I had Phyllis schedule me for a meeting with Bigwood a few weeks away-a Friday afternoon before he was due to go out of town for a conference. It was vital that I get to him before he left. He’ d met Lizbeth at a conference. I couldn’ t risk a repeat performance. Even though I had plenty on my plate already, I’ d never forgive myself if I let him hire another little lovely-someone with that mix of aggression and beauty that seemed to draw him-while I sat by and did nothing.
My phone was ringing when I got back to my cubicle. I picked it up, and it was Troy. As soon as I heard him say hello, I felt my lips turn up and my IQ involuntarily drop. Yes, the crush was in full effect. Getting worse, in fact. Troy had been acting as go-between to help me work out a plan for Vegas with his mom and grandma. We’ d exchanged brief, polite phone messages rather than actual calls so far, but they were enough to send my blood pulsing.
The trip to Las Vegas was set for the last weekend in June, and he’ d said his mom and grandma were looking forward to it. In fact, everything seemed so tied together, I was surprised to hear from him now.
Unless something was wrong. Maybe they’ d changed their minds.
I gnawed on a fingernail. ‘ What’ s up?’
‘ Oh, it’ s you,’ he said, sounding surprised. ‘ I expected your voice mail.’
‘ I can take a message for me if you’ d prefer.’
‘ The real thing’ s much better.’ We exchanged the usual how are yous; then he said, ‘ I’ m calling to offer my services if you think you might need me in Vegas.’
Services? ‘ What-escort?’
‘ Actually, yes. If you need help with Mom and Gran, I’ d be glad to do what I can.’ Then he added hurriedly, ‘ Of course, I’ d get myself up there& book my own room.’
I found myself saying, Of course, come on up. The more the merrier. But concerned by what might be underlying his offer, I added, ‘ Are you sure your mom and grandma are comfortable with this trip? Because it’ s not worth doing it for the list if it’ s going to make them-’
‘ They’ re excited, I promise, although I’ d be lying if I said there won’ t be sad moments for them. That’ s why I thought it might be good if I was there. Just in case.’
In case what? Susan’ s comment about how losing a child was the worst possible thing she could imagine floated back to me. Was this too much to ask of a grieving mom? I had no way of knowing if he was being honest about their being up for the trip, but I decided to trust him. ‘ Okay,’ I said. ‘ But you don’ t have to go up on your own. You can ride with us. We’ re leaving Friday at three.’
‘ I appreciate the offer, but I’ ve got a meeting that afternoon,’ he said. ‘ I’ ll ride the bike up, so I’ ll probably get there before you anyway.’
‘ Yeah? You believe that your motorcycle can take our Rideshare Mobile?’
‘ You don’ t really call it that, do you?’
‘ Sure do. It’ s a thirty-foot motor home with the words painted on the side in giant letters. I hope your mom and grandma have a high tolerance for embarrassment.’
‘ They’ re Wayne Newton fans-of course they do. And yes, I can beat you there. I’ ll get to ride around traffic. You’ ll be stuck in it.’
‘ Ah, but you’ re forgetting that we can use the carpool lane.’
As soon as I said it, it struck me. I must have gasped because he said, ‘ Everything okay?’
‘ You’ re a genius.’
‘ Thank you for noticing. Any reason in particular you’ re telling me now?’
‘ You gave me a great idea for work.’
‘ Just now?’
‘ Yeah, and it might get good media. There’ s even a chance this one won’ t cause rioting in the streets.’
‘ That’ s too bad,’ he said. ‘ I’ ve come to expect exciting things to happen when you’ re around.’
FRIDAY NIGHT, I sat in my apartment, reeling with frustration. I’ d spent hours rummaging through photo albums and yearbooks, only to come up empty-handed. The next day was my parents’ party, where I’ d give my brother the letter showing him how grateful I was for him. I ought to be able to come up with one tender moment to reminisce about, but I couldn’ t.
Dear Bob:
I’ m writing to express my gratitude for the time that you and your friends decided it would be ‘ funny’ to pin my junior year homecoming date against the wall and ask him what his intentions were with me. Hilarious!
Love,
June
P.S. It was especially amusing because, although he and I only went to the dance as friends, I believe he may have wet himself.
Dear Bob:
I can’ t thank you enough for keeping a photo of me wearing my eye patch in your wallet and showing it around as often as possible. How many girls have a brother who carries a photo of them? I’ m flattered and, it goes without saying, grateful.
Shiver me timbers,
June
Dear Bob:
Please accept my most humble gratitude for the people you brought into my life-especially all the girls who pretended to be my friends, only to spend the entire time fawning over you once they got to the house. Your popularity and magnetism remain an inspiration.
Yours in family and friendship,
June
Dear Bob:
Words cannot express my appreciation for my recent weekend visit to your home, during which you took off for
