A Few Flowers Part 13

You know, to get to Blackmore through you. Blackmore is a very powerful ent.i.ty in the business world, and whoever gets that contract stands to make a small fortune. Monty isnt the type youd usually go out with, nor do you seem the type hed have in his regular social circles.

Cindy would have laughed if Troy hadnt been so serious. She really didnt go out with anybody, and the last person shed been out with was Troy, and that only on a friendly basis. If anyone wasnt her type, it was Troy. Nothing like the type I usually go out with? And what type do I go out with? You mean hes nothing like you.

The person in front of them stepped away. They cut their conversation off abruptly as they placed their orders, then waited for the clerk to a.s.semble the submarine sandwiches, giving Cindy time to think without Troy talking.

Troy hadnt seen Monty the way she had. The first time hed walked into the office to see Robert, shed never in her life seen anyone so shaken. And now that she knew Monty, she knew how hard he must have been trying to keep his image dignified and professional. She wished she knew if it was the simple shock of seeing someone hed never expected to ever meet or seeing his special angel at work at a very mortal job.

The opposite of Troys suspicions, Monty didnt need her to win favor with Robert. It was the other way around. Robert constantly told her how much he trusted and respected Monty, what an a.s.set their a.s.sociation would be, and then proceeded to tell her how compatible shed be with Monty. If she questioned anyones motives, it would be Roberts. Hed delivered her right into Montys lap, hand-carrying the contract twice.

Every time she thought of Monty, she dearly wished they could have met another way, although it was pointless to pray for a past that could not be changed.

Troys voice startled Cindy back to the present.

Im paying for both of those, he said to the clerk as he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. He handed Cindy the bag containing her sandwich, she mumbled a thank-you, and they walked back across the street together.

Now, where were we? he asked as he opened the main door for her.

You were telling me the type of man I go out with, I do believe. Cindy couldnt help her scathing tone and hoped Troy could tell how annoyed she was with his insinuation.

Why do I get the feeling you think Im wrong?

I dont just think youre wrong, Troy. I know youre wrong.

How do you know his intentions are honorable?

Of that she had no doubt. The only thing she couldnt be sure of was the reality of his perception of her as an ordinary and very human person. Hes honorable.

I still think hes putting the moves on you to gain favor with Blackmore.

Cindy couldnt stand it anymore. Not that she owed Troy an explanation, but his mistrust of Monty cut her to the core. Remember last fall, that bad car accident on the way home from first aid practice?

Troy nodded.

Her voice dropped to a hoa.r.s.e croak. It was a night she would never forget for the rest of her life. The injured man was Monty. When he came to see Robert to discuss that contract, he recognized me.

The elevator door opened and Cindy hustled in. She turned as the door swooshed closed, just in time to see Troy standing with his mouth open, but no sound coming out.

Cindy smiled at the delivery man, then set the latest vase of flowers on the corner of her desk. This time, she had no idea what the exotic variety was called, but they were beautiful, fragrant, and probably outrageously expensive. And they were red and white and yellow.

Her heart ached as she inhaled their sweet perfume. She hadnt seen Monty for nearly a week. Hed called her a few times at work, but shed been able to get off the phone quickly, knowing how much respect Monty held for the sanct.i.ty of company time.

When Monty called her last night at home, shed almost been rude to him. She contributed very little to the conversation, then claimed she planned to go to bed early. Instead of sleeping, she stared at the ceiling most of the night.

She couldnt continue this way. It was too hard on both of them.

If she continued to see him, the day would soon come for her to fall off the high pedestal Monty unwittingly placed her on, and when that happened, she wouldnt be able to bear his disappointment. Yet, she couldnt continue to avoid him without making a clean break. She missed him so much her heart felt like it was already broken. She didnt know which was worse.

Rather than dwell on it, Cindy busied herself with the ever-growing pile of correspondence on her desk. Almost ready to hit the print b.u.t.ton, out of the corner of her eye she saw a tall man in a dark suit striding toward Roberts office door.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Glen Evans. Just the person she didnt need to see today.

In a flash she stepped in front of Roberts door, blocking the entrance. h.e.l.lo, Glen. Do you have an appointment? she asked, knowing he didnt.

h.e.l.l see me.

Cindy counted to ten in her head and looked up at Glen, who was as tall as Troy. Please have a seat and Ill buzz him first. Glen knew the routine, so she didnt know why he still played these power games.

She waited for him to sit before she told Robert he was there.

With her hands folded on the desk, she stiffened her back and did her best to smile politely. Mr. Blackmore requests that you come back in fifteen minutes.

Glen glared at her. I have nowhere to go for fifteen minutes. Ill wait here. Glen crossed his long legs and smiled at her, inviting her to carry on a conversation.

There are some magazines over there. Cindy returned his smile, then nearly fainted when she looked at the table. Except for the Thank You For Not Smoking sign shed put there for Robert, her whole pile was gone except for one old Christmas issue of a womens magazine, making her wonder where her stockpile had disappeared. If she found them in the lunchroom, she just might scream.

I guess Ill just have to sit here and watch you work. He never lost his insipid grin.

Cindy tried her best, but she couldnt type with him watching her like a hawk. Finally, she held her hands in midair above her computer and glowered at him. All he did was flash a dashing smile at her.

Do you mind? she asked, trying not to sound as annoyed as she felt.

Not at all. I like watching you. His smile widened.

Cindys hands landed palms down on the desktop. If youre that desperate, maybe Ive got a book in my purse you can browse through.

He leaned forward. What kind of book? he whispered suggestively.

Cindy ground her teeth as she searched through her purse. Actually, all Ive got is my pocket Bible. It has real small print, but its full of great reading material.

Glens little smirk dropped, then resumed. He must have thought she was kidding, but she wasnt. He leaned back in the chair, twining his fingers behind his head. No thanks, Id rather watch you.

Although she couldnt really spare the time, she gave up and chatted with him until Robert buzzed.

On his way out, Glen smiled and winked at her. It was the last thing she felt like doing, but to be polite, she smiled back and resumed her typing.

All day long, Robert continued to give her projects faster than she could complete them. With only an hour left in the day, Robert appeared again to drop yet another project into her in basket.

I know youve been working extra hard, Cindy, but I need this finished tonight. I realize today is Friday, but I need this for an early meeting on Sat.u.r.day. I already owe you a lot of time off, but would you mind working late tonight?

Cindy shook her head and set her project aside. Dont worry about it. Since it was Friday, she expected Monty to call about plans for the weekend. This way, she had a legitimate excuse not to talk to him. Her throat constricted and she blinked away a burning at the back of her eyes. One day soon, Monty would give up and she would never see him again. Wasnt that what she wanted?

Monty sat in his office with the door closed, not removing his hand from the phone after hanging up, and stared at the blank wall.

Earlier in the week hed had his suspicions but had chosen to believe her when she said she was too busy to talk. Last night shed claimed to be too tired. He knew she wouldnt lie about having to work overtime, but she had also said no to seeing him on Sat.u.r.day. When she said she couldnt accompany him to church on Sunday, he could no longer fool himself. She was avoiding him.

He had been so sure she felt the same way about him that he felt about her. Every time they were together, every time he talked to her, he knew without a doubt that Cindy was the woman G.o.d had set aside for him.

He closed his eyes, thinking about their walk in the woods, before the pain in his leg had killed the day. Hed kissed her, and although the moment was brief, shed responded. Hed held her hand and she hadnt pulled away. He couldnt possibly misinterpret those things as the signs of a blossoming relationship.

Since then, hed imagined a future married to Cindy. He thought about family life and performing normal household ch.o.r.es. He didnt know if hed ever be able to maintain his balance enough to stand on a ladder. Running to play with children would be out of the question. He knew he wouldnt always be able to walk una.s.sisted.

But those things were minor in G.o.ds big picture. Cindy was right. Feeling sorry for himself was wrong. G.o.d had truly given him a second chance and commissioned him to make the most of what he had.

The phone rang, bringing Montys attention back to where it should have been in the first place, on his work. Hed been staring off into s.p.a.ce so long that the screen saver had come on.

The caller was Robert Blackmore, asking a simple question.

Monty grinned. He purposely made a mountain out of a molehill with Roberts simple question and left the poor man with more questions than when he first called. Then, he graciously volunteered to a.s.sist Robert with the solution in person.

As he hung up, he dropped his half-eaten sandwich into the wastepaper basket, pushed all his uncompleted work into the top drawer, and slammed it shut.

He painfully made his way across the office, not stopping to talk to Agnes on his way out. Im gone until Monday, he called over his shoulder as the door closed behind him.

Using every ounce of self-control, Monty barely managed to contain his impatience as he inched through the growing rush-hour traffic. He arrived as the staff members were starting to leave, making him wish he could run, desperately hoping and praying he could still catch Cindy before she left for the day.

Alone in the elevator on the way up, Monty leaned against the wall with his cane crooked over his arm to make one last check that his tie was straight and his hair was neatly in place.

Except for the cane, which he couldnt control, he was ready.

The four older secretaries stood together in front of the elevator when the door swooshed open. They stopped their chattering and stared at him, then stepped back to allow him to exit. Their surprise at seeing anyone coming in at the close of the day was more than obvious.

He hobbled stiffly, trying his best to keep his pace with the cane even, until he stood in front of Cindys desk. She raised her eyes to see who was standing in front of her desk. When she saw him, she fumbled and dropped her pen.

Monty! What are you doing here? She scrambled to catch her pen before it rolled off the desk.

Ive got an appointment with Robert, but Id like to see you first, he said, grateful for the emptiness of the large room. Ive felt like youve been avoiding me, Cindy.

Well, I. . . She bit her bottom lip before her eyes lowered, and she stared intently at the pen in her hand.

Monty cringed at the squeak of a door opening. Montgomery. So glad you could come on short notice. Please, come right in.

Five minutes. If he could only have five minutes alone with Cindy. He faced her, hoping his eyes could show the pleading of his heart. Please, Cindy, I have to talk to you. I have to know if Ive done something wrong.

Cindys face paled. Youd better go in now. I have a lot of work to do.

He hoped that she meant she would still be there when he got out of his meeting with Robert, but somehow he doubted it. Following Roberts request, he took a seat in his office and covered everything as quickly and efficiently as he could, trying his best to hurry yet not be rude. They were nearly done when Roberts phone rang.

Roberts brows knotted as he listened to the caller. What do you mean, everyones gone? He paused for a few seconds to look at his wrist.w.a.tch. Surely you can find somebody. He frowned as he listened, then opened his eyes wide and turned his head to stare at Cindy through his office window.

What do you mean, Cindy? Is this some kind of joke, Thompson? His eyes narrowed. Robert crooked the phone on his shoulder and crossed his arms as he continued to listen to the caller.

Montys mind raced. Thompson. The name was familiar, but he couldnt place it. Most of all, he wanted to know what this had to do with Cindy.

Thirteen.

Robert hung up the phone. I just received a phone call from the supervisor of our a.s.sembly department. Seems like weve run into a problem that I have to deal with immediately. Please excuse me. With a nod of his head, Robert rose, then stepped outside his office to stand in front of Cindy, who was still working diligently at her desk.

a.s.sembly department. Supervisor. Thompson. . . A lightbulb went on inside Montys head. Troy Thompson.

Montys gut clenched. He didnt know what happened, but apparently someone was in serious trouble, and somehow Cindy was involved. If she faced disciplinary action or worse, termination, even if it cost him the contract, he would offer her a job working for him and leave with her. He still hadnt found a suitable applicant for the position hed advertised for, and he had no doubt that with a little training, she was more than capable of doing anything she set her mind to.

He struggled to his feet and stood half leaning on the cane and half on the door frame, watching helplessly.

Cindy glanced from side to side, then briefly at Robert as he stood in front of her desk. Yes, Robert? she mumbled as she continued to type.

I just spoke to Troy Thompson.

Her brows knotted as she stopped working. Troy? Hes still here? What does he want?

He just told me everyone down there has gone home, including Norburn.

Cindy laid her pen down and shrugged her shoulders. So?

Robert cleared his throat. Thompson saw your car in the parking lot, so he knew you were still here. Our big order for Scheulers didnt get out. The truck is here now, and we need you to load it.

Monty blinked. Did he hear that right?

Cindys mouth opened, then snapped shut. But I. . . Her voice trailed off. Its been a long time, Robert.

Robert paused to run his hand over his balding head, then shoved his hands into his pockets. It appears I owe you an apology. I remember once you told me youd been a forklift operator, and I didnt take you seriously. Now I do.

She sighed and hit the save key on her computer. All right, she mumbled as she rose from her chair. Lets go.

Rather than sit alone in Roberts office, Monty took advantage of the confusion and accompanied Robert and Cindy into the elevator and down to the shipping area on the ground level in the rear of the building. Fortunately, they walked slowly for him.

Next to a large, open, warehouse door, Troy stood alongside a very annoyed truck driver.

Cindys high heels clicked on the cement floor as she approached Troy. She placed her hands on her hips and glared up at him. Dont tell me you cant do this, Troy.

Troy shrugged his shoulders and raised his palms in the air in defeat. Honest, Ive never driven one, and I didnt figure this would be a great day to start.

Cindy mumbled something under her breath, then removed the paperwork from Troys hand.

Troy pointed to an area of the warehouse. All we need is for you to load it. I already checked it twice, just like Santa.

Just like Santa. . . Her voice trailed off.