After Olivia

2

Throughout the buildings of the city's core, workers waded into seas of cubicles prepared to drown themselves in the business of the day. On the third floor of one of these office towers, Bill sank into his chair surrounded by walls of grey-teal fabric. He took a deep breath as he pressed the power button of his computer and waited. A flourish from the speakers beside the monitor seemed to announce the arrival of the department's administrative assistant as she stepped into the cubicle.

"Emergency meeting in the executive boardroom on the sixth floor. They want you in there," she said quickly.

"Good morning, Heather," Bill replied as she turned to leave. "Any idea what it's about?"

"All I know, it's something about a fire at a customer's office. Their systems are down. I don't know which customer or where it is. If the meeting is on the sixth floor, you know it has to be something big. Hurry up!"

"I don't think I've ever been on six. I'm surprised they know who I am."

"Are you kidding, you're the Rock Star of problem solving around here. We didn't put this 'Guru' sticker on your name plate for nothing," Heather said as she pointed to the name plate beside the cubicle opening. "Now, get your butt moving."

Bill smiled humbly as he replied, "Okay, no doubt they'll ramble on for a couple hours trying to figure out what to do, how to respond, and what to bring in for lunch. I'll try to text you some details. If you don't mind, pull up everything you can, contacts, schematics, anything at all. That'll give me a head start on whatever they expect me to do. Oh, I guess I should have you call Emily, I might not make it for lunch."

****

Bill joined Emily at a table in one of their usual meeting spots, the diner on the North edge of the park. Emily bears a resemblance to her younger sister, Olivia. The same eyes, hair colour, and similar features made them look like twins born three years apart.

"I didn't think you would make it. Heather told me that you were dragged into some sort of disaster meeting," Emily said as she hugged Bill.

"It's all under control. How have you been? I was starting to think I wouldn't see you at all this week."

"Augh!" Emily protested as she shook her head. "I have an assignment due for my class and this merger is killing me, but other than that, I'm great! And, in case you ignored me the last three times I reminded you, mom's birthday is Saturday. You're going to make it. Right?"

"Of course!" Bill stated as the waitress placed menus and cutlery on the table.

"Hey you made it! How are you today? Do you need the menus, or will it be the usual?" the waitress said as she ran the fingers of her right hand through the hair over her ear.

"I'm great, thanks. The usual, for me," Bill replied.

"Wow, I have a usual," Emily said reaching for the menu." I think that means I need to mix it up a bit. Any suggestions?"

Bill's eyes darted back and forth, capturing brief glimpses of the waitress as she recommended the Chicken Parmesan sandwich to Emily. He noted her auburn hair tied back in a ponytail and lightly tanned skin before looking away. Another look was directed towards her name tag, Matilda. He turned his head quickly when he realized his gaze had lingered perhaps a little too long at the subtle form of her breasts in the tightly fitted t-shirt. He directed his attention to the park across the street; the park that was the backdrop of his lucid dreams of Olivia.

"And for you, it's the Thursday Sloppy Joe Special and a root beer." Matilda confirmed.

Bill looked to her eyes for a second or two then towards the menu sitting on the table in front of him. "Yeah, I think I'll stick with that. Maybe next time I'll switch it up a bit."

"Great, I'll have that out shortly," Matilda said before she turned and walked away.

"How are things with Roger?" Bill asked Emily as his eyes followed the waitress.

"I don't know. One minute I think we're done; next I start blaming myself."

"You're still wearing your engagement ring," Bill said as he brought his attention back to Emily.

"I know, but can we talk about something else? I've heard enough about how bad of a wife I'm going to be," Emily requested.

"Okay, then, what about this party for your mom? What should I bring?"

"Yourself, of course, and maybe desert. If I bring it, she accuses me of making her fat, if you bring it she goes on about how you know exactly what she likes."

"So, what does she like now that she can't eat chocolate?"

"You know that place on the corner a block down from your apartment; they have the best pumpkin pie. That and a bucket of vanilla ice cream. Mom will love it."

Bill and Emily continued their conversation throughout the lunch hour. The waitress said a friendly good-bye as they headed out the door together.

"I'm going to walk through the park before I go back to the office," Bill said.

"I would join you, but I have to stop at the Office Depot on my way back. Promise me you're not going to bail on the party. Mom will blame me if you don't show up."

"I'll be there, I promise," Bill said.

"Okay, call me if you need help buying a gift. I'll call you tomorrow about lunch."

Emily hugged Bill before he dashed across the street towards the park. She could tell he was thinking about Olivia. He would normally walk with her to her office at the end of the block, then turn the corner towards his building. On the days when her sister occupied his mind, he would stroll through the park.

Unlike the usual walks, where he would simply remind himself of losing Olivia, this trip had a purpose. Bill made his way down the hill towards the pond and took in all the details of the gazebo that had been under construction three years earlier. As he stood beside it, he tried to ignore the orangey red colour that had made Olivia cringe, and imagined the structure was white with black shingles, just as she had requested in his dream. He studied the decorative trim and styling of the railings and arches. The structure he had ignored for years was now being etched into his memory.

The vibration and buzz of the cell phone in his shirt pocket shook him from his melancholy gaze. He answered and told Heather he was on his way back to the office as he took in one last look. The park was bustling with people enjoying a warm spring afternoon, but he walked past everyone, seemingly unaware of their presence. He returned to the mundane flow of work that melted into the routine of returning home.