Double Diamond

  **********

  Andrew hung up his office extension impatiently. Why wasn’t she answering her phone? Why won’t she return my calls? He walked around his massive cherry desk and paced restlessly, if soundlessly, across the burgundy carpet of his private office.

  He’d been trying to get hold of Casey since Saturday evening. There had been no time before that; work had kept him chained to his desk until well into the night and he’d been stuck in meetings all morning.

  The current president of the lawn and garden division had a near-fatal heart attack Friday morning. The company was in the middle of a huge merger, involving the purchase of a major competitor. It couldn’t wait. As he was being considered for the position anyway, they had cut short his vacation and called him in to help. It had been a madhouse all weekend as he worked to straighten everything out and assure all parties that the current president’s health would in no way effect the outcome of the merger.

  He ran a hand through his already tousled hair, he hadn’t slept in 24 hours, he was exhausted, stressed, and missed Casey like crazy. What the hell was he doing in his office on a Sunday, working on a job he was not in the least bit interested in? Things were going to get even crazier in the next few weeks. He had a lot of organizing to do to prepare for the move. If he could just get hold of Casey to explain…

  Angela had called him late last night on his cellular phone and given him a piece of her mind. He couldn’t believe his bad luck. For her to run into Casey before he could get to a phone had been something he would never have anticipated. Casey was such an independent person, well established with her own life. Would she look at his decision in a favorable light? He thought she would, but was not completely without doubt.

  The beeping of his phone interrupted his pacing. “Yes, Sonya?” He barked into the intercom at his personal assistant.

  “Your ten o’clock has arrived.” Even her calm voice irritated him today.

  Andrew sat down at his desk   “Tell him to wait.” He had something more important to do first. Picking up the phone, he dialed Casey’s home number once again. It was nearly eight o’clock in Vancouver. Where the hell was she? He drummed his fingers on the desk impatiently as the phone rang shrilly in his ear… eight, nine, ten…he was about to hang up in frustration when he heard a click and Casey’s sleepy words echoed down the line.

  “Hello…?” The pillows muffled Casey’s voice and her eyes were still closed as she picked up the receiver.

  “Casey? Is that you?”

  Andrew’s familiar voice hit her like a tidal wave. Her eyes popped open and she sprang upright in bed.

  “Andrew? Where are you? What’s going on?” Her still muddled brain couldn’t understand what was happening.

  “I’m in Chicago.” His voice sounded impatient. “Angela told me she met you at the bookstore and told you…”

  It all came flooding back, his leaving, and the new job. Casey cut him off. “Yes that’s right she did.” Her voice was cooler now: a protective instinct as she tried to cover up how hurt she had been.

  She heard him sigh, could picture him running one strong hand through his curly blond hair. She shut her eyes to banish the image.

  “Look I’m really sorry about just leaving like that. I had a plane to catch and couldn’t wait. I really wanted to tell you myself.”

  “I understand.” Casey’s voice was low. “It’s OK, really. I’m very happy for you and hope the new job goes well.”

  “It’ll take a while to make all the travel arrangements but…damn. Look, I don’t want to leave it like this but I’ve got to run, my ten o’clock appointment has been cooling his heels for too long as it is. I’m going to be really busy in the next few weeks; I’ll get hold of you as soon as I can…Take care of yourself, Casey.”

  “Yes, of course.” Her mind numb, Casey listened as the line went dead. So that was it. At least there hadn’t been any long drawn out goodbye. Casey slumped against the pillows and glanced at her alarm clock. She was going to be late for the last end of the year patroller meeting.

  With a humorless laugh, she slowly swung her legs out of bed. Funny, but it just didn’t seem to matter.