Read Online January and the Single Heart by Vi Zetterwall - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Vi Zetterwall
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weekend. She just bolted out the door, down the stairs to the lobby and out into the November mist. She had no hat or umbrella and she didn’t care.
She entered O’Brien ’s nine minutes later, her hair glistening wet, purse and briefcase still in hand. Looking around, she spied Glen at the end of the bar sipping his drink, his head buried in a book. She moved purposely through the room, past a crowded table with an overflow of bodies and to the end of the bar. She knew what she was going to say. Something very professional and sincere. Something like ‘Glen, I missed you when you left and I felt it was important that I catch you and wish you luck in the future’. She stopped to his left and he turned toward her with a surprised expression.
She was prepared but somehow, as she tried to open her mouth and say her lines, her mind went blank and in a meek and squeaky voice, she muttered “Hi. I … uh … I heard you might be here.”
“Jan, you surprised me. What are you doing here?”
“I missed you when you left and I felt … “, she trembled inside, “… I felt that I needed to tell you that I am sorry. I’m sorry for the things I said and the way … ”
Glen interrupted her. “No need. Sit down.” He motioned to the empty stool next to him. “Tim, could we get a Chardonnay down here.”
“No, honestly, I can’t stay. I … um… have to get back to the office.” She waved off the bartender.
“It’s 4: 30 on a Friday. Nothing’s going to happen. Sit down and let’s talk.” Glen turned the stool her way.
As Jan was about to speak, a waitress came by , pointed at Glen and called out over the din, “Glen, your table is ready.”
Glen acknowledged and turned to Jan. “Better yet, join me for dinner. Please.”
Jan shook her head. “I can’t. I just wanted to apologize and tell you that it wasn’t fair what I did and I’m sorry and … and … I wish you luck. I have to go.”
J an turned around and immediately crashed into a server dropping both her purse and the briefcase. Her purse spilled open and virtually everything inside flew out onto the tile floor. She muttered something to herself and bent over to pick up her belongings. Glen came over and tried to help but several others were there already and she quickly recovered. When she had everything, she started to straighten up but a woman in a dark green blazer held out her hand to her. She held the golden coin. She gave an enigmatic smile and whispered, “I think this is yours and you still need it.” Jan took it from her, said her thanks and placed it in her pocket. Then, without looking back, she strode out the front door.
It was still misting and the wind was picking up. She turned left and walked down the street back to the office where she was parked, hunched over against the cold. She turned the corner and went about twelve steps further and stopped dead in her tracks, causing other pedestrians to sidestep her and gaze back maddeningly. What did that woman say? …and you still need it? Why would she say it that way? Still? That doesn’t make any sense. It was like she’d seen the coin before. What the …
She stood as if transfixed in that spot for a few more moments and then, shaking her head, she continued down the street to the next intersection. As the light changed to WALK, she took two steps and then stopped forcing the other pedestrians to again evade her. She turned around and stepped back up on the curb. Standing in the rain, oblivious to all around her. This is where I normally fold my cards. This is the time when I run for the exits. Rivulets of rain slipped down her cheeks. She stood for a moment longer. Not this time! I’m going back and this time I’ll make things happen.
W ith a new determination, she turned around and walked back to the bar. She entered and went to the spot where the woman in the
She entered O’Brien ’s nine minutes later, her hair glistening wet, purse and briefcase still in hand. Looking around, she spied Glen at the end of the bar sipping his drink, his head buried in a book. She moved purposely through the room, past a crowded table with an overflow of bodies and to the end of the bar. She knew what she was going to say. Something very professional and sincere. Something like ‘Glen, I missed you when you left and I felt it was important that I catch you and wish you luck in the future’. She stopped to his left and he turned toward her with a surprised expression.
She was prepared but somehow, as she tried to open her mouth and say her lines, her mind went blank and in a meek and squeaky voice, she muttered “Hi. I … uh … I heard you might be here.”
“Jan, you surprised me. What are you doing here?”
“I missed you when you left and I felt … “, she trembled inside, “… I felt that I needed to tell you that I am sorry. I’m sorry for the things I said and the way … ”
Glen interrupted her. “No need. Sit down.” He motioned to the empty stool next to him. “Tim, could we get a Chardonnay down here.”
“No, honestly, I can’t stay. I … um… have to get back to the office.” She waved off the bartender.
“It’s 4: 30 on a Friday. Nothing’s going to happen. Sit down and let’s talk.” Glen turned the stool her way.
As Jan was about to speak, a waitress came by , pointed at Glen and called out over the din, “Glen, your table is ready.”
Glen acknowledged and turned to Jan. “Better yet, join me for dinner. Please.”
Jan shook her head. “I can’t. I just wanted to apologize and tell you that it wasn’t fair what I did and I’m sorry and … and … I wish you luck. I have to go.”
J an turned around and immediately crashed into a server dropping both her purse and the briefcase. Her purse spilled open and virtually everything inside flew out onto the tile floor. She muttered something to herself and bent over to pick up her belongings. Glen came over and tried to help but several others were there already and she quickly recovered. When she had everything, she started to straighten up but a woman in a dark green blazer held out her hand to her. She held the golden coin. She gave an enigmatic smile and whispered, “I think this is yours and you still need it.” Jan took it from her, said her thanks and placed it in her pocket. Then, without looking back, she strode out the front door.
It was still misting and the wind was picking up. She turned left and walked down the street back to the office where she was parked, hunched over against the cold. She turned the corner and went about twelve steps further and stopped dead in her tracks, causing other pedestrians to sidestep her and gaze back maddeningly. What did that woman say? …and you still need it? Why would she say it that way? Still? That doesn’t make any sense. It was like she’d seen the coin before. What the …
She stood as if transfixed in that spot for a few more moments and then, shaking her head, she continued down the street to the next intersection. As the light changed to WALK, she took two steps and then stopped forcing the other pedestrians to again evade her. She turned around and stepped back up on the curb. Standing in the rain, oblivious to all around her. This is where I normally fold my cards. This is the time when I run for the exits. Rivulets of rain slipped down her cheeks. She stood for a moment longer. Not this time! I’m going back and this time I’ll make things happen.
W ith a new determination, she turned around and walked back to the bar. She entered and went to the spot where the woman in the
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