seat next to her and took Celia’s breath away. Damn. That stinks. Celia opened her bag and pulled out a tissue, which she then held under her nose. How about a no perfume area? Did anyone ever think of that? Cigarette smoke isn’t nearly this offensive. Said the smoker. She saw the humor in her idea.
Her office was neat and simply decorated. She was one of the lucky ones on the seventh floor who had the luxury of a window. A window that showcased a skyline view of larger buildings in the city. Prints from local street artists covered the dreadfully painted light-blue walls. A four-foot silk ficus tree stood by the door. Her old mahogany desk was large and took up half of the wall across from the window. She enjoyed people-watching on the pedestrian mall below.
Celia’s eyes focused on her monitor, and her fingers flew across the keyboard. She was engrossed in the database she was developing. Sadly, she was oblivious of the glorious day outside.
“Knock, knock. Am I interrupting anything?” Ramona moved her fist back and forth in the air, as she pretended to knock on the nonexistent door that led into Celia’s office.
“Oh, you startled me. You’re not interrupting anything. Come on in. I could use a break. I’m going blind from this computer screen.” She nodded her head toward the monitor. “What’s going on?”
Ramona stepped into her office and took a seat in the old black chair across from Celia’s desk. She immediately crossed her legs and rapidly shook her foot back and forth. Her dangling shoe appeared as if it would drop to the floor at any moment. Celia knew Ramona had something up her sleeve. She appeared anxious, which was different from her usual nondescript expression. Ramona was grinning, as if she held a secret she was about to share. She dressed fashionably, and her clothes were always perfectly pressed. Her almond-shaped brown eyes were encased by long, thick, dark eyelashes. Her highlighted hair, cut short above her neck, accentuated her chin, which appeared too large for her face.
“You busy tomorrow after work? Would you want to meet me for a drink or something?”
“I guess so.” Celia took a deep breath. She wished she could inhale the words back into her mouth. STOP! She had made a mistake when she answered too hastily. She hesitated. “Just you and me? No one else, right?” Celia waited. Ramona did not respond fast enough for Celia’s liking. “Ramona?” Celia said her friend’s name slowly and inquiringly. Ramona constantly pestered Celia to let her fix her up. This visit would prove no different.
“My brother Walter is coming in from New York, and I thought you might like to meet him. I think it could be fun. He’ll treat us and maybe we’ll even get dinner or something.”
“Ramona, I don’t know. I hate fix ups, and this has the definite feel of a fix up. Besides, he’s your brother. How could I ever look you in the eye if I sleep with him the first time we meet and then decide I hate him?”
“Ha ha. I know you’re little too uptight to even kiss a guy the first time you meet him, let alone get intimate.”
Ramona’s shoe dropped to the floor. “Listen. It’s not a fix up. I promised to do something with him and think it will be more fun for him, and for me, if you come out with us. He lives in New York City, so it’s not as if you can have a dating relationship with him anyway.”
“I guess you’re right.” She picked up a paper clip and tossed it onto Ramona’s lap.
“It’s drinks, maybe dinner. No big deal. Really. What else will you do?” She threw the paper clip back onto the desk blotter. “You never go out anymore. Do something different for a change. Come on. I’m begging you.” Ramona clasped her hands together in a pleading fashion and put them under her large chin as she raised her head high.
How could Celia refuse her?
Walter and Ramona were seated at a table when Celia arrived a few minutes before six o’clock. Ramona’s brother was handsome. He had the same almond-shaped dark eyes and long lashes that Ramona had. They were unquestionably brother and sister. He was much taller than his sister, and his physique more athletic, but the resemblance, including the large chin, was uncanny. He wore khaki slacks and a white collared button-down shirt. His sleeves were rolled up and exposed tanned, muscular forearms covered with shiny blond hairs. His smile was fabulous and produced a twinkle in his eyes, which were surrounded by fine character lines.
“Sorry I’m a little late. My computer froze, and I had to restart to make sure everything was working before I left.” Celia pulled out the empty chair conveniently left between Ramona and Walter. Walter stood and helped Celia as he slid her chair in toward the table. The appropriate introductions were made as they sat together in the crowded bar. Ramona, I’m surprised you never mentioned your handsome brother before. “How you guys doing?”
Neither sibling responded. Walter and Ramona blankly stared at Celia but didn’t answer her question. No one spoke. Except for the noises from other patrons, there was silence at their table. Celia expected one of them would say something. But no words were exchanged. Celia was uncomfortable with the quiet. After a few more speechless moments, she glared at Ramona. Are you going to respond? Are you going to say anything to help break the ice? Neither sibling spoke.
“When did you get to Boston, Walter?” Celia took the burden of conversation upon herself.
“Flew in last night around nine o’clock and popped over to Ramona’s place. Had a bite to eat and then hit the hay. Boop!” Walter made a fist as he punched his hand into the air.
Celia acknowledged his response with a grin. He simply answered the question and offered no further conversation. Ramona picked up her napkin, rolled it into a long tube, unrolled it and rolled it again. She presented nothing.
Did they have an argument or something on the way over? Within minutes of their get-together, Celia was sorry she had accepted Ramona’s invitation. “Where in New York do you live?”
“I live outside of New York City, in Bergen County, New Jersey. Boop.” He again popped his fist in the air and remained silent after his answer.
“Do you like living in New Jersey?” Wonder if this is how a talk show host feels when they have a boring guest?
“Yup, a lot. Boop!” He punched the air and stared at Celia, as he waited for the next question.
She watched his hand move up and down. “Do you have a long commute to get to the city?” Why am I asking this question? Am I really the only one conversing here? Can they not hear me? The lack of conversation, along with the absence of their server, annoyed her. She glanced around the room for someone to take their order. Her patience was wearing thin.
“Nope. I hop on the train and in less than half an hour, I’m there. Boop!” He punched his fist high into the air as he finished speaking.
She inquisitively turned to Ramona and then back to Walter. “I’m jealous. It seems so easy. I wish it took me a half an hour to get to work. Don’t you Ramona?” I guess I’m on my own here, right, Ramona? “I hate taking the T into Boston. First, I drive to the station, sit on the subway for what seems forever, and then I walk down here. Unless it’s raining or snowing; if that’s the case, then I switch trains two or three times, which is slower than walking, but at least I keep dry. You’re lucky you can get to your office that quickly.” That filled about forty-five seconds of conversation. Nice long sentences. Lots of information. What do you think, Boop Boy?
“I do have to walk a little way to my office, but it isn’t far. Maybe a block or two. Boop.” He again punched the air above his head.
Good job. Speaking without it being a direct response to a question. He freely offered up the fact that his commute included a walk to his office. I didn’t even ask about your travel by foot. Although Walter had become somewhat engaged in