Chapter 2

Feeling a little buzzed, Christina surveyed what she had managed to accomplish through the afternoon. Feeling content with her work, she mixed just one more drink before heading upstairs to take a shower. It had been a long afternoon and Christina was looking forward to a quiet evening. Just a simple dinner, a little Skky, and the silence of the mountains. Silence would soon be a thing of the past as she re-entered the life of civilization.

Taking a steaming shower, Christina began to feel the knots and tension of the day melt away. Taking the drink off the counter and into the bedroom she decided she had time to take a short nap before returning to the kitchen and fixing dinner for herself. Lying on the bed she had once shared with Jonathon she added to her mental list to get rid of the bed. Too many memories both good and bad were attached to this bed. As she drifted off to sleep her mind was still on the past.

Christina looked at her watch again as she stepped out of the cab. She had time for a quick pastry and a coffee before her meeting with her new editor/agent this morning. She noticed that she seemed to blend in with those around her in the little shop. The same generic business attire. The same harried facial expressions at being kept waiting. She felt a measure of confidence that no one could tell she had just arrived from the Midwest. “Carmel Latte, please.” she ordered when her turn at the counter came. “And a blackberry muffin.” She handed over the money and then waited while the coffee was made, nibbling at pinches off the muffin.

Taking the coffee that was served, when they called her by name, she turned to head out the door. She hated when they did that. Called her by first name as though they knew her. Somehow intimating that you are close, possibly personal, friends. Anyway, out the door she walked, coffee and muffin balanced in one hand, briefcase in the other. Just another casualty of the corporate world. Her mind on that tasks that lay ahead, she run strait into another one of those casualties, covering them both in splashes of latte. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” she gushed alternatively wiping coffee from herself and then him.

Jonathon smiled taking the napkin from her hands and wiping the coffee from them each much more efficiently. “No harm, no foul. Don’t worry about it.”

Looking into that smile Christina was suddenly at a loss for words. She quickly gathered her stuff, returned something that resembled a smile, she hoped, and began to leave. “Again, I am very sorry. Enjoy what’s left of your coffee.” She hoped her walk showed confidence and strength as she walked away from him. Jonathon watched her walk away with a smile playing across his own lips and with a shake of his head he continued into the coffee shop.

Being in the corporate world was not something Christina was adjusted to. She didn’t have to be. She was not the corporate type. She was however, learning the ropes of being a “city girl”. Today she was meeting with her new literary agent who was negotiating a contract with a publishing house for Christina‘s work. Her first work had been a critically acclaimed smash while she was still a lowly college student. Even getting published at the time had been a fluke. She had submitted her work just to appease a professor, expecting to be rejected by every publisher. No one was more shocked than Christina when she had received an acceptance letter and a list of revisions to be made. Today she was meeting with Cynthia Woods for the first time to iron out the details of a contract. She had more manuscripts that had been tentatively accepted but they preferred to work with authors through an agent. Thus, Madison had moved to the east coast, found an agent who would accept a virtual unknown. Today, Christina had become corporate.

Christina was roused from the dream by the ringing of the phone. Reaching out from under the covers to grab the handset she mumbled a groggy hello.

“Christina? Are you ok?” came the voice over the lines.

Oh my God! She thought. Jonathon. “Hello Jonathon.” she suddenly came completely too. “I’m fine, just got up from taking a nap. How are you?” This was not a conversation she wanted to have. Why oh why did she not check the caller ID.

“I’m good Christina. I hear you sold the house. I was very sorry to hear that. You love that house.”

“Well, Jonathon. I do love this house. But it doesn’t make sense to keep it. When I get back to Kansas I won’t have any use for it. I can’t just up and take it with me.” damn, she was coming across so hateful. She didn’t want him to know that his call had gotten to her. She wanted to stay calm and even.

“Yes, I just heard today that you are moving back home. I called to say congratulations on the new job. And, well, I guess that is all. Just wanted to make sure you are doing OK.”

“Yes, well thank you. I have been doing fine. Life is changing and I’m embracing it with the best I can. Anyway, I really should go. I still have a lot to do.” Christina could have smacked herself for being so short. She still loved Jonathon. More than she dared admit to even herself. But this was better. Better for him anyway.

“OK Chrise. Take care. And if you ever need anything please call. I miss you.”

She could hear the agony in his voice and wanted to cry. She wanted to make this break as easy as possible. To save them both. With time he would find a better life with a woman who could give him the family he deserved. “Have a good night Jonathon. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye. I love you Christina.”

Christina waited until the connection was broken before letting herself lose it. Why did he have to say that? Why could he not just leave well enough alone? Why did she have to miss him so much? Hanging up the phone she started back downstairs. She had suddenly lost any appetite she may have had. Instead of the kitchen, she went to the bar and made a drink. Drained it quickly before making an entire pitcher and taking it out to the deck with her.