Authors: Shirley Mendonca
Saturday afternoon Jim left the hotel around 2:00 p.m. to take a taxi to Tom’s office at the Globe.
The office seemed huge to Jim as he stood in front of the window in Tom Adams office
.
The Secretary had served him coffee while he waited for Tom to arrive. What a sight. How I would love to live and work here. His thoughts w
ere
interrupted
by Tom saying
, “Jim, glad you could make it. Have a seat.” He walked around a huge oak desk and sat down. “I’ve been keeping up with you and your newspaper. I’m impressed with what I’ve learnt so far. Tell me, Jim just how committed are you to your paper?”
“It’s simple, Mr. Adams, I love the newspaper business, I grew up around the business
”
. Jim explained about the accident
. How he took over
running the paper
for the family
.
The staff
members
are
people
who
had
been there ever since the paper started.
“If we were to offer you a position with us, what would you do about the paper in Pine Valley?” Tom asked.
“As I said, the people that work for me know the newspaper business very well. They would have no problem running it until I could sell it.” Jim was hoping Tom was saying the words he wanted to hear.
“Would your family want to move to Los Angeles? I mean with your brother and all.” Tom asked in a concerned tone of voice.
“I would certainly see that my Father and brother were taking very good care of before I ever moved. I know with my Father’s age and the condition of my brother
,
they wouldn’t be able to move to Los Angeles. I have already spoken with Mrs. Pollard who takes care of them now and she would be willing to move in and care
of
my Father and my brother, Paul.” Jim responded.
“You mentioned in your email that you’re engaged. I think you said her name was Barbara. How does she f
eel about moving to Los Angeles? A
fter all the little woman has to be happy also.” Tom joked.
“I know Barbara wants whatever
makes me happy and what is good for ou
r
future.” Jim lied.
The intercom rang as Tom started to answer Jim.” Yes Donna, what is it?” He listened without saying anything, turned to Jim. “Sorry, but we have a production problem. You know how these things go. Let’s finish this conversation tonight over dinner
at Max’s restaurant. Do you know where it is located? I
f
not just ask anyone
. They will
tell you how to get there. Say around seven
tonight. Bring Barbara with you,
Joan and I would love to meet her.” Tom buzzed Donna on the intercom. “Donna, make reservations at Max’s tonight at seven for four.”
Jim started to tell Tom that Barbara didn’t come with him on the trip, but before he could say anything Tom excused himself and left the room. Jim stood to leave wondering how he was going to handle this evening. Lorraine didn’t give
him
Brenda’s phone number. He would just have to be at Max’s early enough to catch Lorraine and explain everything to her and plan for a late supper.
Lorraine was taking special care to look just right for tonight. She had changed her mind about the blue dress and decided on a
long silk powder blue suit with long full sleeves. She decided to wear diamond earrings and wear her hair down. She gla
n
ced at her watch and noticed it was already 6:00. The drive would take at least 45 minutes from Brenda’
s house.
Th
at
would put her at Max’s just before 7:00
Brenda walked Lorraine to her car that she had rented for the trip. She wasn’t sure that they truck would make the trip, besides how would it look to pull up in front of Max’s, one of the nicest restaurant in Los Angeles, in a truck.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing? It’s only been two years since your
divorce. I don’t want to see you hurt again.” Brenda made Lorraine promise to call when she returned to San Lupus.
“I’ll be just fine. I really loved seeing you again and I plan on keeping in touch. You must come to San Lupus to visit. ” Lorraine gave Brenda a hug and drove off to meet Jim.
Jim paced back and forth in the lobby of the restaurant hoping that Lorraine would arrive before the Adams. He palms were sweating like a waterfall. He needed to see Lorraine and explain to her about the dinner meeting. He was sure she would understand. Come on Lorraine. Where are you? He thought to himself as he stood in the lobby. Jim once again look
ing
i
n the direction of the entrance, he
saw the Adams entering the restaurant and about thirty feet behind them was Lorraine.
“Good evening Jim. Tom greeted Jim. “This is my wife, Joan. Where’s Barbara
?” Before Jim could explain, Lorraine came up to his side and took his arm. “Hi there, would you like a date for the evening? Are you the big shot reporter I’ve been hearing about?” Lorraine wasn’t aware Jim was standing with the Adam
s
. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek.
Before Jim could explain t
o
Tom and Joan, Tom reached out and took Lorraine’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Barbara. Let me introduce you to my wife, Joan.”
Joan shook hands with Lorraine. “Jim didn’t tell us he had such a beautiful bride-to-be.” Joan responded.
Jim looked into Lorraine’s eyes, waiting to see what her reaction would be. “Well, thank you very much. It’s a pleasure to meet you also.” Jim took a deep breath.
“Jim has told me so much about you and your newspaper.” Lorraine replied with a smile, hoping the floor would open up and let her fall through. Jim squeezed her arm as if to say thank you.
“Please excuse my little joke about the big shot reporter. Jim is always saying that he ne
ver knows what I’m going to say
or do next
.” She laughed
as they went to their table. “
This is going to be a
disaster.” She whispered to Jim
. She knew there was no choice but to be Barbara for the evening.
Jim told h
e
r she didn’t have to do this. He would explain to the Adams, and let thi
ngs
fall where they may, besides he didn’t know if he would eve
n get the position at the paper as they walked to the table.
L
orraine thought to herself. Yeah. R
ight. How could he explain why she
taking Barbara’s place.
J
im
whispered to
Lorraine he wasn’t able to call her since she didn’t give him Brenda’s number and he didn’t know
Brenda’s
last name.
“I
t’s okay. I just hope I can do this.” Lorraine replied when Jim pulled out the chair to seat her.
The evening seem
ed
to be going quite well. Joan and Lorraine talked about fashions, latest hairstyles
,
and small talk. The men were busy talking business when Lorraine noticed Max coming to the table. She had known Max from when she
and Doug dined
here many times in the past. She quickly dropped her napkin and bent over to pick it up, hoping that Max hadn’t seen her.
“Is everything satisfactory this evening Mr. Adams?”
Max was a tall Italian, who spoke with a heavy accent. He always talked with his customers and had become friends with many of the ones who dined in the restaurant often.
“Everything is superb Max.” Tom replied. “The dinner was excellent
as always.”
Lorraine was hoping Max would hurry and leave. She wanted Tom to stop talking so Max would. She didn’t know how much longer she
could stay bent over like
that because sh
e was start
ing
to get a cramp in her neck. Jim noticed Lorraine trying to pick up her napkin. He pick
ed
it up and placed it on her lap. “There Hon.” He smiled.
“Thank you, dear.” Lorraine whispered as she sat upright. Max was still talking to Tom.
“Oh
,
my goodness. It can’t be. M
y little Lorraine. It is great to see you again. Doug told me you had moved to mountains. It has been such a long time since you have dined with us. Please, let me order
a bottle of your favorite wine
Chardonnay, right?” Max smiled a big smile at Lorraine.
Jim just knew everything was over by the puzzled look on
Tom and Joan’s
face. “You certainly keep things interesting Barbara. You certainly won’t have a dull life when the two of you are married.” Tom was amused at the situation. Joan was laughing and agreed with Tom.” You two are such fun.”
Lorraine knew now this was a big mistake. What
would happen
if Jim did get the pos
i
tion?
How could he explain about tonight when Tom and Joan met the real
Barbara?
Lorrain
e
knew it was time to make an excuse
to
leave the restaurant and g
e
t out of Jim’s life forever.
“Jim, Dear. I’m afraid that one of my headaches is coming on. If you will excuse me Tom and Joan, I’ll just take a ca
b back to the hotel and rest. I
t has been a wonderful evening and I hope this doesn’t ruin the evening. “Lorraine stood to leave. “ Dear, you stay and finish your business. I’ll see you back at the hotel.” Jim kissed Lorraine and wanted to leave with her. Lorraine fought back the tears as she ran to her car. “What a disaster!” Lorraine screamed as she drove away.
Jim hurried back to his hotel hoping Lorraine would be waiting for him in the lobby. There wasn’t any sign of her car and she had not left a note at the front desk. Why did she leave? She knew how much he wanted to be with her. He wanted to drive to San Lupus that night, but Tom wanted to meet for breakfast to finalize this contract. Jim was going to work for the Los Angeles Globe.
The drive home was long and horrible for Lorraine, but it did give her time to think about her future. She knew it was the wrong decision to
have dinner with Jim
. She knew that she would always love Jim, but she was not going to be the other woman in Jim’s life. Lorraine decided that she would not call Jim or answer his phone calls. It was over. Lorraine felt in her heart that
if she was to
see Jim
again
it would only made things worse knowing that she could never hold him and
love him the way she had dreamed
of doing for so many months.
A few days later Lorraine called Sue to see how the shop was doing. Sue could tell by the sadness in Lorraine’s voice that something was wrong.
“What is wrong Lorraine?” Sue asked with concern. “Did Doug find you and give you a bad time again? I could just break that creep’s neck.”
“Would you please stop, No. I didn’t run into Doug. I went to meet Jim in Los Angeles to have dinner with him and the whole thing turned into one big disaster.
“Wait, I can tell this is going to be something bad or something I don’t want to hear. I have to get a cup of tea. Nothing can be so horrible that we can’t talk about it and come up with some solution.” Sue replied.
“Sue, would you please stop rattling on so. I want to explain about last weekend. First, Jim and I have been talking over the phone for several weeks now. Don’t say anything until I’m finished! At first I didn’t want any part of this mess. I really tried not to fall in love with Jim, but it just happened. The
n
one
day
Jim called and told me that he has never met anyone like me and has never felt this way about anyone in his life. I know he loves me! Sue, when I’m around Jim my heart feels like it’s going to break into. It aches so much. I want to be in his arms and around him all of time, but at the same time I feel awful about feeling this way. “Lorraine was
pouring her heart out to Sue.
“
He explained again his feelings. It was like there wasn’t anyone else in the w
orld for a short period of time that night. I now know what true love means, but I can’t have it.” By this time Lorraine was crying so hard she could hardly talk. “So I decided that I would stay with a friend and meet Jim at the restaurant. She went on to explain about how she had to pretended to be Barbara for the evening and how Max came over to the table, and how she faked a headache to leave.
“Oh, God. Lorraine. You really are in love with Jim. What are you doing to do?” Sue asked.
“I just don’t want to go through another heart
ache. Sue,
you know
what
would happen
if Jim broke off his engagement to Barbara
?
T
he town
gossip
would just love to be able to say, the big city girl came breezing into town and tore things apart between Barbara and Jim.
I’ve decided not see Jim anymore.”