Her Soul

Chapter 11 Gregg

Gregg just promised to go have a tea party with his niece, all because his brother ambushed him with a phone call.

“You gotta talk to her, she refuses to get a bath without talking to you, man. Help your brother, I am a man on the edge,” he play begged.

Gregg smiled, “Put her on the phone. Hey sweetie, are you going on a bath strike because you need to talk to your favorite uncle?”

“Uncle Gregg!!” A sweet voice squealed through the phone. “You haven’t come over to have a tea party in years.”

Gregg smiled, “I am sorry sweetheart, I know, but I can make it up to you. What about a tea party this weekend? We can even bring cookies, and we can sit at the big table. I bet your daddy will even put on a fancy hat and scarf for the event.”

“That’s not fair, the feathers are itchy, and I never get a chocolate chip cookie when we do a tea party with you.”

“I will bring three of each kind this time. I will take pity on you, brother.” Gregg chuckled.

“And can we have the purple tea this time?”

“Whatever tea you want sweetheart.”

Gregg missed his family. He would have to move some things around for this weekend, but it was past time that he go see everyone.

After he got off the phone with his brother and niece, he looked at the time. Christ, he had been going since five this morning, and it was time to go home.

To his surprise, he found Misty standing at the elevator door with a stack of files in her arms. He half expected her to have taken it upon herself to get on the bus and gone to her place by herself. Thank god she didn’t. He didn’t like her living in her apartment as it was, but the bus ride and the walk to her apartment scared him even more.

“Some light reading at bed tonight?”

“I’m sorry sir?” Misty gave him a confused look.

“It looks like you are taking an owners manual for a jumbo jet home to read. What is all of that?”

Misty glanced down, “Oh, these are some of the reports that were sent to me for you to review, but I am going to look them over first and correct any mistakes if there are any.”

Gregg made a mental note, she needed a laptop.

Misty pulled out her phone, the thing had to be at least six years old. And a new phone, he thought to himself. Putting her on the company plan wouldn’t take any time at all. He would get IT on it in the morning. He pulled out his own phone and sent a quick message to the IT manager. She would have the appropriate set-up on her desk tomorrow morning.

They both stood in comfortable silence as they rode the elevator to the garage.

At the car, Misty stood next to the door and waited for Gregg to open it for her. “Did you eat lunch?” Gregg hadn’t left his office all day and had Misty have his lunch delivered, so he didn’t see if she had lunch today.

Before she could answer, he heard her stomach growl. He could see her blushing. “I am OK, I can eat something when I get home.”

“No, you are hungry, and I am hungry. We are going to grab something.”

She made a noise to protest, but didn’t finish. Good girl, the thought. It dawned on him that he was entirely too comfortable giving her that praise. When he had told her good girl and her eyes darkened. He knew he had struck a nerve. He mused about what other nerves he could strike as he pulled into the parking lot at a small deli down the street from the office.

“This place has the best ham and swiss I have ever had.”

She pulled out her phone. “Don’t worry about it. I can cover it. I have had you out all day.”

“I was at work all day sir, I appreciate it, but it isn’t necessary.”

“Ms. Edwards, this is a working dinner. We are going to discuss work while we eat.”

The place was packed like it always was. Gregg didn’t ever remember a time that the counter wasn’t crowded.

He stepped up when it was their turn, asked for two ham and swiss on rye, and in minutes they were sitting at a small table in the back corner of the building.

Misty glanced up, “Thank you, Mr. Hale.” she said as she bit into the sandwich.

“It is my pleasure, I like to watch people enjoy good food.” Really, he just liked to watch her. Gregg had finally admitted to himself that enjoying her while she was with him would be OK. He just couldn’t ever let what played in his head go any further than that. He couldn’t risk it.

He opened the paper on his sandwich and began to eat.

“I do hope I am not keeping you from anything, sir.”

The look Misty gave him was searching. “No, not at all. Why do you ask?”

“I just didn’t want to impose.”

Before Gregg could comment, Misty’s phone dinged. “Sorry, give me one second.” She quickly stood up and ran out the door.

Gregg watched her step outside and get a phone call. Her face gave away pain and frustration. Whoever had texted her wasn’t being very nice.

As she paced back and forth in front of the deli, Gregg decided that she would probably need to go home instead of finishing her sandwich. He picked up their half-eaten sandwiches and when she hung up the phone, he walked out the door.

“Is everything OK?”

“Oh,” Misty jumped, “Yes, Mr. Hale. Sorry I just had to take care of that.” Her eyes looked watery, whatever that phone call was, wasn’t good at all.

“Are you sure?” Gregg didn’t like how she started to build up a wall just then. She had been so relaxed, now she was all thorns. Whoever had just called her had upset her.

“Yes, sir. I do need to get home. If need be I can get a cab.”

“No, I will take you home.” It is because she doesn’t need to be in a cab, not because he just wants to be around her, he told himself. He is just keeping her safe.

“Yes sir, thank you.” She allowed Gregg to walk over and open her door. She was learning, he thought.

Gregg didn’t need GPS to get her to her place, and they were pulling off the freeway soon enough. They were silent the whole way there. Gregg was racking his brain to try and figure out what the call was about. He didn’t like that someone had upset her.

When they turned onto her street, a police car was blocking the road with firetrucks and ambulances further down the block. “What the hell?” Gregg muttered as he pulled up.