Read Online Zera and the Green Man by Sandra Knauf - Free Book Online
Authors: Sandra Knauf
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this is my starting salary.” He handed the pad across the table. Tiffany’s slender hand trembled as she took it. She peeked at the display. It read: $ 900,000.00 .
“Oh–my–God!” She squealed and bounced up several inches in her chair. A few diners looked over and Tiffany flashed them a lottery winner’s smile.
“Tomorrow I’m leaving Biotech and I’m not even giving them notice. I’m never going back. And that’s just the beginning.” Theodore’s voice lowered, “We can get out of here. I’ll finally have the chance to be all I’m destined to be.”
“Theodore, I am so hap . . .” She stopped, looked at him wide-eyed. “You said ‘we’ . . . Does that mean . . .”
“Yep, no more slaving over equations and hypotheses while the powers that be take all the credit, and the money. Langston Void, the top CEO at Void Chemical Corporation, wants to meet me tomorrow, wants me to personally bring him the signed contract. I told him about you, how you encouraged me, and he invited you, too. He wants to meet you.”
“You said ‘we’ll’ before, Teddy . . . ,” a hopeful eagerness brightened Tiffany’s face. “Does this mean, well, that you might want to . . .” she looked around the room, “take our relationship to the next level?”
Theodore turned pale. He took a gulp of wine. He cared about Tiffany, but had no desire to even think about the “M” word. Before Sally and Ewan died, he and Tiffany had been on exactly two dates. Then she showed up the day after his sister’s death. She’d read about it in the papers, wanted to comfort him. Before he knew it, she was a big part of his and Zera’s lives. She’d been hinting at marriage for months, but he didn’t know if he would ever be ready for that. His mother had been married three times; he just didn’t believe in that institution. Yet he needed Tiffany’s help with Zera, an area where he was clueless and she was confident, and he needed her enthusiasm. Tiffany’s ambition and drive were contagious. More than anything, Theodore wanted to succeed, to be someone important, and Tiffany understood this like no one else.
“We both know I couldn’t have done this without you, Tiff, and I do want you to come out with me to L.A. You’ve always said you’d like to maybe live out there someday, and I thought you could help me find a place to live. There’s just so much going on, and if I get this job there will be a lot to figure out.”
Tiffany flashed her eyes up at Theodore’s. “I didn’t mean to sound like I was pressuring you, but we’ve been together for a long time now. I just don’t want you to forget that. That we’re a team .” The last line hung in the air like a tease — and a threat.
“That I know.” Theodore took another gulp of wine.
“Now,” Tiffany said, “what are we going to do about Zera?”
* * *
In the cubicle, as Theodore put the holographic photos in his briefcase, he thought more about Tiffany’s question. What to do with Zera? Once again his excitement over a new future, a future that finally involved serious money and status, dimmed. It was strange. He was elated yesterday, he thought it was the best day of his entire life, but the more he thought about it . . .
Zera has only a few more years until she’s out of high school. It should be okay. Mom should be able to handle it, and if she can’t she’ll tell me. And Zera will be happier too .
Chapter Seven
During fourth period, Biology, Zera concentrated on doodling. She’d already filled up half her electronic biology book’s memory with sketches of plants, and now, with her writing pen, she created a leafy, swirling vine that climbed up one side of the screen before twining around the word “Green.” Flowers of all sizes sprung from the vine: sunflowers, carnations, lilies, and snapdragons. Zera penned in expressive faces — sweet, scowling, serious, funny — from cooing, smooth-faced baby flower buds to
“Oh–my–God!” She squealed and bounced up several inches in her chair. A few diners looked over and Tiffany flashed them a lottery winner’s smile.
“Tomorrow I’m leaving Biotech and I’m not even giving them notice. I’m never going back. And that’s just the beginning.” Theodore’s voice lowered, “We can get out of here. I’ll finally have the chance to be all I’m destined to be.”
“Theodore, I am so hap . . .” She stopped, looked at him wide-eyed. “You said ‘we’ . . . Does that mean . . .”
“Yep, no more slaving over equations and hypotheses while the powers that be take all the credit, and the money. Langston Void, the top CEO at Void Chemical Corporation, wants to meet me tomorrow, wants me to personally bring him the signed contract. I told him about you, how you encouraged me, and he invited you, too. He wants to meet you.”
“You said ‘we’ll’ before, Teddy . . . ,” a hopeful eagerness brightened Tiffany’s face. “Does this mean, well, that you might want to . . .” she looked around the room, “take our relationship to the next level?”
Theodore turned pale. He took a gulp of wine. He cared about Tiffany, but had no desire to even think about the “M” word. Before Sally and Ewan died, he and Tiffany had been on exactly two dates. Then she showed up the day after his sister’s death. She’d read about it in the papers, wanted to comfort him. Before he knew it, she was a big part of his and Zera’s lives. She’d been hinting at marriage for months, but he didn’t know if he would ever be ready for that. His mother had been married three times; he just didn’t believe in that institution. Yet he needed Tiffany’s help with Zera, an area where he was clueless and she was confident, and he needed her enthusiasm. Tiffany’s ambition and drive were contagious. More than anything, Theodore wanted to succeed, to be someone important, and Tiffany understood this like no one else.
“We both know I couldn’t have done this without you, Tiff, and I do want you to come out with me to L.A. You’ve always said you’d like to maybe live out there someday, and I thought you could help me find a place to live. There’s just so much going on, and if I get this job there will be a lot to figure out.”
Tiffany flashed her eyes up at Theodore’s. “I didn’t mean to sound like I was pressuring you, but we’ve been together for a long time now. I just don’t want you to forget that. That we’re a team .” The last line hung in the air like a tease — and a threat.
“That I know.” Theodore took another gulp of wine.
“Now,” Tiffany said, “what are we going to do about Zera?”
* * *
In the cubicle, as Theodore put the holographic photos in his briefcase, he thought more about Tiffany’s question. What to do with Zera? Once again his excitement over a new future, a future that finally involved serious money and status, dimmed. It was strange. He was elated yesterday, he thought it was the best day of his entire life, but the more he thought about it . . .
Zera has only a few more years until she’s out of high school. It should be okay. Mom should be able to handle it, and if she can’t she’ll tell me. And Zera will be happier too .
Chapter Seven
During fourth period, Biology, Zera concentrated on doodling. She’d already filled up half her electronic biology book’s memory with sketches of plants, and now, with her writing pen, she created a leafy, swirling vine that climbed up one side of the screen before twining around the word “Green.” Flowers of all sizes sprung from the vine: sunflowers, carnations, lilies, and snapdragons. Zera penned in expressive faces — sweet, scowling, serious, funny — from cooing, smooth-faced baby flower buds to
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