There was a pause, then the associate approached
him with a tentative question. “Are you sure you didn’t suffer some
serious burns when you got that coffee dumped on you?”
“I told you, I’m fine.
Why are you so concerned all of a sudden?”
“Because you don’t
sound like yourself, man. Somebody’s gotta look out for you. And since
you ain’t got a wife or significant other to make sure you take care of
yourself, that job falls on me.” The man was jesting, of course.
George caught sight of
Lily coming back from the restroom. “One of these days you’re going to
make someone a fine mother, Carlos. Look, I need to go. I’ll see you in
a couple of hours, okay?”
“Sure thing,” the man
replied.
Tucking the phone into
his coat pocket, he got to his feet. A shaft of sunlight highlighted the
woman’s hair, and he noticed for the first time that it wasn’t colored.
A few, almost unnoticeable gray hairs glittered among the red. Neither
was it difficult to see the faint smattering of freckles on her pale
complexion.
“Is everything all
right at work?” she inquired as she joined him.
“It depends on who you
ask. My associate says we’re at Defcon Two. In my estimation, it’s more
likely a Four.”
“Pardon my ignorance,
but I’m guessing a four is a lower classification?”
“You’d be correct in
that assumption, madam. Unfortunately, because of it, it seems our time
together is going to have to be brief today.”
She paused. “If you need to go, go. I promise, you’re not going to hurt
my feelings.”
“Nonsense. I want to play tour guide. Come. Let’s go this way.”
She seemed delighted
that he was going to stay with her, even for a short while. “Where are
we going?”
“To visit Alice in
Wonderland.”
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