Quite Quitting

Big Turkey and Loud Tears

The next few weeks flew by in bliss. I spent most of my time with Alex, who was mainly working–now that he did not want to ask me to do work, he was taking on the extra load. My Quite Quitting plan was in motion without effort, but I was not complaining.

I worked a 9 to 5 most days, largely training David while Alex found a second replacement, which he admitted was harder to do than he thought.

"No one wants to work long hours anymore!" He complained one day as we ate breakfast on a lazy Sunday morning on the same couch we had fallen asleep on all those nights ago–thought he was looking at resumes in between bites of his eggs. "I asked this chick a question a few days ago, and she said she makes it a point not to look at emails outside work hours–why would you admit that in an interview?" He excitedly said.

"Alex, that's a good thing. You want your people to have boundaries so they don't burn out and try to argue their way out. That can tarnish the company's reputation!" I suggested, taking a bite of the last bits of my eggs.

"Still..." He quietly mumbled, rapidly scrolling on his laptop.

As he worked, I took the plate of his half-eaten egg to the kitchen to clean up as he hollered, "Don't worry about them." But I just wanted to be helpful.

I found satisfaction as I scrubbed the dried eggs stuck to the shiny china, which slowly peeled off due to the water force.

"Char, leave it," Alex said, coming up to me and giving me a side hug and a kiss on my forehead.

"It's fine, one less thing for you to do–for your maid to do," I added.

"So listen, I am not thinking of doing Thanksgiving with my parents, and I figured you and I could maybe take a trip. Somewhere nice. Maybe Paris?" he asked, though a bit half-heartedly. Alex has been having arguments with his parents on and off since the day he kicked Glenn out.

"I think I mentioned this before, but I am actually going back to see my parents. I am leaving this Wednesday." I casually mentioned.

"Oh, right, I forgot...." He finally looked away from his laptop and glared at my face. "Would it be too soon to meet them?"

"Huh? You want to meet my parents?" I said, blindsided.

"Sure! We have officially been together for a month or so now. So it might be time for me to officially introduce myself?"

"Okay." Was all I could muster.

****

Alex was practically MIA Monday and Tuesday. Since last Sunday, I saw him twice, specifically to talk about David's progress. We made dinner plans for both nights, which he canceled because Vcard was ready for a demo. Typically I would be invited to these things, asked to give my opinion and prep with Vcard before the demo, but this time, it was just a passing message that Alex texted me. I wasn't invited, nor was I consulted on the matter. Who knew Quite Quitting would make me feel so—well, useless?

So Wednesday night, I packed and prepared to leave for Jersey to visit my parents alone. Alex had not texted back when I sent him several updates on tonight's plans. "Hey, Noel might pick us up at seven today." "Nvm, she is running late. She might not make it till 8." "Sorry, we might have to take the train back. Charlie, Noel's fiance, is not feeling well. She had to take him to urgent care. I am thinking of leaving for the training in about an hour." Nothing.

Around 5, Sugar came home from work, frazzled, "Late, late, late—I am so late. My mother is going to kill me!" She screamed as she tried to fling her sneakers off her shoes, eventually giving up and using her hands, as they were not cooperating. Then she dashed into the bathroom, and a few seconds later, I heard the shower run. A minute later, it was off, and the door flung open. Sugar stuck her head out, looking straight at me in the kitchen, where I was cooking myself a grilled cheese. "Can I use you as an excuse? Tell my mother Alex was treating you like a monster, and you couldn't get out early, and I didnt want you to travel back from the city alone?" she asked.