Pink Slipped
Chapter: 2
Lunch was sort of quiet. Their conversation came in bursts and sprouts. Long pauses and slight awkwardness in between. Mary was leaving today. Taking off to explore New York. And Lou was still swallowing his feelings. He was never good at showing his feelings. Not even now when she was an hour away from boarding a plane.
Lou pushed his plate away from him. "I, uh, got a job offer this morning."
"That's fantastic." she smiled. "Where?"
"Channel Four. They were looking for a News Director."
"Were?"
"Yeah." he sighed. "I turned them down."
"Channel Four is a big station, Lou."
He shrugged. "Yeah, I know. It just doesn't feel right, you know?"
"I'd kill for a job like that."
"Well the position is still open." he told her, unable to let himself entertain the idea of her actually staying in Minneapolis.
Mary skirted around the suggestion. Instead she focused her attention on him. "So if not another newsroom then what?"
"I was thinking of going back to print." he said. "I miss the rush of it. The thrill of following a story. Seeing something through from beginning to end."
She smiled as she thought of him in a newspaper setting. He was better suited for it than the newsroom, she thought. And a change of pace was just what he needed. "From time to time I got the feeling that you were a little bored at WJM."
"Sometimes. You and I both know that I'm not that much of a suit. I need to dig back into something deeper, something more rewarding."
"A change of pace is always nice."
"Yeah. It's the same reason you're going to New York."
"You ever think of leaving Minneapolis?"
"Fleetingly." he said. "But I like it here. I think I'll stay for a while. My kids are here, my grandkids. I'm content." he glanced down at his watch. "We better get you to the airport."
Mary smiled a sort of sad smile. "Yeah." there was something there, she could feel it. Something left unsaid, but she wasn't willing to go there.
xxxxx
Her luggage was being processed. Her ticket was in her hand. And she was patiently waiting for her boarding call. New York was the right decision. It was. She at least wanted to try. And it would be a nice break if nothing else.
Lou had fallen quiet again. Solemn almost. Mary reached for his hand, getting his attention. "Thanks for lunch." her smile was warm. Warmer than he would have liked.
"You're welcome." he smiled back, but sadly. "I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you, too." she squeezed his hand. "I wouldn't even being going to New York right now if it wasn't for you. You're the one who gave me a chance when you didn't have to."
"Sometimes you have to take a gamble in life. And I know I'm glad I did." he smiled, sincerely. "You've grown into quite the news woman. I'm very proud of you."
In that moment she wanted to cry. He was so incredibly sweet. And she found herself wondering how things might be different between them. Another time another place sort of thing. But she had to go to New York, she had to. It was almost as if she were trying to prove something to herself.
"You have no idea how much that means to me."
He nodded, knowingly. "I think I have a pretty good idea."
The flight number echoed over the intercom. And silence fell between them once again. She reluctantly let go of his hand and rose to her feet. "Thanks for coming down here with me."
"I thought you deserved a proper send off." he reached for both her hands and held them tightly in his. "Good luck."
"You know this isn't goodbye." she was suddenly very emotional. "I'll see you soon."
Lou nodded and smiled. Even if her words were empty ones they were still comforting. At least for now. "Okay." he said. "Have a good flight." he leaned forward and kiss her on the cheek.
Mary hugged him, unable to say anything else. He gave her a reassuring squeeze and pulled from her embrace. "I don't want you to miss your flight."
"Right." she took a few steps away from him and to the gate. "Good luck with newspaper adventure."
Lou reached out, grabbing her hand just before it was out of reach. He drew her back to him, his hands cupping her face.
He was going to kiss her. That she was sure of. And he did. Quite thoroughly in fact. His kiss was like liquid fire. Slow and sexy. Passionate and precise. Mary wrapped her arms around his neck, returning every stroke of his smooth tongue.
She was melting into his arms. All her thoughts vanished. Lou Grant was kissing her in the middle of the airport. Kissing her in the most sensual way. And she never wanted it to end.
He reluctantly let go of her, unable to say anything. And no more words were spoken between them as he gently nudged her toward her gate.
tbc...
