Something Missing_ A Novel - Matthew Dicks [91]
“I’m sorry. I must sound a little crazy. It’s just that I’ve been stuck in a dead-end job for longer than I care to remember, and I can’t stand watching other people spin their wheels like me. You know?”
The next sentence shocked Martin, even though it came from his own mouth.
“Then you need to do something too, Laura.” It was the first time he had referred to her by name, and it felt both delicious and dangerous at the same time. “You want to design homes. The insides, I mean, right? So do it. I’ll go home tonight and write my first page, but you need to go home tonight and do something too. Whatever interior designers do. What could you do tonight to get your business moving?”
Laura smiled. “You’re sweet.”
“I’m serious,” Martin countered, both because it felt right and because it gave him something to talk about. No need to grapple for the next sentence when you can badger the woman and still be perceived as sweet. “When you get home tonight, what could you do?”
“Fine,” she said. “I could get online and find a degree program? How’s that?”
“It’s a start,” Martin answered. “I’ll write my first page, and you’ll choose a degree program.” And just like that, Martin sensed that this line of conversation was coming to an end. He could already feel the pressure returning.
“A toast to beginnings,” Laura said, raising her glass.
“To beginnings,” Martin repeated and tapped her glass. He suddenly felt more like an adult than ever before in his life.
Salads came as Laura finished her wine and ordered another. Martin still had more than half a glass of wine left and suddenly felt an inexplicable need to catch up. By the time he had finished his own salad, a Caesar with dressing on the side, he was in need of another glass as well. Though he occasionally drank beer or wine at home with dinner, it was never more than a single glass. He reminded himself to be careful as he took the first sip from the new glass.
“So tell me about your parents’ party. It’s an anniversary party, right?”
“Yeah, it’s their anniversary,” Martin said, suddenly wishing that he didn’t have to lie to this woman. Something remarkable and unexpected was happening to him. The longer he spent with Laura, the more relaxed he became in conversation, but the more anxious he became in wanting to impress her. He couldn’t remember the last time that he had felt either way, and now he was experiencing both feelings simultaneously. He wished he could just be honest with Laura. Not completely honest, of course, but more than he was being right now.
“So tell me about it,” she persisted. “How many years? Where’s the party? Give me the details.”
“Well, they turn fifty this year. I mean, they are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary this year. This month. My sister made the plans for the party, but she lives out of state, so I’m stuck handling the details. The problems with the caterer and all.”
“So where’s the party going to be?”
“My sister’s house,” Martin blurted out, grasping at the first thought that entered his head. He didn’t want to name a restaurant or banquet hall in case Laura chose to follow up on his statement, send a gift, or whatever. So he went with the only option floating around in his brain.
“But I thought you said that your sister lives out of state.”
“She does,” Martin answered. “But she has a house on the shore, too. A summer house, I mean. The party is going to be there.”
“How nice. What town?”
“Westbrook,” Martin answered.
“What a coincidence,” Laura said. “Did you know that Daniel’s party is in Westbrook too? At the Water’s Edge Resort. Right on the shore. This is a day full of coincidences, huh?”
Martin was sure that he had said Westbrook because the town had been on his mind earlier that day when recalling the Ashley invitation. He would have to be more careful with what he told this woman. Fabricating stories had become part of Martin’s daily existence, but he had always had time to