nuts to the center of the table.
Emma laughed. “Yes, I did.”
“Why’d you laugh?”
“It’s funny to hear you say ‘Edie,’ that’s all.” Emma placed the bowl of salad on a paper towel. “As you know, I’ve cut my visits down tremendously. I was foolish to think we would get a quality visit without her. When she’s going to be there, I need to prepare myself with a suit of armor.”
“Don’t you prepare yourself every visit?”
“Of course I do. A month ago, Freddy told us she was busy on Father’s Day and would not be there. When we turned onto Freddy’s street, she drove past us in the opposite direction. Fredric and I were happy that she was leaving. Five minutes later, she came back to spend the entire day with us. Not sure how her plans changed so quickly. Fredric once told me she doesn’t stay if I’m not there. Obvious or what?” Emma took a Jillian-inspired deep breath.
“Yeah, I’d say it’s obvious.”
“She parked right next to Fredric’s car and went into Freddy’s apartment as soon as she arrived.” Emma shook her head as she recalled the event. “The plan for the day was a cookout with some of Freddy’s friends in the afternoon and then the three of us were going out to dinner.”
“By three of you, you mean you, Fredric, and Freddy?” Celia picked up a few nuts and popped them in her mouth.
“Exactly. She wasn’t in the plan. She wasn’t supposed to be there. Instead of going into the house, we hung out with Freddy in the garage—while he fixed his bicycle. Within two minutes, she was standing right next to me. My jaw tensed up, but I tried to remain relaxed. Her other kid was with the husband.”
Celia had taken a bite from her sandwich and appeared as if she were about to choke. “What other kid?”
“Her little girl.”
“Emma?” Celia said in a singsong tone. “What are you talking about?”
“Geez! Did I forget to tell you about her daughter? I think she’s in third or fourth grade. She spent the weekend in Maine with her dad and the grandparents.”
“Aren’t you full of surprises?” Celia’s eyes were opened wide. “That’s a big age gap between Freddy and the daughter.”
“I guess she had a hard time getting pregnant this time.”
“Go on.” Celia listened intently.
“She walked up to me and stood so close we nearly touched elbows. I can’t even tell you how uncomfortable I was to have her breathe down my neck. Then the guys needed a chain or something and were going to go to the bike shop.”
“What did you do? Were you stuck alone with her?”
“I whispered to Fredric that I planned to take a walk. She listens intently to every word I say. I don’t know how she heard me, but in a second, she invited herself on my walk. I told her I was taking the walk to avoid spending time alone with her.”
“Get out! Did you really say that?”
“No, but I desperately wanted to. I didn’t need to go for a walk if she was going to join me. The entire purpose of the walk was to get away from her. She didn’t ask—she told me she would come with me. As if we’re friends. I stayed civil. She wasn’t nasty or insulting. Not THIS time.” Emma took a bite of her lunch and a sip of her drink.
“Emma, I don’t know why you try to be civil. She doesn’t.” Celia put a few more nuts in the palm of her hand. “I’m dying to hear what happened this time.”
“I honestly can’t remember how everything transpired, but here’s what happened.”
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