Two by Two

  When I laughed, she went on. "So what's next? How does it work in your world?"

  "I'll get a contract to him tomorrow and as soon as he signs it, I'll get to work. There's scouting, scheduling, getting permits, and working with my tech guy on the website. Camera and sound crews to call, agencies, rehearsals... filming is always a major production."

  "Can you do all that while you're watching London?"

  I hadn't even begun to think about it, but replied, "I'm going to have to. But we're trying to find the right day care."

  "I know. London told me at lunch. She doesn't want to go. She said that it was pointless since she was starting school soon anyway."

  Pointless? That sounded more like Vivian's word than my daughter's. "She said that?"

  "It amazed me, too. But then again, she seems a lot more mature than Bodhi."

  I took a long pull from the glass, wondering what else Vivian had said to London about day care. "Other than that, London was okay?"

  "She was perfect. Your daughter is very sweet. She loves Noodle, by the way. She wants to bring her home. I told her that I'd have to ask you."

  "We're good with the hamsters." I held up a hand. "I couldn't handle a dog in addition to everything else going on. I'm thinking of giving up sleep for a while."

  She smiled, looking almost wistful. "London mentioned that you taught her to ride a bike."

  "I did."

  "I keep wanting to do that for Bodhi, but I'm afraid I won't be able to keep him from falling over. I think I'll need to hit the gym first and develop some upper-body strength. In all my spare time, I mean."

  "Kids are definitely time consuming."

  "I know," she said. "But I wouldn't change it for the world."

  She was exactly right, I thought, finishing my glass.

  "Thanks for this. I'd hate to take any more of your time and we really should go."

  "I'm glad London came over. I got to know Bodhi's best friend a little better."

  I rose from the table, grabbed the hamster cage, and followed Emily to the door. When I called for London, she and Bodhi trotted down the steps, followed by a small poodle.

  "Noodle the poodle?" I asked.

  "Bodhi named him," she said.

  "I'm ready," London announced. "Noodle is sooooooo cute, isn't he, Daddy? Can we go to the pet store? I want to see if they have a dog like Noodle."

  "Not today," I said. "Unfortunately, Daddy's got some work to do. Say goodbye to Miss Emily, okay?"

  She gave Emily a hug. My daughter would voluntarily hug anyone; I'd seen her hug the mailman and old women at the park. She also hugged Bodhi, and as we made our way to the car, I felt her slip her hand into mine.

  "Miss Emily is really nice. She let me have marshmallow fluff on my peanut butter sandwich."

  "That sounds tasty. And I'm glad you had fun."

  "I did. Can Bodhi come over to my house next time?"

  I wondered how Vivian would feel about that.

  "Please?"

  "We'll have to make sure it's okay with his mom, okay?"

  "Okay. And you know what?"

  "What?"

  "Thanks for bringing me over. I love you, Daddy."

  Vivian's edginess was still evident when she got home from work, at least when it came to me, but by then, I can't say it caught me off guard. It wasn't until later that evening, as I sat beside her on the couch that I finally saw the flicker of a smile. It vanished as quickly as it had come, but I'd known her long enough to understand that the cold shoulder was probably more like the produce drawer in the fridge as opposed to the freezer.

  "I've got good news," I said.

  "Yeah?"

  "I got my first client today. I'll be dropping off the contract tomorrow."

  "With that lawyer you were telling me about?"

  "That's the one. I know you weren't too keen on the idea that I'd be working with attorneys, but I'm excited about it. We'll be shooting four different commercials and there's a lot of other media, too."

  "Congratulations," she said. "When does all this start?"

  "As soon as he signs. I have a guy who'll start the website and Internet stuff right away, but before we can film, there's a lot of preliminary work. We probably won't do any filming until the end of August."

  "That's perfect," she said.

  "Why's it perfect?"

  "Because London will be in school then."

  "And?"

  "And I called the day cares again today and I don't think it's going to work out. My top two choices," she said, mentioning their names, "won't have any openings until school starts. And the third option, which might be able to start her earlier won't know for sure until next week. And after that, the intake process requires at least a couple of weeks, before she can actually attend. By then, we're coming up on the middle of August, but it also means she'd only be there for a week or so before school starts."

  "Why on earth would it take so long?"

  "Because all these places do interviews along with credit and background checks, which is exactly the kind of security I'd need to feel comfortable."

  "Do you want me to call? See if there's anything they can do to speed up the process?"

  "You can," she said with a shrug. "I don't think there's much they can do about waiting lists though."

  "Maybe we should look into a nanny."

  "That would still take at least a couple of weeks, and they're also expensive. And what would we do when school starts? Fire her?"

  I wasn't sure. What I did know was that had she started looking for day care when she first landed the job, the story might have been different.

  "I guess you're saying that I'm going to have to keep watching London, huh?"

  "I certainly can't, and besides, you've done it so far. It didn't stop you from landing your first client."

  "There's a lot of prep work I'm going to have to do."

  "I don't know what else we can do. Especially with what's going on with work."

  "You mean travel?"

  "Not entirely. And that reminds me... I have to go to Atlanta on Thursday and won't be back until Friday evening."

  "There goes date night."

  She rolled her eyes. "I told you I'd be traveling this week, so don't make it a bigger deal than it is. But, since it's obviously important to you, I'm hoping to be home at a reasonable hour, so we can still have date night, okay?"

  "Deal," I said.

  "Men," she said with a shake of her head. "Anyway, what I was trying to say was that something else is brewing at work. Something big. Aside from the executives, no one else at the company knows. So don't say anything."

  "Who would I tell?"

  "I don't know. Small talk with your clients? Marge? Your parents?" She sighed. "Anyway, the reason I'm going to Atlanta is because Walter is planning to move our corporate headquarters to his offices there. He wants me to oversee the process."

  "You're kidding."

  "He's been talking to me about it since I started, but he finally made up his mind. He's going to let the rest of the employees know next week."

  "Why's he moving the office?"

  "He says that the coastal building restrictions in North Carolina have gotten ridiculous, so he's decided to focus on developments in Georgia and Florida. Which makes sense, if you think about it. And he's also been thinking about running for office one day, and he'd rather do that in Georgia. That's where his family is from, and his dad used to be a representative there."

  I could care less about Walter and his plans, I thought. "What does that mean for your job?"

  "I'll be okay. He already told me not to worry."

  "So you'll work in the Charlotte office?"

  "I don't know," she said. "Walter and I brainstormed a bit, but like I said, he didn't make any decisions."

  "You're not thinking that we might have to move?"

  "I hope not."

  I hope not? I didn't like the sound of that.

  "I don't want to m
ove," I responded.

  "I know. We're thinking that I'll be able to split time between here and there."

  Split time? "What does that mean?"

  "I don't know, Russ," she said, exasperation creeping into her tone. "Until the move, I'm guessing that Walter and I will have to be in Atlanta two or three days a week. After that, who knows?"

  "Just you and Walter?"

  "Why would the other executives have to go?"

  I wasn't sure I liked her answer.

  No, scratch that. I definitely didn't like her answer.

  "And there will be other travel as well?"

  "Probably."

  "I'd hardly ever see you. London wouldn't see you."

  "That's not true and you know it," she flared. "It's not like I'm getting deployed overseas for six months at a stretch. Lots of couples have to deal with commuting between cities. Besides, Walter's the boss, not me. What am I supposed to do?"

  "You could always quit," I offered. "And maybe get something part-time?"

  "I don't want to quit. I really like what I do and Walter's a great boss. Not to mention the fact that we can't afford to give up my salary, can we? Since you only have one client?"

  The way she underscored that it was my fault that we'd been thrust into this predicament in the first place upset me. And maybe it was my fault, a thought that only increased my agitation. "When is all this supposed to be happening?"

  "Sometime in September. That's why we're going to Atlanta this week. To make sure the office will be ready in time."

  September was six weeks away. "I don't see how it's possible to move everyone that quickly."

  "It's really just the executives who will have to move. There will be layoffs in Charlotte, but it's not like everyone is getting fired. We still have a lot of developments in North Carolina in various stages of construction. As for Atlanta, it's mainly about hiring more people. From what I've heard, the offices already have more than enough room."

  "I don't know what to say."

  "There's not much to say until I know more."

  "I don't understand why you didn't mention all this until now."

  "I didn't mention it because nothing was certain until today."

  Had someone told me in advance that on a day that I landed my first client, Vivian would have work-related news with even greater potential impact on our lives, I would have said they were crazy. Which shows how much I know.

  "All right," I said. "Keep me informed."

  "I always do," she said. "On another note, London told me that she had a playdate with Bodhi today?"

  "While I was doing my presentation," I said. "She had a good time. She talked about Noodle the poodle all afternoon."

  "Bodhi's the son of your ex-girlfriend, right? Emily?"

  "Yeah, that's her."

  "I've heard some people in art class talking about her. They said she was pretty bitter about her divorce."

  "Divorce can be hard," I said, remaining noncommittal.

  "London also said that you had lunch with her last week."

  "I took London to Chick-fil-A. But yes, Emily was there, too."

  "You probably shouldn't have lunch with her again. Or go to her house, even for a playdate. That's how rumors get started."

  "What kind of rumors?"

  "You know exactly what rumors I'm talking about. She's divorced and you're married and on top of that, she's an ex-girlfriend? It doesn't take Einstein to figure out what people would start saying."

  Yes, I thought, I knew exactly, and as I sat beside my wife, I wondered how such a great day could end with me feeling as bad as I did.

  "Emily, huh?" Marge asked over lunch a few days later. We were at my house; Vivian had gone to Atlanta earlier that morning, and I'd picked up the signed contract from Taglieri--and my first check as a business owner!--right after London's piano lesson. I'd also locked up the phone number, which was critical. Marge, however, had no interest in talking about those things. "How is sweet Emily doing?"

  On the back porch, London was making a mess with the finger paints Marge had brought with her.

  "Don't make this into something that it isn't. London had a playdate."

  "That the two of you set up on an earlier date at Chick-fil-A."

  "It wasn't a date."

  "Maybe you should be standing in front of the mirror when you say that. But you didn't answer my question."

  "I already told you. She's still getting used to being divorced, but other than that she's doing well."

  "I always liked her."

  "I know. You've said that before."

  "And I can't believe you told Vivian about it."

  "I didn't. London did."

  "So you weren't going to tell her?"

  "Of course. I don't have anything to hide."

  "Too bad. Everyone needs some excitement now and then."

  At my expression, she burst out laughing, which led to a coughing fit. I watched as she pulled out an inhaler and took a puff.

  "What's that?"

  "My doctor thinks I have asthma, so he prescribed this. I have to puff this stupid thing twice a day now." She slipped the inhaler back into her pocket.

  "Did he prescribe horn-rimmed glasses and a pocket protector, too?"

  "Ha, ha. Asthma can be pretty serious, you know."

  "I was kidding," I said. "If you remember, I had it as a kid. Allergy induced. Whenever I was anywhere near a cat, my chest would lock up like a vise."

  "I remember, but you're changing the subject. What I was saying is that I know how much you love Vivian. And I'm sure that you've already learned your lesson when it comes to the pitfalls of cheating. Who was that with again? Oh, that's right. Emily. Which, is of course, the subject at hand."

  "Do you sit back and consciously plan these conversations? So you can maximize your enjoyment at my expense?"

  "It just comes naturally," she said. "You're welcome."

  I laughed. "Before I forget--don't say anything to Vivian about the fact you know about the headquarters moving to Atlanta. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone."

  "I'm your sister. I don't count."

  "She specifically mentioned you."

  "I can believe that. But okay, since we're in the trading secrets mode, it's my turn. Liz and I are thinking about having a baby."

  I broke into a grin. "Really?"

  "We've been together long enough. It's time."

  "Are you thinking of adopting or..."

  "We're hoping that one of us will be able to get pregnant. I know I'm getting up there in years so I'm thinking it'll be Liz, but who knows? Of course, she's only two years younger than I am. Anyway, we have an appointment with a specialist and I guess we're both going to get checked out from top to bottom to see if it's even a possibility. If not, then we'll think about adoption, or maybe even sign up to be foster parents."

  "Wow," I said. "This is serious. When are you starting the process?"

  "Not until November. There's a wait list for this particular specialist. Supposedly, he's one of the best in the country and it seems like everyone our age, or having problems, wants to see him." Noting my goofy grin, she asked, "What?"

  "I was just thinking that you'll be a great mom. Liz too."

  "We're excited."

  "When did all this happen?"

  "We've been talking about it for a while."

  "And you never told me?"

  "It's not as though we'd made any decisions about it. It was just something that came up every now and then. But that biological clock kept ticking, and lately, it's been getting pretty loud for both of us. I woke up the other morning to chimes."

  "Have you told Mom and Dad?"

  "Not yet. And don't you tell them either. I would rather we find out whether it's even possible for either of us to get pregnant first or whether we'll go the adoption route. I keep envisioning the doctor telling me that my uterus is covered in cobwebs."

  I laughed. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

  "That
's because I, unlike you, exercise. Of course, my cough isn't making it easier, but I force myself to go to the gym."

  "You're still coughing?"

  "Too much. Supposedly, even after the cold is better, your lungs can take six weeks to heal."

  "I didn't know that."

  "Neither did I. But the point is, unlike you, I'm still dedicated to my health."

  "I don't have time to work out."

  "Of course you have time. You can go first thing in the morning. That's when all the moms do it."

  "I'm not a mom."

  "I hate to break it to you but lately? You kind of are."

  "You always know exactly what to say to make me feel better."

  "I call 'em like I see 'em. And you and I both know a little exercise wouldn't hurt you. You're looking a little soft these days."

  "I'm in shape."

  "Of course you are. If round is a shape, I mean."

  "You're a real peach, you know that?"

  On Friday morning, I stood in front of the mirror, thinking that maybe Marge had a point about starting to exercise again. But not, unfortunately, today.

  I had things to do, and while I watched London and brought her to art class, I spent the rest of my time putting together a time line for Taglieri's campaign, with the thought that day care was most likely off the table.

  Much of it I could do from home; getting the permits, scouting locations, and getting appropriate releases meant time in and out of the car and lots of driving. As long as I spread it out over a period of days, I didn't think London would be too bothered by it at all.

  When I'd spoken to Vivian, I'd said as much to her. I could hear the relief in her voice and for the first time in years, we spent more than half an hour on the phone simply talking. I'd missed that, and I had the sense that she'd missed it, too, and even though she ended up arriving home a little later than she'd wanted, she laughed and smiled, even flirted with me, and in the bedroom, she was both sexy and passionate, something I'd been craving, something that left me certain that she still cared for me.

  In the morning, her good mood persisted. Before she left for yoga, she made breakfast for London and me, and asked if we were planning to visit my parents.

  "If you are, can you wait for me? I'd like to come."

  When I assured her we would, she kissed me goodbye and I felt the light flicker of her tongue against my lips. In the ensuing glow--and with my mind flashing back to the night before--I had no doubts as to the reasons I'd married her in the first place.