Departure

This has been the day from hell.  I was late to work this morning, after sleeping like the dead last night and through my alarm.  Mrs. Glover was not pleased to see me this morning, but when I explained what happened, and showed her the photos of baby Olivia on my phone, she softened up a bit and said she understood.

Thank goodness.

Not that she's my boss, but I do not want to make an enemy of her.

Nate has been in constant communication with me all day, sending emails requesting documents or research to be done, but nothing at all personal. As soon as I got to my office this morning, I opened the document I had Jenny email to Nate yesterday, and was stunned to see that Nate was right. It was half-done, and riddled with mistakes. It was not the final draft I'd finished, saved and attached to the email to go out to him. I don't know what the fuck happened, but I hope that the extra work I've put in this morning has helped straighten the mess out.

I feel shitty for making Nate think that our relationship isn't important to me.  Of course it is.  But there are times that he's just so… bossy.  I know he's a strong, intelligent man, and that he wants to protect me and care for me, but I've always been so fiercely independent, I forget that I'm no longer a "me" and part of a "we".

I need to make it up to him.  But how?

I'm pondering this when another email comes through from Nate.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 14:28

From: Nathan McKenna

To: Julianne Montgomery

Subject:  Departing

Julianne,

I am about to board the plane back to Seattle.  Once you've finished with the reports I emailed to you earlier, you are free to leave for the day.

Nate

He's still so cold, although I know that in work email he doesn't really have a choice.  He could have texted me with something more personal, and the fact that he didn't makes me really nervous.

Did I fuck up so badly yesterday that he's going to break it off?

Wednesday, May, 15, 2013 14:35

From: Julianne Montgomery

To: Nathan McKenna

Subject:  Re: Departing

Nate,

Safe travels.  See you in the office tomorrow.

Julianne

But he's not getting off that easy.  I pull out my phone and send him a text.

Please travel safely. I'm excited to see you tonight.

There is no response.

Shit.

***

I'm later getting to Nate's than I really intended to be.  I had to stop by the hospital to see Natalie, Luke and Olivia, and I couldn't go empty-handed, so I stopped to shop a little on the way.  I ended up with a huge, super-soft giraffe and a tiny pink onesie that says, "Birth: Nailed It."

I don't have any idea if Nate has already made it home because I haven't heard a peep from him.  I guess I'll find out when I get there.

I park in my usual space, leave my suitcase in the car in case I'm not welcome to stay here tonight, and ride the elevator to his floor, and as the elevator climbs, so does my anxiety level.

Based on how things have gone over the past twenty-four hours, I'm inclined to believe that things may be done between us.  The thought of it makes me hurt like nothing ever has before.

I walk down to his door and put my shiny new key in the lock.  I step into Nate's apartment, and can immediately sense that I'm alone.

He's not home yet.

It's chilly inside, so I switch on his gas fireplace to warm the space and turn on a few lamps in the living room and the light over the kitchen stove.

Maybe I should cook for him?  I wonder if he's eaten.

I'm standing in the middle of Nate's sexy kitchen, wondering what to do with myself when the front door opens and he walks inside, pulling his small black suitcase behind him.  He's wearing another dark suit and tie, and his hair is pulled back off his face.