***The next day***
Jennifer was running a staff meeting at the office.
"Ok, look, we are desperately in need of some good ideas. So, please, for the love of humanity, some please pitch me a story that will draw readers in?"
One by one, they all started pitching their ideas.
"Investigating the problems with the foster care system in California by spotlighting two cases of child abuse".
"I like it. Bring me a rough draft with 4 sources in a week".
"Infiltrating a business by getting hired and working part time, to see if they discriminate against women, ethnicities, etc."
"I love that. Sort of a reverse, expose. Rough draft in a week".
"I want to investigate a businessman here in town who has a known reputation for being a womanizer. I plan on getting an interview, and seeing if he comes on to me, and then wearing a wire and getting him to talk about the other allegations. And the other women who have made their allegations, will all give their testimonies in my story, with pseudonyms of course".
"What proof do you have that this exists?"
"The word of 8 different women who worked for him at different times in different positions, some even in different locations".
"It's risky, but I like it. I'll give you 2 weeks to get a rough draft together".
"Anyone else?"
Nobody else had any new business, so she adjourned the meeting.
She headed back to her office and stared at her calendar. She was dying for a massage and to get her hair done and a pedicure. She was trying to figure out what day she could fit it in, when she saw it.
"Coffee with Jonathan. Cappuccino, 7:30".
She was excited but not overly. Cautious was a better term.
She spent the rest of the day doing paperwork, until Shannon popped into her office.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Where were you last night?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, the support group. It was your idea to go and you bailed after one meeting".
"Well-"
"I thought it was mandatory for you, for that counseling requirement. Remember how you told me it was this or personal counseling and you said you'd rather die first than get personal counseling?"
"Well, that was until I met a really hot personal counselor. Now I can't wait to spend time in his office".
"Some friend you are! I gave up an evening at home relaxing to go with you and you bail on me! Thanks a lot".
Jennifer ignored her and got back to work.
"Now come on, don't be mad at me".
"I'm not mad. I'm hurt. And I don't want to talk about it anymore".
"Look, I'll make it up to you. Let's go get drinks tonight, on me."
"No thank you, I have plans already".
She gathered her things and headed out, leaving Shannon standing in the office.
She went home and got ready, and after much indecision, decided to go casual to her coffee date with Jonathan.
She put on a pair of dark green skinny jeans, a black v-neck tunic with cap sleeves, and some black strappy sandals.
She got to the coffee shop a little early, and got in line to order since they were getting backed up.
He came and found her in line.
"Hi. You made it".
"Hi. Yeah, I just got here".
Her face brightened up when she saw him.
"If you want, I'll order for us if you want to go get a table."
"Sure. I just want a small house coffee with cream on the side, and an ice water".
"Got it. I'll come find you".
"Thank you".
She went and found them a cozy little table tucked away in a corner.
A few minutes later, he brought their coffees to the table.
"I didn't know how much cream you needed so I had him pour some into a cup".
"Oh, that's perfect thank you".
They got their coffees all situated and then he looked at her.
"So, tell me about yourself. What made you go to Singles who Mingle?"
"Well, I'm 28, I just moved here a few months ago from New York. I am a journalist. I'm an only child, no siblings. Never married, no kids. I didn't even know about Singles who Mingle until a friend of mine, the girl that came with me last week, talked me into going with her as sort of moral support. She's going through a divorce and they have a counseling clause in their agreement and the group qualifies. So I went with her and then last night, she bailed on me".
She took a sip of her coffee.
"Ok, your turn".
"Well, I'm a little bit older than you. I'm 38. I've lived in California my whole life. I'm also an only child, of sorts. I'm a businessman, I own my own company. I saw an ad for Singles who Mingle and thought I'd give it a try".
"What do you mean you're an only child of sorts?"
"Well, my parents had me and my older sister. And then everyone died, except me. So I was sent to live in an orphanage. Long story short, when I was a teenager, I met the guy who I consider to be my father, Max. We aren't blood related, but he's the only father figure I've ever known. I met him at a time in my life when I had graduated from being a bad kid at the orphanage to being a bad kid out in the streets too. He took me in and straightened me out. After I graduated high school by the skin of my teeth, I joined the navy. And when I came out, he put me through college and then helped me start my company. So, I'm not really his child, but he doesn't have any other ones."
"I see. So, have you ever been married?"
"No."
"So how exactly has a handsome man like you avoided marriage so long?"
"Well, I….it's kind of complicated, but basically….I'm sorry. I can't do this. This was a mistake. Have a nice night".
Before Jennifer could say anything, Jonathan got up and bolted from the restaurant, leaving her sitting there, dumbfounded.
After a few minutes, she got up and cleaned up their coffees and headed home.
***Monday***
Jennifer got to work and went straight to her office.
She was there early because they were having their weekly staff meeting.
Shannon popped in, just before the meeting.
"Ok, look. I'm sorry about bailing on you for the group meeting. I should have at least told you I wasn't going."
"Thank you".
"So, after you left Friday, I saw on your calendar that you had a coffee date. How did it go?"
"Absolutely perfect in the beginning. And then it went south in a hurry."
"What happened?"
"Well, I don't know really. He asked me to tell him about myself. And I did. And then it was his turn. And when I asked him if he had ever been married, he said no. And then I asked him how he had avoided marriage for so long, and he freaked out and said the whole thing had been a mistake and that he couldn't do it and left. He got up and left".
"Did you follow him?"
"No, I didn't. I'm not that desperate".
"Well, maybe the next one will be better. Maybe he got sick. Maybe-"
"Maybe the cow jumped over the moon. His 'why' doesn't matter, it was still rude of him to leave me sitting there and a waste of my time if he wasn't interested".
"I agree".
They walked to the conference room for the staff meeting.
After the meeting was over, Jennifer headed back to her office.
She worked for a couple hours and then went out for lunch.
She decided to treat herself to L'Orangerie.
She walked in and placed a to-go order at the bar.
She stood there and waited for it, and then got her wallet out to pay.
As she did, a receipt for her dry cleaning fell from her purse.
She had paid for her order and was about to walk out when Jonathan and a business associate walked in.
"Jennifer! Hi!"
"I was just leaving".
Just then the waiter came running after her.
"Miss, you dropped something".
He had her dry cleaning ticket.
"Oh, here I'll take that. I promise, I'll get it to her".
"Thanks".
He put it in his pocket and continued with his business lunch.
After he was finished, he went back to the office.
"Deanne, can you buzz Stanley Friesen and have him come see me? I need a favor".
"Right away, sir".
***Later that night***
Jennifer had just gotten home and couldn't wait to relax. She had just changed into her lounging clothes when she heard a knock at the door.
She went to answer it, and found Jonathan holding her dry cleaning on the other side.
"Hi".
"May I come in?"
She nodded and let him in.
He handed her the dry cleaning.
"Thank you".
She went and hung it up on her bedroom door and then came back.
"Is dry cleaning your business? Do I owe you a tip?"
"No, nothing like that. You uh, dropped the claim receipt for your dry cleaning at L'Orangerie, so I went and claimed it for you and brought it here".
"Oh. Well thank you".
"Can we talk a minute?"
"I suppose so".
They sat on the couch.
"I'm sorry I ran out on you, at the coffee house. You deserve better than that and I shouldn't have done that. I apologize".
"Thank you".
"Well, I should be going".
"That's it?"
"Was there something else?"
"Your apology was nice, Jonathan, but your explanation was non-existent. I feel you owe me at the very least a reason why you ran out".
"It's complicated. I don't want to bore you with the details, but trust me when I say-it really and truly had nothing to do with you. It's just something that I'm still dealing with, that I doubt you would understand".
"Try me".
"Well, I was in a relationship with someone. And it ended in the worst possible way. And I keep seeing reminders of that relationship and that person all around me and it's just too much".
"Are you saying I remind you of her?"
He nodded. "In a way".
"I see. Is it my red hair?"
He shook his head.
"My brown eyes?"
"Your eyes are brown with specks of green, by the way and they're gorgeous. And no, it's not your eyes".
"Is it more basic than that? Is it just because I'm female?"
"I don't think so. I don't know how to put it into words, really. It's more of a feeling that I get".
"I see. Well, I'm no therapist but it's obvious that you never really dealt with your feelings about her after your relationship ended. So, you should probably do that before you jump into another relationship".
"For someone who's not a therapist, that's pretty good advice".
She smiled at him.
"Well, thank you".
They were quiet for a few minutes and then finally, she spoke up.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure".
"How did you find out my address?"
"Well, I have this employee who has a knack at finding out things better than professional investigators do. So, I asked him to see if he could find your address or phone number."
"I see. And if he hadn't?"
"I would have given you the claim ticket at the support group, if you came to it. And if you hadn't I would have taken it to the dry cleaner and had them contact you".
"Jonathan, what if we started over? I'm willing if you are".
"Well, I'm happy for us to have a friendship, but I think you're right that I need to figure out my feelings and get my head straight before I start anything with anyone else."
"That's fair."
"Well, I've disturbed you enough tonight. I apologize, I better go."
She put her hand on his.
"You didn't disturb me".
"Are you going to the group on Thursday?"
"Yes, I think I am".
"Great, how about I save you a seat".
"I'd like that".
He stood up to leave and she walked him to the door.
"Thanks for coming by. How much do I owe you for my dry cleaning?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it".
She impulsively leaned forward and hugged him.
He hugged her back for a few minutes.
"Well, goodnight".
"Goodnight, Jonathan".
She closed the door behind him and sat down on the couch.
She tried to get into a movie, but her mind was only on Jonathan.
***Jonathan***
Jonathan drove home, but he couldn't recall how he got there. The entire time he drove, he replayed the hug with Jennifer and her gorgeous smile, over and over in his head.
He walked in the house and found Max sitting on the couch.
"Hey Mr. H."
"Hey Max."
He grabbed a beer and came and sat with him.
"You look like something's on your mind".
"I do have something on my mind. How do you know when it's time to let go of the past, Max?"
"You just know, Mr. H. But really, there's no reason to hold onto whatever it is, if it's the past. You can't get the past back".
"Don't I know it. I have wished for that for years".
"Level with me, Mr. H. Did you meet someone?"
He took a swig of his beer.
"Maybe, I don't know. I like her, I know that. But I don't know if I'm ready to like her-like her. And I keep going back to the promise".
"Mr. H., that promise is 4 years old. And Pam would understand. If she could have talked to you that day, she would have told you not to have made that promise".
He took another swig of his beer.
"Let her go, Mr. H. She's in heaven, and she's happy, and she's not fretting over a promise that you made to her when you were emotional. She would want you to be happy."
"I hope you're right, Max. I just wish I knew for sure what she would say".
"She would tell you to be happy. That's all she ever wanted, was for you to be happy. She wanted everyone to be happy, whatever that looked like for them."
"The last time I remember being happy was the day before she left".