software and do quite a bit of follow-up to be sure. He was in the middle of configuring an ANOVA test when he was startled by his phone.
He’d never bothered to program a witty ringtone or bit of a favorite song. His phone just made the default noise, an irritating buzzy chirp. He received so few calls—especially lately—that he’d never been annoyed enough to do anything about it. Now he glared at the little device before picking it up. “William Lyon speaking.”
“Duh. It’s your phone and you’re the only one there.”
William could hear the smile in Colby’s voice. “Can I help you?” William said.
“Jeez. Sounds like that stick’s crept right back in.” His sigh was noisy. “And after all my hard work too.” When William remained silent, Colby sighed again. “You got mail. Something official-looking, with lawyer names on it.”
“Oh.”
“So the truck came late today and the post office is gonna close in an hour, but the store stays open until six if you want to come by. I can probably talk the assistant postmaster into letting you at your envelope. The assistant postmaster is easy.”
William frowned for a moment, imagining Colby flirting with another man, but then the truth dawned. “You’re the assistant postmaster.”
“Which is gonna make the convincing job a real cinch. I almost always listen to myself. So, you gonna come get it today?”
William looked at the blinking cursor on his monitor. “Yeah. I’ll be there in a little while.”
“Cool. Catch you then, Will.” Colby disconnected before William could correct him.
He could have continued to work for a while; it was only a little past three. But now he couldn’t concentrate on the numbers anymore. He told himself his anxiety was over the awaiting mail, but he wasn’t sure whether that was true.
He changed out of his shorts and into trousers, but in a small fit of rebellion refused to don a button-down or blazer. He wore a T-shirt instead, a plain gray one that he usually reserved for exercising. He wished it were snugger and that he had muscles worth showing off.
When he arrived at the store, that older lady was there again. Mrs. Barrett, he remembered. She was exiting the door just as he was about to go in. She carried a single bottle of beer and gave him a vague smile as she passed. On the other hand, as soon as Colby caught sight of William, he waved happily, as if William might not see him in the otherwise deserted building. “Hey!” Colby called across the aisles. “You want postal service first or general store?”
“Postal. And then I guess I could use a few groceries.” He was nearly out of bread and he’d been craving potato chips. Maybe some ice cream would be good too, if the store carried any decent flavors.
Colby came skipping around the store counter and down the aisle between the shelves. His jeans today were black and very tight, but for once he was wearing a shirt with sleeves. His ubiquitous flip-flops slapped loudly on the tile floor. He didn’t quite touch William as he zoomed by, but William could feel the air currents shift with his passing. And then Colby was sliding over the post office counter again and reaching for one of the mail slots behind it.
“Here you go,” he said, setting a white envelope on the counter.
William glanced at the return address. Lee and Gorgodian, Attorneys at Law. Because he wasn’t contesting anything in the divorce, he hadn’t hired his own lawyer. Lisa had found a firm that did cheap no-fault divorces and William had agreed to split the costs. He was a little resentful that they had to involve lawyers at all, since there was really no conflict, and he could have spent the money on better things. But Lisa wanted things done right. And he certainly didn’t want problems coming back to haunt them.
At first, he was going to slip the envelope into his pocket to read later. But then it occurred to him that something probably needed to be signed and
He’d never bothered to program a witty ringtone or bit of a favorite song. His phone just made the default noise, an irritating buzzy chirp. He received so few calls—especially lately—that he’d never been annoyed enough to do anything about it. Now he glared at the little device before picking it up. “William Lyon speaking.”
“Duh. It’s your phone and you’re the only one there.”
William could hear the smile in Colby’s voice. “Can I help you?” William said.
“Jeez. Sounds like that stick’s crept right back in.” His sigh was noisy. “And after all my hard work too.” When William remained silent, Colby sighed again. “You got mail. Something official-looking, with lawyer names on it.”
“Oh.”
“So the truck came late today and the post office is gonna close in an hour, but the store stays open until six if you want to come by. I can probably talk the assistant postmaster into letting you at your envelope. The assistant postmaster is easy.”
William frowned for a moment, imagining Colby flirting with another man, but then the truth dawned. “You’re the assistant postmaster.”
“Which is gonna make the convincing job a real cinch. I almost always listen to myself. So, you gonna come get it today?”
William looked at the blinking cursor on his monitor. “Yeah. I’ll be there in a little while.”
“Cool. Catch you then, Will.” Colby disconnected before William could correct him.
He could have continued to work for a while; it was only a little past three. But now he couldn’t concentrate on the numbers anymore. He told himself his anxiety was over the awaiting mail, but he wasn’t sure whether that was true.
He changed out of his shorts and into trousers, but in a small fit of rebellion refused to don a button-down or blazer. He wore a T-shirt instead, a plain gray one that he usually reserved for exercising. He wished it were snugger and that he had muscles worth showing off.
When he arrived at the store, that older lady was there again. Mrs. Barrett, he remembered. She was exiting the door just as he was about to go in. She carried a single bottle of beer and gave him a vague smile as she passed. On the other hand, as soon as Colby caught sight of William, he waved happily, as if William might not see him in the otherwise deserted building. “Hey!” Colby called across the aisles. “You want postal service first or general store?”
“Postal. And then I guess I could use a few groceries.” He was nearly out of bread and he’d been craving potato chips. Maybe some ice cream would be good too, if the store carried any decent flavors.
Colby came skipping around the store counter and down the aisle between the shelves. His jeans today were black and very tight, but for once he was wearing a shirt with sleeves. His ubiquitous flip-flops slapped loudly on the tile floor. He didn’t quite touch William as he zoomed by, but William could feel the air currents shift with his passing. And then Colby was sliding over the post office counter again and reaching for one of the mail slots behind it.
“Here you go,” he said, setting a white envelope on the counter.
William glanced at the return address. Lee and Gorgodian, Attorneys at Law. Because he wasn’t contesting anything in the divorce, he hadn’t hired his own lawyer. Lisa had found a firm that did cheap no-fault divorces and William had agreed to split the costs. He was a little resentful that they had to involve lawyers at all, since there was really no conflict, and he could have spent the money on better things. But Lisa wanted things done right. And he certainly didn’t want problems coming back to haunt them.
At first, he was going to slip the envelope into his pocket to read later. But then it occurred to him that something probably needed to be signed and
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