It was Monday evening the next week, and Andrew was running late. He was due for his first baseball practice with his team, this time a group of 10 and 11 year olds. He'd been asked to take this group at his coach meeting over the weekend. He really didn't care what group he was given. Coaching a team during the spring had shown him just how much he enjoyed it. He was hoping to get to know the group and maybe have some consistency with the players from year to year. 10 year olds were fine with him. It was better than the really little kids who were trying to figure out what direction to run the bases. Tonight, though, he was already running late and came flying back into his office to retrieve his cell phone, which he'd left on his desk when he'd gone to change clothes.
As luck would have it, the few moments he had darted back into his office, Margaret came in through their shared area with a stack of binders and paperwork in her arms. She came to a halt at his appearance.
"Why are you dressed like that? I thought office basketball was Wednesday," she gestured. She eyed him, and he noted she was taking in his tight athletic t-shirt, running shorts, and running shoes.
He smirked, "Changed the office dress code. I've been like this all day. What, you didn't notice?"
She shook her head, "No, you were in your gray suit earlier," and with that, she turned to where he had a hanger by his door and nodded to where yes, it was still hanging. "You had on that, and now, it looks like you've mistaken the office for a gym."
He held up his phone and gave her a fake smile, "Just on my way out. I had to come back for this. Not to worry-I haven't broken your precious office dress code."
"It's not my dress code," she started to say, paused, considered what she was saying, and then, she corrected herself. "Fine, maybe I did insist upon the dress code, but in the year I was gone, no one changed it back. You even admitted that you had no idea I would come back."
"Yeah, well, as I said, on my way out. Night, Margaret," he said with a nod and quick movement to the door.
"So, where are you going? You've never changed for the gym here at work," she pointed out to him. "I might not have paid attention to a lot of details in the time you worked for me, but even I know that, not that you ever had much time for the gym."
He paused at the door and gave her a nod, "Fine, if this will speed up the inquisition. I'm heading to baseball practice."
She scrunched up her nose and shook her head, "Baseball? When did the office put together a baseball team? You like baseball?"
"Not playing, coaching," he sighed loudly, rolling his eyes. "Anything else?"
She gestured with her hand, "You're coaching baseball? I didn't know you knew anything about it."
He blew out his breath and nodded, "Played second base all through high school. I started coaching over the summer, needed," he paused and pondered his words, "a change, and well," he shrugged again, "I like it. I've got to go. I have 13 10-year-olds waiting on me."
"So, you really enjoy that? You aren't being forced to do this?" Margaret asked.
"Yeah," he said with a sarcastic tone and nod to her. "I really enjoy it. Crazy, isn't it? I like kids, big kid myself. I like baseball. It works. It's nice to get out of my own head and give back to others a little. These kids need someone. Most don't even have a father figure at home. Glad I can be there for them, at least from what I've been told from the center."
"Huh," she said with a very slow nod as she processed it all. "Umm," she fumbled.
Andrew gestured to himself, "Yes, just take it all in, Margaret. You're almost foaming at the mouth at the sight of me in my gym shorts here-"
"I am not!" Margaret exclaimed, but she started to blush and quickly looked away. Andrew just sighed and shook his head.
"I'm off the clock, was an hour ago. As I said, I have kids waiting. Enjoy your long, lonely night here with your work, " he told her and with that, he opened his door and stepped out, letting out his breath as he walked away, without looking back.
Two days later, with the Margaret tension still thick in the air, Andrew sat in a planning meeting. Margaret and the other editors were all present, and he silently groaned when it was announced Margaret would be resuming her title and old job. He didn't know why he was surprised; she was good at it, but once again, it just put her as his boss, even in this different role, and the last thing he wanted or needed was one more thing drawing him toward her. Andrew had thought about everything Jordan had said; his friend was a good one, and as much as Andrew hated that he sounded like some relationship idiot, the fact remained that Margaret was back and moving forward-without him. He thought he'd come to terms with it, but her constant presence was only proving to be emotionally painful for him.
He was alerted from his seat in the meeting, to a waving Jordan at the door. He narrowed his gaze, and he looked around the table, trying to see if anyone else was noticing Jordan waving frantically at him. As he glanced around, his eye caught that of Margaret's as she finished saying, well, whatever she had been saying. He'd been daydreaming and really had no clue what she was discussing-great way to start off with the boss again. Margaret's eyes moved to the door, following Andrew's eyes, and she frowned, looking back to Andrew.
"Why is he out there dancing like a buffoon?" Margaret asked.
Andrew swallowed hard, that stare of hers cutting right through him. He felt himself slump down in his chair like an elementary schoolboy being scolded, and he shrugged as he said, "Beats me. I have no clue what he wants. Maybe we should just ask."
He heard Margaret sigh, and by this point, all eyes had turned to see Jordan. Jordan was given the nod, and he opened the door, apologizing right away.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting, Ms. Tate, but ahh, And-I mean, Mr. Paxton has an urgent call. It's his mother," he said, giving Andrew a look, one that told him to come NOW.
Andrew glanced around at the few of them in the meeting. All eyes were on him, including the pair of eyes belonging to Margaret. He met her gaze, and she narrowed her eyes at him. He swallowed hard, somehow intimidated by her. She nodded her head one time and gave a gesture.
"Urgent from Alaska?" Margaret said with a question. His hand went toward his throat and ended up straightening his tie as he stood. Maybe that was a reflex from wanting to strangle someone, mainly Margaret for making him feel like a schoolboy in trouble. He looked to Jordan who had a pleading look in his eye. Quickly, Andrew snapped into the present, and he moved toward the door.
"I apologize, but apparently this is an emergency," he said. The nod from Jordan confirmed that for Andrew, and the two stepped into the hall where Jordan closed the door. He gestured toward his desk.
"I'll put the call through to you. Your assistant is down in HR taking care of something for one of your authors. I'll send the call through. Your mom said it was your grandmother-she's in the hospital."
"Okay," Andrew nodded, now running his hand through his hair as he looked to Jordan and then moved toward his office. He closed his door, moved around his desk, and as he was about to pull for his desk chair, the call came through.
"Mom," Andrew said hurriedly into the phone without any other greeting. "What's wrong with Gammy?"
"Andrew," she said in an almost frantic tone. "She's had a heart attack. She fell down as she had one, and by some miracle, she didn't break anything, but she's all bruised up. The side of her face, her arm. She's in the hospital, and the doctor is saying it was a pretty serious heart attack."
Andrew let out his breath and nodded, "Okay, is she going to make it, Mom?"
"He believes so, yes, but they are going to do surgery to, to," she paused. "Honestly, Andrew, it's been so chaotic, I can't even remember the specifics the doctors told me. They need to do surgery, and he said that with her age, it's still risky."
"I'll be right there," he responded quickly and winced. "Sorry," he sighed. "I mean, I'm going to come up there. From New York, there's no getting right there, but I'm going to pack a bag and catch a flight."
"Andrew, don't feel it's necessary-"
"It's Gammy, Mom. It's Gammy," he repeated. "I'm on my way. I'll send you details as soon as I have them. I'll get my assistant to book my flight while I run back to my condo for my bag."
"Thank you, Andrew," she said softly. The line was silent for a few moments, and she added, "Believe it or not, your father is a mess. He's beside himself with worry."
"Yeah, well, it is hard to imagine that," Andrew nodded. "Dad has been surprising us," he added, thinking back to a couple recent conversations he'd had with his father back home. They seemed to have turned a corner. It was funny that Andrew's broken heart seemed to have spurred his father into caring about his son, and they were doing much better now even if Andrew felt like his heart had been torn to shreds.
"You have my cell number, Mom, right? Why didn't you call that?" Andrew asked.
"I did," his mother said, and as Andrew started to pat down his suit jacket pocket, he groaned, realizing the phone was not in it. He started to move around the piles on his desk and saw the corner of the black case. He picked it up, not that his mom could see that. "Found it, sorry," he said. "I left it in my office during my meeting. I'm glad you tracked me down."
"Honey, I need to go. The doctor is walking this way," Grace told him. Andrew nodded.
"I'll talk to you when I get to the airport. Mom, Gammy will be okay," he said to her before the two hung up the phone.
Andrew sat a moment, putting his finger to his mouth as he collected himself. He started to go over things in his mind, meetings that would need to be rescheduled. He looked around at his desk and began collecting the things he would need. He stood and walked over to collect his bag, putting papers and manuscripts in it; he didn't know how long he would be gone, but he knew he had hours and hours of travel. It took him a few minutes to collect his things, and as he was just about done and ready to leave, he looked up at the sound of the door opening. He was surprised to find her there, actually looking concerned.
She awkwardly gestured with her hand behind her, "Jordan said it's Gammy. Is she okay?"
Andrew raised an eyebrow at the concern she was showing right now, "I'm surprised he told you anything."
Margaret huffed slightly, and he could hear her almost snort, "Please, all I had to do was give him a look, and he told me what I needed to know."
He gave a nod and hummed, "Yes, well, we all here said you were like a terrorist. You are good at demanding information."
She rolled her eyes and stood there, against the doorframe, as it was slightly open. She gestured with a nod of her head again, "Gammy?"
He frowned and looked down to his bag as he finished packing it, "Bad heart attack. She fell too and is all bruised up, nothing broken miraculously. I'll be out for a few days."
She almost jerked her head back, "You're going to Alaska?"
"No," he said without missing a beat, but still while looking down, "vacation cruise." At that, he looked to her, locked eyes with her, and then he rolled his eyes. "Of course, Margaret, I'm going to Alaska. I've had my family issues, but it's Gammy. I've never had issue with Gammy. Not all of us are heartless."
He could tell that struck a chord with her as she frowned slightly and then said, "I'm not heartless."
"Okay, Boss, whatever you say," he said as he gathered the last of his things and stepped around toward her. "I've got a plane to book and catch."
"I'm really not heartless. I do care about, about," she floundered with her words as she gestured. He raised an eyebrow to her as he walked to the door where she was standing. She was almost blocking his exit, but she stepped to the side as he walked right toward her. "I do care about Gammy," she said finally, deciding that was the best answer. He gave a single nod and frowned. Margaret stepped back as he moved toward the cubicles, looking for his assistant. She still wasn't back, so he gave a nod to Jordan when Jordan looked his way. Jordan stood quickly and came toward him.
"What's the word?" Jordan asked. Andrew ignored that Margaret was standing behind him and turned his focus on his friend.
"My grandmother is in the hospital, heart attack. I'm going to fly up there." As Andrew spoke, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye and saw Bob down the way talking with the same temp, Valerie, that Jordan liked. With Margaret back, they'd moved Bob to his previous spot as one of the editors, even though Margaret had tried to fire him back before she'd been deported. Andrew watched Bob give some instructions, and then he looked back to his friend. "You know Bob is hitting on the temp you like."
"Please," Jordan rolled his eyes. "Not worried about that guy. So, need me to do anything?"
"Where's Bess?" Andrew looked around for his secretary, an older woman who had been perfect for him. She was organized, efficient, and she did her job without a lot of gossip.
"Oh, she went to HR and was then going to get lunch," Jordan told him. "I got you. What do you need? Flight?"
"Yeah," Andrew nodded. "Umm, thanks. I know it's not your job."
"Happy to help," Jordan said with a nod as he met Andrew's gaze, indicating Margaret was still behind him.
"Yes, Margaret," Andrew said, turning to Margaret, who almost looked innocent standing there and not the shark of a boss she could be.
"Nothing," she said meekly and raised a hand. "Umm, have a safe trip. Best wishes to Gam-your grandmother," she corrected herself to be professional. "We will take care of things here."
He nodded, "Thank you. I'll have Bess reschedule my meetings, and I will be in touch about my schedule and return."
Jordan patted his arm, "Get out of here, man. I've got you. I'll get things booked." He pointed to him as he stepped backwards, "Juneau?"
"Ahh, yes," he nodded. "The hospital is in Juneau. Whatever you can find for a flight. Bess has all of my frequent flyer information. I guess leave the return open or whatever. If you have to book something, book it for ahh, late Sunday if you can."
At that, he nodded to his friend, turned and gave a nod to Margaret, and then, he was off. He moved through the office without another word to anyone.