Marion Ekholm - Just Like Em

“Who decided these things?”

“Well, we had an agency working with HR and our supervisors worked closely with them. They constantly solicited our opinions. Also, those who’d made a month of perfect attendance had their names placed in a special drawing. Once it was a hundred-dollar gift certificate and another time a weekend at a dude ranch—big prizes that made us strive to stay.”

“You ever win one?

“No, I never had perfect attendance.” She’d often had to take time off to care for some emergency with Sammy.

Roger leaned over and looked at her screen. “You getting all that?” Once again, she found it disconcerting to have him so close. She misspelled a word and hastily corrected it. When he gazed at her with a look of total admiration, she loused up a whole sentence and quickly erased it.

“You know, I could use someone with your skills, but I can’t add any more people except temps. Your mother mentioned you’re a temp at your present job. Would you consider switching? I’d hire you on the spot.”

Work for Roger? Today had been so enjoyable. Wouldn’t more time with him be even better? Em ran her tongue over her bottom lip and felt the area still raw from yesterday’s bite. Men. They could certainly louse up your life. Not likely anything would be different working with Roger.

She rushed to say, “But my job—”

“Weren’t you over at Metro looking for work?” he interrupted.

“Yes, but when I heard about the layoffs at Metro, I accepted a permanent job for an excellent salary.” The lie came so easily. She hoped it would become truth tomorrow once she applied for the job. “Unfortunately, the medical plan isn’t the best.”

He moved away but continued to stare at her. “You look healthy enough.” She warmed under his scrutiny.

“I am, but Sammy suffers from asthma.” She returned her attention to the computer and saved the file. “Their policy doesn’t cover preexisting conditions for the first six months.”

“Too bad. Isn’t he covered under your ex’s plan?”

Without pausing to consider her words, Em rose and said, “Bradley doesn’t work. I’ll go attach this to my printer and get you a hard copy.”

“Thanks.” Noise from the other room increased. “It sounds like the galaxy has been saved. I’ll round up the boys and get Samantha. I still have to type up my presentation before tomorrow’s meeting.” He punched the air with his index fingers, simulating his hunt-and-peck typing style.

“I could type it for you. If it’s not sensitive or confidential.”

“No, you’ve done enough already.” He backed away toward the living room. “Thanks for a very nice day.”

The moment had turned awkward, but Em couldn’t figure out why. All she had done was volunteer to help, and Roger obviously needed all the help he could get.

* * *

ALONE AT HIS computer, Roger stared at his incomplete notes. It was after midnight, and he still couldn’t get his mind to focus on the job at hand. It was too busy rehashing and remembering each exchange with Em.

The day had been perfect, much like the times he’d shared with his wife. More important than her typing skills, Em offered humor, something missing in his life. For a short time the pressure of his job and the needs of his children had been shared.

Oh, she would make a wonderful assistant. He leaned back and grasped his hands behind his head, remembering her reaction when he offered the temporary position. Was it the hesitation or the awkward movements that seemed out of character? But then, what did he know?

Roger picked up his notes and glanced at the picture of Karen’s smiling face on his desk. It had been taken several years before her death. In this photo, too, she looked so lovely. So full of life. Who knew that in just a short while....

He’d enjoyed Em’s friendly companionship. That’s why he wouldn’t pursue it. He didn’t want to take advantage of her giving nature when he had nothing to give in return. Karen still remained the love of his life. He had nothing to offer anyone.

* * *

“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, Dad.” Samantha stood by his desk, hands on hips. “I need clothes. I start high school in less than two weeks, and I don’t have a thing to wear.”

Frustrated by the interruption, Roger turned from his computer. Only two weeks? Where had the summer gone? The schedules he needed by the next day still weren’t finished. After discussing Em’s suggestions with the group hired to handle the outplacements, Roger had implemented several of them. They’d go a long way toward helping the transition run smoothly. If everything could be completed, he’d have his weekend free to take the boys camping, a chance to relax for a change. Shopping certainly wouldn’t fill that bill.

Maybe she did need clothes. Lately, she wore only his discarded dress shirts and shorts made from torn jeans. “I do understand, Samantha. It’s just that I can’t take you shopping until next weekend.”

“By then there won’t be a decent thing left in the stores.”

“That’s ridiculous.” He looked back at his computer in despair. He’d lost the file he’d worked on all evening and had spent the past hour trying to regain the information. Nothing had gone right today.

“Why can’t you take me this weekend?” Samantha droned on in a voice that rubbed his nerves raw. “Arizona Mills is having special sales and...”

He swiveled to face her and slammed his elbow against the computer in the process. He bit down on his tongue to keep from swearing. “You know why, Samantha. I’m taking the boys camping this...”

“The boys. The boys. That’s all that matters to you. You don’t care what happens to me. No one does.”

He turned back to his computer. “Speak to Sophia.”

“She’s wrapped up in her wedding and her move to Tucson. She doesn’t have any time for me.”

Sophia planned to leave in two weeks, and he still had no idea how to replace her. Roger made a mental note to call an employment agency the next day. “How about Aunt Jodie?”

“She has other plans.”

Roger closed his eyes and rubbed the lids in an attempt to relieve some of the pressure building behind them. Today, three more people left for different jobs, two transferred within the company and another just quit, accepting the offered severance. If only he could do that, leave right now and walk away with a severance based on all the years he’d spent at Metro. With a sigh, he knew he’d never do that. Completing this task at work had become a moral obligation.

“I’ll spend the whole weekend with nothing to do,” Samantha continued.

“Would you rather come with us to Prescott?”

“No. I’d rather go shopping!” she shouted as she stomped into the family room. A moment later he heard her heavy steps on the stairs. A door slammed. Damn. Roger leaned back in his seat and stared at his monitor.

Oh, if he could only ditch this whole mess. His mind was pulled in too many directions. One problem got solved and two jumped in to take its place. He still hadn’t found someone to help ease the load. If only he could hire Em. He was certain she’d never lose a whole file, or if she did, she’d know how to recover it.

Every time he found a chore he’d normally put in an administrative assistant’s competent hands, he thought of how well Em would handle it. No one in the group of displaced employees had demonstrated any of the skills he needed. Continuing to muse, he visualized Em recovering the file and giving him a chance for a full night’s sleep instead of one with recurring nightmares.

He glanced across the desk and saw Karen staring at him. Would she think he was obsessing? Probably. She’d always managed to help him cope. Help him relax. Oh, he could really use one of her backrubs. Every nerve in his body longed for attention. Except for his morning swim, he hadn’t even had a chance to exercise.