Post 'The Portland Trip'
CJ turned the page and realised she couldn't remember anything she'd read on the previous page. She dropped the memo and looked at her desk. Chaos.
There was a knock at her door. "Hey CJ."
She looked up. "Danny."
"You busy?"
"Probably. Hard to say. My eyes are glazing over."
"Can I interest you in a cup of coffee?" He didn't say it in the same tone he used to flirt with.
"Ah, okay." She got up an d they walked toward the mess.
"Did you come to see me about anything in particular?" She asked.
"Yeah."
She waited several steps before pursuing the answer to her question. "Well?"
"I'm working on it."
"Okay."
Several steps later…
"Let me know when you're ready."
"I'm going away."
"Story taking you overseas? Anywhere exciting?"
"It's not a story."
"Oh." She led the way into the mess and began making a fresh pot of coffee. She flicked the switch and realised what he was trying to tell her, not very successfully. "You're going away for good."
He nodded once.
She hesitated, looking at him till it became unbearable. Instead she looked at the steam rising from the coffee pot. "Any particular reason?"
"Maybe."
"Danny…"
"Hard to say exactly."
"Is it a good opportunity?"
"Yes."
"Well, good."
He walked to the window and looked out.
"You've been in the room how long?"
"Only a few hours today." He turned to face her.
"No I meant, how long have been a Whitehouse reporter?"
"Oh, nine years, couple of months. Sounds like a long time." He smiled
"Remember how you said you'd take your foot off the gas?"
"Sure. Then you started kissing me."
"Not at that very moment."
"No."
"Is this," she sighed, "Is this stepping on the break?"
"Part of it."
"Is the… engine still running?"
"I don't think this metaphor is going to help us any more than it already has."
She smiled. "I don't know if I want an answer but for some reason I have to ask-"
"Don't do this. I should go." He headed toward the door.
She panicked, "What about your coffee?"
"You looked like you needed it."
"Don't leave like this."
He stopped. "Okay."
"A minute for me to pour, five or less for it to cool, you'll be free in ten if you're in a hurry."
"I'm not." He sat down and she poured their two cups of coffee.
"Where are you going?"
"A conference in Amsterdam first off. There are a couple of jobs. The Post are trying to convince me to stay with them as a foreign correspondent. I have a couple of weeks to make up my mind."
She nodded. "You'll be gone indefinitely."
He sipped his coffee and burnt his mouth.
"I can't save your seat for you."
"I'll try not to take it personally."
They drank in silence for a couple of minutes. "There'll always be a seat for you Danny."
"I know."
"What I'm trying to say is… never mind."
"What were you going to say?"
"We'll miss ya."
"You'll miss my exposing your deepest and darkest before you're ready?"
"Not so much."
"My chasing you down the hall with follow ups?"
"Maybe."
"Tips."
"Well, sure."
"Not so much the arguments."
She smiled. "There've been a few of those lately. You bait me."
"I do."
"But you won't miss that."
"Yeah I will."
"Yeah," he stared into his coffee and finished it off. "I think I should go." He pushed his chair back.
"Okay." She got up and followed him to the exit.
He paused at the threshold. "Keep doing what you're doing CJ. You're very good."
"You too." She seemed trapped there, looking him in the eye, wondering how long it'd be till he'd return.
"Right, well," he looked down.
"Have a good trip," she kissed his cheek, pressing her face to his, lingering indulgently.
He held her arms lightly, demanding nothing, "Bye, CJ."
She swallowed as he backed away, forced a smile, raised her hand to wave and dropped it again when he turned away.