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I was upstairsand at Barbara’s desk in a shot. “Is there any way I can get in to see Elijah right now?” I was practically hopping with excitement, which naturally made her curious.
“I’msure you can get in to see Elijah most any time you want, dear. But, is there something I should know about?”
“It’s just something personal,” I said. “Can you ask him if he’s busy? Please?” I was excited, but playing my cards close to the vest. I didn’t want to let on about what I was really thinking.
With a crook of her eyebrows,Barbara checked with Elijah on the phone and told me I could go right in. Almost giggling, I stepped through his office door and shut it firmly behind me. Elijah, behind his own desk, gave me as curious a look as Barbara had done.
“What’s going on?”he asked.
Stepping closerto the desk and pointing at the door, meaning the person on the other side of it, I answered, “Barbara!” I almost jumped and laughed.
“What about Barbara?”
“Barbara and my father!”I said, glancing over my shoulder and measuring my tone as if she could hear me. “What do you think about hooking up Barbara and my father?”
Elijah cockedan eyebrow at me and said, “Does your fatherdohook-ups?”
“No,not likethat!I mean, what if we set them up to meet and go out together? Do you think anything might happen?”
He dida face palm with both hands and groaned. “What are you now, match-dot-com?” Taking down his hands, he asked, “How do you know they’d evenwantto be set up?”
“Only one way to find out!”I grinned.
He leanedback in his seat and grunted. “Wonderful. My girlfriend wants to turn my secretary’s life into the senior version ofThe Bachelorette.”
I ignoredthat crack because I had a good feeling about the whole idea.
CHAPTER37
Elijah. Wednesday
Barbara came in as usual and put my mail in my In-box. And as usual, I thanked her on her way out. I thought nothing of sorting through my physical mail, since there was hardly ever anything remarkable in it. My really important correspondence came mostly in emails and texts. Today, however, things were a little different.
The return address on one of the envelopes read,Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.
Feelings of dread swirled around inside me as I grabbed a letter opener and slashed open the envelope.What character from the past life that I’d let go was getting in touch with me now?
I should have known.
Dear Elijah,the letter began.I want you to know I’m sorry for what happened when I came to you’re building again. I’m sorry for what I did. I know it was wrong. But when your as high as I was, you don’t think about right and wrong. You only think about what you want.
He never was any good at English, mixing upyourandyou’rethat way. Not that I claim to be another Charles Dickens, but still…
Elijah, I know I had no business hitting on you’re girl and expecting her to just lay down for me. That was sick and wrong, and I had no business. My head isn’t too clear about it, but I remember her being scared. I’m sick about it. Adaline is beautiful and all that I could think was how you must be getting some of that, and I wanted some too. It makes me sick to think about it now.
I want to say I’m sorry. You don’t have to bring it up to her, but I want you to know how sorry I am for that.
He messed up the spelling of her name, but he sounded sincere, at least.
I’ve been sick about a lot of things. The piece of crap that my life has always been, all the crap I’ve done that I thought would change things and nothing ever did. All I ever knew how to do was make things worse. While I’m here I want to try to get better. I looked at you’re life, how it is now, and thought, ‘Maybe I can get myself some of what Elijah’s got. If I get back with him, maybe I can make good like he did.’
But, I didn’t know how to do it. All I knew how to do was get wasted again. And, I scared you’re girlfriend and made her think I wanted to hurt her. It was wrong.
Elijah, I won’t bother you anymore. Maybe someday, when I am better, we can see each other or talk again. Away from you’re girlfriend, who should never have to see me. I hope you two stay together. You deserve someone as beautiful as her.
I won’t try to get back in you’re life again. We were good friends once. Looking back I think your the only real friend I ever had, and look what I did. That’s my fault. You just be happy. I’ll get better and you just be happy. Okay?