Chapter 38

This time he sighs. “I love you,” he says as he picks at the edge of his leather portfolio, which is starting to wear thin. “I just got your message and I’ll be in a meeting for the rest of the day, but I wanted to touch base. Okay, bye.”

After he hands up, he remembers the dinner theater and calls Blake a third time. “Six o’clock. The Magnolia, I remember. I’ll leave no later than five, I promise. Five fifteen at the latest. Love you. Bye.”

Then he remembers Jane said to tell Blake Monday, and he still isn’t sure what for, but he’s dialing a fourth time when she beeps into his office. “Your five minutes are up,” she says. “We’re waiting.”

“Be right there.” He wishes Blake had answered at least one of the times he called. Knowing his luck, his lover would’ve picked up the fourth time.

Of course.

* * * *

At 3:30, Blake sighs into the headset. “Can’t we call it a day?”

In the recording booth, the singers nod their agreement.