Page 3 of Words Unspoken

“Walkers.”

“Yes, Walkers. Please tell them to come.”

“Michael, I need to talk to you about something important,” Ann came forward and sat across from him. “I have worked here for a long time, and I have decided to make some changes in my life.”

Twenty-two years, eight months and nine days. He laid down his pen and waited to see what she would say, impatient to get to work but taking the time to listen to her. Instead, she took a deep breath and handed him a paper.

“What is this?” but he knew. The first few words gave it away. It was a letter of resignation. He looked at her with some confusion. “Ann, why? Are you unhappy here?”

“I have loved working with you,” she hastily explained. “You are an amazing boss. You have taught me everything I know in the business world. But I cannot keep doing twelve to eighteen hour days, chasing you around, making your world easier for you.”

“We could reduce your hours,” he offered. “If you need more vacation time or anything else, you only need to ask.”

“It is not about working less hours or vacation. I want…” Ann stared at her clasped hands that rested on her knees. “I want some things that I cannot have if I continue to work here with you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I am forty years old. I want a family. I want to go to PTA meetings, school plays, soccer or gymnastics or whatever sport event my children might choose.”

Michael felt a flare of panic but tried to tamp it down. His Ann had not dated anyone seriously since that Roy character. He was certain she was not dating anyone right now. Was she? “The company has a great maternity program and daycare…”

“You are not understanding me.”

“Then help me to understand,” he rose from his chair, coming around the desk, stopping when she stood as well. “Anything I can do to help, anything I can give you I will.”

There was a little hitch in her voice. “Can you give me babies?”

Michael stared dumbfounded at her. What could he say? Why on earth was she asking this and what exactly did she mean?

There was disappointment in her eyes and her voice, “I thought not.”

He didn’t know what he had done. Or not done. Or what he should do. She turned and briskly walked to her desk, grabbing her purse. Galvanized into action, he followed her. “Ann. Please wait.”

She kept walking and he continued dog her steps.

“Please stay. I need you here.”

She gave an odd sort of little sound.

“We can talk about this,” he said. He was not sure how, but he was willing to. Anything for her to stay. “Please, Ann.”

She walked into the elevator and pressed a button the doors began to close. He put his hand out to stop them.

“Please stay.”

She looked at him for a long moment then pressed the button again. As the doors closed, she said, “Goodbye Michael.”

He stood staring at the elevator for a moment like the idiot he was.

A hand clamped onto his shoulder. “Trouble in paradise Ramesly?”

It was Colin Ozzit. Michael did not like Ozzit under normal circumstances. He liked him far less right now. There had always been a bit of a rumor going around that Michael and Ann were romantically involved. There was, disappointingly, no truth to that rumor but it did not stop people from talking. He looked Ozzit straight in the eye and lied, “Everything is fine.”

Ozzit chuckled. “Sure thing.”

Michael walked around the odious man and went directly to Geanie Duvell. Mrs. Duvell was secretary to Christian Gains. She was a competent woman. “Mrs. Duvell, I apologize for interrupting, but I find myself in a situation.”

Mrs. Duvell looked up from her filing, “Oh?”