“No.”
“Never? He didn’t try to contact you or anything?”
“No.”
“Wow, that is really sad.”
“Then the night before I left for DC, I saw a car parked out in front of my house. And at first, I thought it might be someone doing something illegal. But I’ve had this feeling all day that it might have been something else. That it might have been Ethan.”
“Okay. . .,.”
“So then on this trip to DC I met a friend of my grandfather’s,”
Sherry made a face and wrinkled her nose.
“He isn’t my grandfather’s age.” I said.
“Oh, well okay then.”
“He was at my grandfather’s house for poker night with some other people grandpa works with and he and I started talking.”
“And then?” She drug out the words.
“He called me the next day and we went out to dinner.”
“And?”
“One thing led to another and he might be coming down here to visit this weekend.”
“Okay, so what exactly is the problem?”
“So the problem is that I’ve been thinking about Ethan, the guy from six years ago. Even when I was spending time with Mac this weekend, I couldn’t help but think about Ethan.”
“What does this Ethan do for a living?” Sherry asked looking serious.
“Ethan was an FBI agent when I met him.”
“And this guy that works with your grandfather, what does he do?”
I was starting to feel a little uncomfortable under Sherry’s scrutiny. “He is the director NCIS”
“NCIS!” She raised her voice.
“Shhh, I don’t need the whole office knowing.”
“Sorry,” she said, “are you kidding me?”
“No, why?”
“NCIS is one of my favorite shows.”
“Sherry, he isn’t on the show, this is real life.”
“I know, I know, but still. How cool is that?”
“Well, I was thinking if it was Ethan in front of my house maybe I should look him up.”
“And you think the car in front of your house was this Ethan?” Sherry studied me, “he is just an FBI agent?”
“Yeah,”
“I don’t know I think I’d hold out for the Director.”
“Sherry!”
“What? I mean if you haven’t made up your mind which one to date, what’s the harm?”
I shook my head. This is why I don’t talk to people about my personal life.
Chapter Sixteen
Kay
My conversation with Sherry notwithstanding I couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan. But, why go looking for trouble? If I sought him out that would imply, I was interested in a relationship and then how would I explain Mac. Although, Mac and I didn’t have a relationship as yet. I needed to know if there was anything there for us. If there wasn’t then I was free to see Mac without feeling the guilt I was experiencing now. Plus, if there wasn’t anything there for us then why was he sitting outside my house. If, he was sitting outside my house, I reminded myself. I stared up at the ceiling. I needed to let this go and let life takes its course. I had other things that more pressing than my social life to deal with. I had a company to run, I needed to be ready to move on the expansion if the hospital came back with a positive answer. That would likely require another trip to DC this time with Michael to work out the details. Just then an email popped up on my screen from the Ohio plant, they were having a material shortage and needed some help.
The week was nearly a blur and on Thursday afternoon my cell phone rang. “Hello,”
“Kay, it’s Mac.
“Mac, hang on a second please,” I got up and shut my door. “Thanks, I wanted to shut my office door. How are you?”
“I’m good. I’m sorry I haven’t called before now.” Mac apologized.
“It’s okay. It’s been a busy week here and I’m sure you are busy too.”
“Yeah, that is why I am calling. I don’t think I am going to be able to make it down this weekend. I’m really sorry.”
“Oh,” I was surprised at how disappointed I felt. “We have a high-profile case and I’m getting pressure to get it wrapped up pretty quickly. I don’t think I can get away.”
“I understand, I do. I am disappointed, but these things happen.” I reassured him.
“I know, I’m disappointed, too. Do you think it will do any good if I told SecNav I need the weekend free so I could go see his granddaughter?”
I laughed at the very thought. “No, I don’t think that would be a good idea for either of us.”
Mac chuckled. “Yeah I think you’re right.” He agreed. “I’ll try to call, okay?”
“Okay.”
We clicked off.
There was a soft knock at the door. “Yes?”
Sherry poked her head in. “Is everything okay?”
“My weekend plans just got cancelled.”
“Oh no!”
“It’s probably just as well. Who was I kidding thinking this would go anywhere with his schedule and mine and long distance, no less?”
“Hey, don’t think like that. It will work out.” Now it was Sherry’s turn to be reassuring.
I had my doubts but didn’t want to dash Sherry’s hopes. “I hope you’re right.”
I worked late that night; I had no real incentive go home. And wondered if maybe I shouldn’t develop a hobby or take a yoga class. Sherry had suggested we do something together a number of times and I had begged off. Maybe I should take her up on it and forget about men.
On a whim, I decided rather than drive straight to the back of my property where the driveway was located, I’d make a pass down the street to see if anyone was parked out front. As I turned the corner the same dark colored car was there. I had a sudden thought that it could be something very different than what I imagined and possibly dangerous. But it was too late because anyone in that car had certainly seen me by now. I pulled parallel but not too close and put my window down. The dark sedan did the same. The streetlight was bright enough that I had no doubt as to who was sitting in front of my house.
“Ethan, would you like
