How to Bake the Perfect Apple Pie (7 page)

“Let’s see how the meeting goes.” I smile.

Trent nods and opens the office door. “As you wish.”

He shuts the door behind him. Did he seriously just quote from
The Princess Bride
? I frown. Something feels a little off, but I push it aside. Trent is probably just trying to be helpful.

I scan the documents a few more times before gathering them along with my pen and highlighters and make my way into the office meeting room.

***

I let out a deep sigh. I did it. My first meeting as a manager. It went well. I was concerned about any questions my team might have, but it wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I had imagined it would be. Trent offered a few things but in no way took over and I have to say I was a little surprised that he didn’t. I was hesitant to even use his stats for fear he would make a big deal about it and with Javier on the phone that would not be great. Yet, he was silent.

As soon as the meeting was over I made my way to my office only to find Trent at my door.

“I thought that went really great.” His eyes twinkle at me as if we share a secret. Maybe he thought he was part of the meeting going so well? I need to squash any of those notions. I do think Trent will be an asset on our team, but not as a leader.
That’s my job.

“Yes, thanks again for the notes.” I smile my most professional smile.

“It’s noon, how about lunch?” Trent stares down at me.

My chest rises. “Um, sadly I need to make a few phone calls. I can’t leave right now.”

“All right, message me when you’re ready. I’ll meet you at the elevator.” Trent smiles at me and turns on his heel to head back to his cubicle.

I fall into my office. Not that I’m not flattered if he is interested in me in more than just a professional way, but I’m not interested in the least. My heart is woven tightly to Jack’s. If there is something to Trent’s attentions I need to nip it in the bud. I’m apprehensive about any external meeting with Trent. He basically ignored my no and now thinks I’m going to meet him for lunch. Was I clear enough? Maybe not. I shake my head. I need to get the upper hand in this situation.

At my desk, I pull out my cell phone. There are several text messages. I quickly go through them to see one important one, from Megan.

“Aurora’s in labor.”

Wow.
My brother’s wife is in labor right now. She is having twins. They already have two other children, Winter and River. My sweet niece and nephew. I’ll have to change my weekend plans. I had planned to go and visit Jack. But now, I’ll have to fly to California instead.

I tap on Megan’s number and wait for her to pick up.

“Hey Lauren, did you get my text?”

“Yes, has she had the babies yet?” I purse my lips, waiting for her answer.

“No, apparently she has been in labor for the last few days, but refuses to use medicine.”

I roll my eyes. This is not a surprise. Aurora is very green and into holistic herbs and doing things the natural way. If it were me, I think I would have whatever pain medications they offered me as I entered the hospital doors. I value her endurance and pain control, but several days of labor?
Sign me up for a big no thank you.

“I had planned on flying to see Jack this weekend. But I can change my flight.” I tap on my keyboard and pull up my flight info.

“Sounds good. If you can time it right, we are flying in to San Diego on Friday at six p.m., California time.”

I squint my eyes. I’m three hours ahead. I seriously doubt I can get out of the office early enough to make that happen. Megan and her husband Brian live in San Francisco so it is easier for them to get to San Diego, since I’m flying from across the country whereas they are only an hour’s flight away.

“I don’t know, Megan. That would be a stretch for me.” I sigh. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Right, well otherwise you will have to figure out your own transportation from the airport. I can’t imagine Mom leaving the new babies to come and get you.” She tsks.

I nod. I know she is right, my mom will be glued to the babies, but I’m sure my dad would come get me. Or at least I would think he would.

“All right, well I’ve got to go.” I glance at the clock on my computer. It’s almost one.

“Yeah, me too. Talk to you later.”

I check out the rest of the text messages. One in particular catches my eye. It’s from Jack.

“Missing you.”

That’s it. Two words. Two words that tug at my heart. But that’s all for now, since our weekend get-together is now not going to happen. This is extremely disappointing. My heart squeezes tight as if it is shrinking into a dehydrated version of itself. But I know I have to be there for my family. I’m sure it’s a bit scary or exciting. I’m not sure what the exact emotion my niece and nephew, Winter and River, will be feeling about not one but two new babies in their house. I can only imagine how overwhelmed I would be if I were about to be a mom of twins and then top that off with two other children and their feelings to deal with.

It’s a no-brainer. I have to go. I have to be supportive of them. Especially this weekend. When things will be so drastically different for them. I log in to my flight program and make the changes. My new flight leaves here at four p.m. That should get me to California at seven p.m. Not too bad. I will have to leave at about three, but I can come in early and make sure everything is wrapped up by then.

A message box pops up on my screen. “See you at the elevator. I’m starving.”

It’s Trent. My stomach growls. I’m hungry too. I send out a group message to the rest of our team.

“Last minute, but anyone up for a team lunch?”

I wait five minutes before my screen pings. It’s a response from Hallie.

“Sorry, I’ve just come back from lunch and I think the others are still out. Trent is around though. Maybe next time!”

Locking my computer, I roll my chair back.

Trent is waiting for me by the elevator, alone. Hallie must have been right as no one else responded to my message. He is staring at his phone. As I near him, he glances up and our eyes meet. His dark eyes warm over and his mouth forms into a smile.

“I was beginning to think you were going to stand me up.” He slides his phone into his pocket and presses the down arrow on the elevator.

I laugh. “I had to take care of several things, but I’m hungry too.” I step into the elevator and press the number one. “I skipped breakfast today and my stomach is giving me a hard time about it.”

“Oooh, that’s a big no-no. You should start off your day with a nice healthy breakfast.” The elevator door opens and he puts his hand on the door to hold it for me to exit.

I approach my car and unlock the doors with my key fob. Trent hops into the passenger side naturally. He seems so confident and unfazed by this situation. I’m a bit uncomfortable about going to lunch with him. Yet, here I am backing my car out of the spot and heading towards a restaurant.

“How about Threadgills?” This has the right casual atmosphere for a business lunch.

“Sounds good to me. I could go for one of their chicken fried steaks.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.

My eyes dart back to the road.
Focus on the route and keep it professional.

***

“So where do you see yourself in the next five years?” Trent tips his glass of ice tea at me.

I scrunch up my eyebrows. “Are you seriously asking me a standard interview question?”

“Yes, but not as a joke. I’m actually interested.”

I roll my lips and stare at the ceiling. “Let’s see, most likely the president of Calstone Corp.” I can’t help but let a laugh out.

“Why did you laugh?” Trent peers at me.

“Because that would be quite an accomplishment to achieve in five years.”

“Maybe for some people…” Trent places his glass down on the table. “But you’re not some people; you’re different.”

My cheeks warm. Our office small talk has taken a different route, one that we need to get off and get back on track.

“We should be heading back to the office.” I scan the restaurant for our waiter.

“Let me ask you something, Lauren…are you uncomfortable with me or yourself?”

My shoulders drop. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to offend you…it’s just you seem uncomfortable.”

I roll my lips and wave at the waiter. I hand over my personal card. Trent hands his as well. Even though I have a business card, I don’t think this would constitute as a business meeting.

“So?”

“So what?” I flutter my eyelashes. I cannot exit this lunch fast enough. I wish I had cash on me, even enough to pay for Trent’s so we didn’t have to wait any longer at this table together filled with awkwardness.

“Is it me or you?”

I laugh. “Trent, I think you need to work on your people-reading skills, at least in person. You might be good on the phone…but you don’t seem to have the same skills in person.”

“Okay.” Trent smiles at me.

My eyes bulge out and I’m thankful for the arrival of the check with our cards. I sign mine and stand up, not waiting for Trent. I’m ready to get as far away from this moment as physically possible.

As we exit the elevator I head to my office and sure enough Elaine is in the hallway. She is exiting Javier’s office.

“Oh there you are.” She raises an eyebrow at me.

“Yes, just getting back from lunch. What’s up?” I raise an eyebrow back at her.

“Oh, was that Trent I saw you with?”

“Yes, an impromptu team lunch.”

“Interesting.” Her voice echoes all sincerity. “Anyways, do you have a follow-up report from last week’s numbers?”

“Sure, let me print one out for you.” I pass her and open my office. I log in into my computer and download the report. I’m not sure why she hasn’t done this herself, but I’m not in the mood to go back and forth with her. I turn around to reach for the paper. Elaine is standing over my desk.

“Thanks.” She takes the report from me. “By the way, the next time you go to lunch, be sure to include me.” She winks and exits my office.

Um okay…not sure what that was about.
I check my phone. There are no new messages. I need to tell Jack I won’t be coming to visit him this weekend, but I’ll wait until I get home.

I pull up my call box and count to ten in Italian. This gives me the right amount of confidence before I begin speaking with my clients. I scan my cue. There are about seven different clients on hold. I’ve got to get some of these issues resolved.

***

I pop open a bottle of Pinot and pull out my laptop. I can’t wait to chat to Jack. My stomach is fluttering with anticipation. I check out my reflection in my microwave. My hair is in place, but I should probably swipe on a bit of lip gloss. I dig through my purse and find my Bare Minerals Cupcake. The paintbrush glides across my lips with ease. There,
perfect.
I take in a deep breath and click on the video call button and wait for Jack to pick up.

“Hey there, gorgeous.” Jack stares back at me from my laptop screen.

I smile. “It’s so good to see your face.” I almost want to touch the screen, but that would be a little weird and Jack would also see this, so I refrain.

“What are you drinking?” Jack inspects my wineglass.

“The Pinot you bought last weekend. What about you?” I take a sip from the glass. It’s delicious. From the spicy oak to the notes of raspberry. The only problem with it? Jack isn’t here with me to enjoy it. My chest tightens.

“I was about to pour a glass of Merlot, but I think I’ll have a Pinot with you.” Jack lifts up his computer and takes me with him into his kitchen. “How did your meeting go?” Jack sets the laptop on the counter and I can see bits and pieces of him as he grabs a wine bottle from his cabinet and the corkscrew from his drawer. I was in that kitchen a few weeks ago and now it will be several more before I can be back there.

I take a gulp of my wine. “The meeting went really well. One of the guys on my team visited me beforehand and gave me a list of reports along with some ideas for the team.”

Jack stands in front of the laptop. With one eyebrow raised he pours his wine into a glass. “Did you ask him to do this?”

“No, he did it on his own.” I take a sip of my wine.

“Hmm. I see.” Jack swirls the wine in his glass before letting it hit his lips.

My eyebrows draw together. “You see what?”

“Nothing, I just think you have to be careful.” He runs his eyes over my face. Like he is reading me.

“Okay.” I roll my eyes. “I am careful.” I sigh. “I’ve got some bad news though.” I bite my lip.

Jack’s eyes widen.

“Aurora is in labor right now with the twins.” I take a gulp of my wine.

“Is she okay?”

“Yes, so far everything is going great. That’s not the bad news.” My shoulders slump. “I can’t come see you this weekend, because I’ve got to fly to California to see them instead.”

“Oh.” Jack’s lips form into two solid thick lines. He runs his fingers through his sandy blond hair. I wish I were able to do this. I love twisting my hands around his hair, and getting tangled up in him. I remember our legs wrapped together and kissing him endlessly. I sigh.

“I totally understand.” Jack takes a gulp from his wine.

“I just…I have to be there for them. I know it’s going to be difficult to have the new babies at the house for Winter and River and I want to be supportive.” I roll my lips over each other.

“Yes, it’s the right thing to do.” Jack leans into the laptop. “But, know I’ll be missing you even more. And I’ll have to make up for all of those lost moments.” He kisses his two fingers and touches the screen. In the exact spot of my lips.

My lips pucker. “I wish you were here with me right now to make up for it.”

“Oh Lauren, you have no idea how much I want to make that happen.” Jack shakes his head.

Chapter Five

“The seat belt sign has now been switched off; you may exit the plane.”

As if everyone was waiting for the light! Seventy-five percent of the plane is already standing near their seats. Some have even pushed out into the aisles.