Cold Air Hellos and Goodbyes – Chapter 7
NOTES: Again, so sorry it took me so long to write this chapter! Starting a new semester, and all that jazz. The chapters will come slower now, but I hope to finish at chapter 10 or earlier. Unless you guys can think of more for me to write about.
Also, I'm not sure if it's possible to break both your leg and your wrist from falling, but whatever, I must do what I must do. ;)
Also, I'm currently seriously mad because won't let me indent my paragraphs or put stars in between scenes, so that's the reason why this story runs together instead of having scenes seperated. Sorry!
THANKS: To all the reviewers, for your support and patience! You guys rock!
We start where we left off last chapter...
"I have just one question," Karen said softly, twirling her spaghetti on her fork and letting the warmth from the candle spread across her face. "After our first date, when you came to visit me, did you really lose my number or were you just making an excuse to see me?"
Harry smiled, letting his eyes rest on her mouth and the way the sauce left a red spot on her lips. "I lost your number," he said, and they both laughed quietly, aware of the electricity circling around the room, buzzing in their ears, making it hard to breathe.
He leaned in to brush a piece of hair from her face to behind her ear and let his fingers linger there. She smiled slightly, then leaned in to kiss him, her hands on his neck. "Karen," he said softly, whispering in her ear.
Before he could finish there was a loud knock at the door which soon turned into a pounding, and they were both forced out of their chairs from the noise. "Who could that be?" Karen asked, frowning. Both of them moved slowly out of disappointment, and by the time they'd gotten to the door the pounding was accompanied by a loud voice yelling their names.
Harry swung the door open and found Natalie standing there, her cheeks flushed and panting. "Thank goodness you're home! It's Bernie, he had a bit of a fall and David's took him to the hospital. He's having a bit of trouble with the doctors and people - we need his forms and things."
Karen nodded quickly, running to get them, and Harry got their coats. It was less than two minutes before they were out the door and running to the car.
Harry sat in a chair in the hospital waiting room reading an outdated women's magazine. It was an article entitled, "What He's Thinking During Sex" and he was enthralled. He couldn't remember a time when he'd thought any of these things during sex, but it was very interesting none the less.
Karen walked into the room and sat beside him. She looked exhausted, and he told her as much. She raised an eyebrow and rested her head on his shoulder. "Well, the doctor said we could go home. They've finished putting the casts on and he's just going to be sleeping for the next few hours, so."
Harry nodded. Upon their arrival at the hospital, they had learned that Bernie was going to be just fine, but he had a broken leg and a broken wrist. The doctor had said that though the injuries weren't serious, they were extremely painful, and so Bernie would have to stay an extra day at the hospital. Apparently, according to an awed Daisy, they had been sliding down the banister and Bernie had fallen off and bounced a couple of times before landing a considerable distance down the stairs. Harry wondered how they had been allowed to slide down the banister, but he decided to keep it to himself when he saw Natalie's guilty face.
Harry's only real regret was that he hadn't been able to finish his evening with Karen. Bernie was always breaking bones - why couldn't he have one night alone with his wife without something happening to interrupt them? He sighed as he caught sight of Karen's sagging body climbing into the car. She was exhausted. Damn.
"I'm sorry tonight got cut short, Karen," Harry said to her as they dressed into their pajamas and climbed into bed.
"Me too," she said with genuine regret, yawning. "I'd say we could continue now, but I'm afraid I wouldn't turn in much of a performance as much as my heart would be in it. I don't think I've been this tired in a long time." She crawled under the covers and buried her head in the pillow, falling asleep almost immediately.
He sighed loudly. It was his own fault. Instead of filling out all the forms and chasing after doctors and looking at x-rays with her, he had sat down on a chair with Daisy and talked with her. He knew it was the right thing to do at the time - the poor child was terrified, having never been a party to Bernard's breaking of bones before - but he still hated the outcome. Now he had to wait a whole day more, and though he supposed it was a shallow thing to be whining about, it was still extremely frustrating.
He slid into bed beside his wife and put his arms around her - something he hadn't done for months. She stirred slightly (his heart jumped) but then fell back asleep, her chest rising and falling evenly.
Harry walked into work the next morning in a foul mood. Last night's happenings combined with the fact that he knew he had to hire an ad manager today were causing storm clouds to appear above his head. Apparently they were visible to pretty much everyone else, too, because no one had said so much as a word to him since he'd got there.
"Hey boss, " Sarah said - more timidly than usual - as she walked into his office. "Rough night?"
He winced, gave her a look, and sat down. "Bernard decided to break his leg and interrupt my evening," he stated simply, and watched the understanding dawn on her face.
"Ah." She stared at her feet for a few seconds before clearing her throat and saying gently, "Well, the interviews for the ad manager position start in five minutes..."
"Yeah, I know," he groaned, rubbing his forehead. "Send them in. I'll try to be polite."
Sarah didn't look too convinced but nodded and left the room promptly. Harry wondered to himself how things could possibly get any more frustrating than they were now, when Mia walked in the room. "Oh God," he said, almost immediately, and blushed when he realized it had been out loud.
"Hey Harry," she said softly, closing the door behind her. "You probably don't want to see me, but I have to deliver this." She handed him a piece of white paper and smiled.
He tried not to watch her as she walked away and shook his head. He looked down at the paper she had given him, which was a resume. Just then someone opened the door to his office and walked in.
"Hello sir, my name is Jordan Renaldo," a young man said, offering his hand for Harry to shake. He was about six feet tall, with wavy blonde hair, blue eyes, and the look of a Ralph Lauren model. Harry immediately hated him.
"Why don't you take a seat, Jordan?" Harry asked, pointing to the chair opposite his. The young man sat in the chair and crossed his legs. His clothing was immaculate, and one look at his resume told Harry that it was, too. He would have to hire him, he thought, and almost sighed.
After Jordan left, (guaranteed the job somewhat reluctantly by Harry) Mia walked into Harry's office. He nearly screamed out of frustration. She was wearing a short skirt and a tight, white blouse, and he turned his head away, trying not to look at her. He glanced at the clock - 4:00. He didn't think he'd ever been happier to find the day almost over.
"Hey Harry," she said, walking up to him. "How did the interview go?" She was standing so close to him he could smell her hair. He thought to himself that there couldn't have been a worse time for her to be here. Everything inside him ached, and she sensed it. She moved closer.
"It went fine, Mia," he said, his voice deep and distracted. She took his hand, saying something about how he had an ink stain on it, and his mind went on fire.
Before he could think, he pushed her aside and stormed out of the room. Everything was a blur. He quickly got into his car and headed home, only one thing on his mind.
