Middle Age Crisis

Carol

Carol booted up her computer and walked to the coffee machine to get some liquid caffeine. It was time to get some work done. Cyber Monday was here, the Monday after Black Friday and her team should be ready to have the Monday morning meeting. Julian was still in Richmond but the rest should be here.

She hoped the coffee would help to alleviate the malaise she had been experiencing since the ride back to Atlanta with Daryl. Once she saw for herself that Sophia was dealing with the miscarriage in a healthy way she had relaxed and had a wonderful time on the farm. She and Daryl had fallen into the routines of farm life as if they had done it all their lives. It felt right, the two of them working together during the day and then making love during the night. She wasn't calling their intimate time together as having sex. She had had sex and this was something different. Being with Daryl was a mixture of desire, love, need, and fun. She had never had that with anyone else and she never wanted anyone else again.

She and Daryl had taken long walks together in the evenings. They held hands and talked. She took photographs and he looked for deer. Daryl hadn't gone hunting though. Too busy building the barn.

Carol sighed as she looked out of her office window. Steel, glass, and concrete. Downtown Atlanta. Buildings blocking the sky and nothing much alive but the ant sized people scurrying below. Maybe it was Sophia's miscarriage that made her so suddenly aware of the passage of time. She was forty. Her life was half over and spent the last two decades chasing a dream of corporate success. Every promotion was leading her to her goal. Now the goal was in sight and she wasn't sure she wanted it anymore.

She had misread Daryl on the farm. She had thought that he loved it. Might want that life and she had asked him as they left how he liked farm life. Carol was hoping for a positive response so that she could tell him her half-baked idea of buying a farm. He shut that down when he told her that he couldn't wait to get back to the city. She loved him too much to push him toward something that he didn't want, but she hadn't been able to shake off her blues.

There was a team meeting scheduled for nine o'clock in her office. Julian was still absent, but Matt Stone, Karen Thomas, and Jenda Krauklis were on time and prepared. Trey was fashionably late and had showed no evidence of even looking at the American Strong account.

Each team member made a proper presentation using the projector in her office and handed to her a folder containing their research and findings. It was all very preliminary but they were on cue about the data and the formulas that they were using to come up with data. Trey's presentation consisted of him repeating the same information that she already knew about America Strong. It was based in Atlanta, retailed only products made in America, and its owner had been receptive to a bid.

Carol dismissed her team and asked Trey to remain. It was a sign of his arrogance that he met her request with a slight sly smile. The asshole knew she had been warned off. She might be leashed at the moment but his was her turf. Trey's screw up would reflect poorly on her.

She shifted to concerned leader mode and in her most gentle voice asked if he had some pressing personal problem that had kept him from being prepared. You entitled bit of shit.

Trey raised his perfect masculine eyebrow. Does he have them done? He flashed his perfect teeth in a superior smile. "I'm fine. My presentation will be on time. I know what I'm doing." There was an edge to his tone. Good. Rattle his damn cage.

Sincerity dripping off every dulcet tone, Carol went on, "Trey, I want you to know that I am here for you. You have any problems with this account, come to me and we'll work on it together. We're all on the same team." Grayson Andrews would be so happy that I used a sports analogy.

Trey's face was slightly flushed and the edge in her voice was a tad sharper. He's pissed. I like that. "I can handle this without help. I don't need your micromanaging my work." Trey, I haven't seen any work to micromanage."

Carol let him go after that. She looked again at the skyline of downtown Atlanta. Trey's insouciance rankled her, but was there more to it than his habitual laziness? Daryl had told her to trust her instincts and she sensed that she needed to be careful. Trey wasn't to be trusted. She would have to work undercover here. She had Julian's work, her own, and now she had to be Super Sleuth. It didn't look as if she was going to see much of Daryl for a couple of weeks.

Daryl

Daryl looked at Carol's text. Working late. He had scarcely seen her all week. It was Friday afternoon and she hadn't been home before eleven all week. She came home exhausted and on edge. They had had an argument this morning over how hard she was working. He wasn't staying at her apartment tonight. Maybe we need some space. She's going to work through the weekend. Maybe I'll call Carl and see if he needs some help with the barn. I can check on Sophia for Carol. I need out of this city and get some fresh air. Let Carol do what she loves best, work her way up the corporate ladder.

Carl was delighted to get his text. Daryl went back to his apartment and packed a few things. He had a key to Carol's place and he went over and left her a note.

Carol,

I'm sorry that I argued with you this morning. You're right. You aren't my responsibility. You are an adult and not a child. I know that. I said all that shit because I'm kind of childish when it comes to you. I need you I guess more than you need me.

I'm not trying to guilt you. You have a job and you love it. I got that. I am giving you some space this weekend. I am going to the farm and helping Carl on the barn. That'll give me something to do while you are working. I'll check on Sophia for you.

I'll be back late Sunday night. I don't know if you'll be in yet, but I want to sleep in your bed. I miss you and not just the sex.

Are we going to put up a Christmas tree? I can get one at the farm.

Love you,

Daryl

His weekend went well. They got the roof on the barn and started on building the stalls. He found a pine tree that wasn't too big. He took Sophia and Carl out to dinner on Saturday night and he sent Carol a few photos. Okay, I want her to feel a little left out. Never said I was the mature one in the relationship.

Sunday Carl made breakfast and they got a late start on the barn. Carl thanked him for his hard work and added, "You're a natural. Did you ever think of buying a farm and leaving Atlanta? You and Aunt Carol seem so happy here last week."

"I love it here, but Carol loves her job. I would leave in a New York minute but if I pushed her? She'd either tell me to go without her or she would go and then resent me. I love her. I want her to be happy." God, I sound so damn whiny.

Carl pushed his long hair out of his face, "There's a nice farm about five miles from here. The guy that owns it is moving to Arizona to live with his girlfriend. He's not asking too much. Let's go look at it." It couldn't hurt to look could it?

Carl drove. The owner showed them around. Old hippie. Long gray hair in a ponytail and he and his wife had moved out here twenty years ago to be one with nature. Wife died two years ago and he was ready to move on.

The old hippie's house was beautiful. Timber frame and chock full of energy saving devices. Too big for just two people with four bedrooms, but Old Hippie and Dead Wife had four kids. The kids were grown up and out on their own. Nice deck on the side and a long front porch.

The water sources was a piped in spring and a solar powered pump on the well. There was a good sized green house. Probably mostly grew their own pot and maybe that's how they afforded to build that house. A good sized barn and lots of pastures. Two large ponds. The solar panel area had strong fences around it. Makes sense. Don't want your livestock to get in.

Old Hippie should be featured on Mother Earth News. He's giving all of this up to go to Arizona?

"So are you sure you are ready to sell? You have a fine place here." Daryl wondered if there was some ulterior motive. Water going bad? The police busting the pot farms and ignoring the meth makers?"

Old Hippie looked sad. "It's not the same here without my wife. Everywhere I look I see her and it makes me too lonely. I'm moving to Sedona. There are vortexes there and I feel tapped into the universe there. My girlfriend is someone I knew from college. I can be happy there with her. Do you have a wife or a life partner? You'll understand why I need to leave if you do."

"Do you mind if I walk through the house one more time?" Daryl asked.

Old Hippie nodded and he and Carl went to look at the solar panels. Daryl went inside. The front part of the house was one large room and the kitchen was a little out dated but nice. The floors were wood and there was a wood stove for heat. Would Carol like this? Maybe just for weekends. I can sell my apartment for enough money to buy it. Or maybe I could live here and could visit when she isn't working. Only she never is not working.

Old Hippie gave him his phone number and a folder containing all the information about the farm. Daryl and Carl went back to work on the barn and he had stayed at the farm until late afternoon when it began to rain. Daryl decided to get started. Maybe Carol would come home earlier this evening.

Carol was home making dinner when Daryl got there. Her apartment smelled of good food and he put the Christmas tree up while she finished dinner. They trimmed the tree together after they ate. He was careful to not talk about her job. He didn't talk about the Old Hippie's farm. They did the dishes together and then went to bed. Daryl held her close and tried to show her how much he loved her.

Carol

Carol cuddled close to a sleeping Daryl. She had come home Friday night to find the note instead of Daryl. She had been unsettled all day because of their argument. It had been as much her fault as Daryl's. Their relationship was so new and they both were used to being on their own. Did he go to the farm to give her space? Or to give himself space? He had been guarded tonight. Careful not to say anything to her that would bother her.

She had looked at the photos Daryl had sent from the restaurant last night. They looked happy and she felt left out and she knew Daryl had wanted her to feel that a little. Then again he came back today with a freshly cut pine tree to help her decorate. He was trying to make it work.

Carol slipped out of bed and went into the living room. She turned the Christmas tree lights on and leaned in to enjoy the fresh pine smell. She was too good at her job. Too adept at finding information that had been hidden or deleted. It would be easier if she didn't know. She could sail through the next weeks and maybe she would be rewarded with a new job. More power. More prestige. More money.

She had found the information. Found out that Trey Saunders was a liar and a thief. Found out that Grayson Andrews was tied up in this and who knows who else. It would be safer to let this die, but if she did she would be as guilty as Trey and Grayson. Doing the right thing would destroy her career. She wouldn't be able to get a job as a bank teller when this came out. Everyone applauded whistle blowers but they paid a high price. Lost their jobs. Lost friends. Became pariahs.

Daryl loved Atlanta and she was going to become persona not grata here. She needed to start liquidating her assets. Tomorrow she was calling a federal prosecutor that she had dated a few times. A good guy but no chemistry. She needed to talk to him and see what needed to be done to make this right. She couldn't talk to anyone about this. Not Andrea and Michonne and not even Daryl.

TWDTWDTWD

Carol called Jason's office and he called back within an hour. "Carol? Have you changed your mind and decided to take me out of your friend zone?"

"Jason, I'm in trouble. I need to talk to you about something I've found at work. It's confidential and I need a lawyer's perspective. When can I see you?" Carol looked around her office. No one was hanging around the door but she was feeling paranoid. You're not paranoid if they are really out to get you."

"Let's meet for lunch. Can you be at the Dairy Blossom grill at 12:30? It's far enough away from your office and we are old friends."

Jason was waiting in a booth in the back. He had ordered her favorite lunch. Grilled chicken salad and iced tea. Carol slipped into a seat across from him.

He was a good looking man. Tall and thin and he always wore just the right clothes and too much cologne. Expensive cologne but just too much.

Jason smiled, "Let's eat and you can tell me your story. I'm going to move to your side so we can talk in low voices. Okay?"

She nodded. Jason casually moved beside her. He still wore the same cologne. "Tell me what you know and how you got it?"

Carol told him everything. Grayson telling her to let Trey work alone. Her finding out that the employees at American Strong had a pension plan in which the employer and employees contributed equally. Trey was maneuvering to take their pensions leaving them with nothing.

"Usually workers lose their pensions because the company cannibalized the funds for their own use. American Strong didn't do that. The money is there and the owner intends that the employees will have it. Trey's plan involves closing American Strong and allowing our company to completely absorb its assets."

"Have you got proof?" Jason asked.

Carol nodded, "It wasn't easy to find, but I found it. Most of it is on this." She handed him a thumb drive. "The owner doesn't know. He's innocent."

Jason asked a few more question and Carol supplied the answers readily. They finished lunch and left the restaurant. Jason held her arm, "Don't worry. I'm going to go back to work and open the thumb drive up. I'll call you later."

Carol smiled up at him, "I feel better. Call my cell phone after five. I'm working late again tonight."

"Let's meet this evening to talk this over. How about dinner?" Maybe I better not have dinner with him.

"Just a drink. I have someone waiting for me at home." At least I hope so.

Jason agreed, "Just a drink then."

Carol had walked to the restaurant so she went in one direction and Jason the other.

Daryl

Daryl was cursing the traffic and the red light that had stopped him in traffic. He glanced out the window and saw Carol come out of restaurant with a tall good looking man. They were talking and the man took her arm and said something that made Carol smile.

The light changed and the car behind blared its horn at him. Daryl drove on. She's in business so she is around good looking well-dressed men all the time. Don't start imagining things that aren't there. You love her and she loves you.

Carol was home in time for dinner. She came in as Daryl was finishing the spaghetti. They kissed and she held on longer than usual. "I'm glad to be home."

He could taste the wine she had been drinking. She smelled like expensive male cologne. It wasn't her perfume. He knew that smell. "I'm glad that you're home."

AN

For all you lovers of house porn. Here is a link to the Spring House. building_plan/timber_frame_homes_spring_house_

Daryl's Old Hippie is leaving Georgia to go live in Sedona. It's a beautiful place and there are those that believe that it has vortexes. You know, portals to other realities. There are tons of Old Hippies living there. It helps if you are a rich Old Hippie. LocationPhotos-g31352-w2-Sedona_

I did tell you there would be angst.

Review? I am trying to get this finished by Christmas. Probably not going to make it.