Never Say Sorry

CHAPTER TWO-1

CHAPTER TWO

Almost three years to the day since she’d first walked into Alexander Limited, Trixie Benning had just about reached her limit.

She was home for lunch on a Monday from the job she loved – and feared she would lose before too much longer. I’ve made a lot of rookie mistakes the last several months. It’s a wonder Marjorie still has any patience with me at all.

After all, as the accounting manager, her company depended on her to get her job done accurately. But lately, it seemed it was all she could do to arrive on time, much less present solid data.

She rolled her shoulders to try to dissipate some of the tension as she nibbled at the sandwich she didn’t want.

Granted, she’d had a lot of distractions come her way since January, when her dad’s health had begun to plummet. He’d been ill for some time with heart issues and diabetes, but it had quickly spiraled out of control. The dementia diagnosis had come not long after, and that news had ratcheted up the worry and stress to a brand-new level.

Then, suddenly, he was gone. While she’d expected it on some level, it still had blindsided her. But she hadn’t been able to grieve yet. As the executor, she still had way too much to do.

Is it still called being an ‘executor’ when there’s no money, just bills? Trixie pondered. It’s stressful, I know that much.

And, of course, Grant just had to choose the same point in time to start acting strangely. He was always been a bit eccentric, so that part wasn’t new. It was the working all hours suddenly. I’m not stupid. I knew what was going on. What worries me is, after over three years together, I no longer care.

“Yeah, that pretty much sums it up,” she announced to her beagle, Joshua, who was sitting beside her on the couch giving her the look that meant he was hoping for a bite of sandwich for himself. Trixie tried to give him a stern look, but staring back into those big brown eyes, she just couldn’t manage it.

“Fine, Josh,” she chuckled. “Here.”

The remnants of her lunch disappeared in mere moments. She patted his head, then scratched under his chin.

“I’ve got to get back, Joshie. I’ll be home soon though, okay?”

A wagging tail was his reply as he hopped down to the floor and went in search of his favorite squeaky toy.

She carried her plate to the kitchen, grabbed her purse, and headed out the door to make the ten-minute drive back to her office.

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