“Are you Penelope Casey? “ the man asked, glancing at a photo of me that was apparently attached to his clipboard. “May I see your ID?”
Jodie, the biggest office gossip, just happened to be leaving at the same time as I was. She stood there watching, waiting to see what I was about to be gifted with. But, at least she didn’t crowd me. She stood a few steps back, pretending not be as interested as I could tell she was.
The present was packaged inside a fancy gift bag with tissue paper of multiple pastel colors. I weeded through the mass of it, wishing for a more private location to discover my buried treasure. But when I reached the bottom and pulled out a pair of fuzzy slippers, each with a bunny face and fuzzy bunny ears, I broke into a laugh.
Jodie crowded closer so she could get a better look. “That’s all?” she said. “Did he send a note?”
Timothy never had before, but I dug down into the tissue once more. I hadn’t needed to. The card was attached to the bag’s handle. I tugged it closer. “If I may be so bold as to bring dinner tonight, I will see you at 7:00 pm at your apartment. Please wear your new fuzzies.”
Again I laughed, but I didn’t share what was written. “Bye, Jodie,” I said. “See you tomorrow.”
I waved a friendly goodbye, ignoring the disappointment on her face that I hadn’t told her everything so she could gossip about it with the others.
Although I’d planned to walk home, I rushed to the bus stop and just made the next transit to my apartment. As we passed the Triton Art Museum, I felt a stab of nostalgia as I thought about my roommate and Cara. The three of us had spent a lot of time in that museum. I missed them.
The stop for my apartment was only a little beyond that. I hopped off, clutching my new bunny slippers firmly in my arms. Hugging them so closely allowed me to wipe away my moment of sadness. Besides, I had something to look forward to. No need to stop for take-out or slip into the grocery store. Timothy was bringing dinner. What a luxury.
I kept my apartment neat, things put away, the kitchen sink empty, and my table cleared, but I took a moment to make some fresh iced tea. I still had most of the fruit from the lovely basket Timothy had sent. I hoped he wouldn’t ask for a piece of the Godiva. That box of chocolates had disappeared quickly the day I’d brought it to work. The women might always be on diets, but chocolate floated all the borders. It was a given that something so delicious would be a prime workroom treat.