by Melissa Good
Dar chuckled. “Yeah.” She sipped her wine cooler, waiting for the crowd to find something more interesting to watch. “Am I interrupting your fun?”
Kerry remained silent for a moment, deciding how to answer. “No.” She decided on honesty. “I was about to leave. I’m not really comfortable around here yet.” She said. “People still look at me like a cross between a simpleton and a nutball.”
Dar felt vaguely like a somewhat tarnished knight in leather armor. “That’s okay.” She told her assistant wryly. ‘They look at me like a cross between Satan and the IRS.” A smile flickered across her face and disappeared. “Want to hang out together? At least we can talk about the same subjects and understand each other.”
Kerry accepted the compliment with a broad grin. “Yes I would, thanks.” She indicated the long tables. “Want to see what they’ve got over there?”
“Lead on, Kemosabe.” Dar replied, with a smirk.
**
They found themselves a small table near the back of the room, after they picked up plates from the buffet and sat down. “Is this traditional Halloween food here in Miami?” Kerry inquired, regarding her plate of Southern Cuban Caribbean delicacies with a wry expression.
Dar chuckled softly. “They try to put in a little of everything.”
“So I see.” Kerry inspected her tablemate’s plate. “What is that?” She pointed curiously with her fork.
“Hush puppy.” Dar answered.
“I thought those were shoes.”
“They are.” Dar broke her puppy in half and placed one half on Kerry’s plate. “They grind them up and deep fry them when they’re old and used up.” She took a bite of her half and chewed it, regarding her assistant’s widened eyes innocently. “You know what they say in the south... good enough batter, you kin deep fry any damn thing and it’ll taste jest fine.”
Kerry put her fork down, and held up both hands, as she peered at Dar with all seriousness. “You are kidding me, aren’t you?” She pointed. “That is not really ground up shoes, right?”
Dar kept her straight face for a moment more, then gave it up and chuckled. “Yeah, it’s just deep-fried cornmeal. Relax.”
“Ah.” Kerry investigated the item, cutting a bit of it off with her fork and putting it into her mouth. She chewed it and swallowed thoughtfully. “That’s pretty good, actually.” She admitted. “Did anyone ever tell you that you have a twisted sense of humor?”
“Shh.” Dar made a show of looking around. “If word gets out I have one at all, I’m gonna have to kill somebody to disprove it.” She said, casually watching Kerry’s face. The blond woman’s eyes twinkled in amusement, and half grin pulled at her lips. Dar returned it, enjoying the time with her interesting and intelligent new subordinate.
She liked Kerry, she’d decided. Both as an employee, and as a person. The blond woman was not only good at what she did, she was sharp in ways very few other people Dar knew were. Though she appeared good natured, and something of an innocent, there was a very keen, politically aware mind behind the soft green eyes, and it was flexible enough to readily absorb Dar’s sometimes offbeat teasing and give back just as good.
“So.” Kerry finished her chicken breast. “Are you really Southern, or was that accent just a put on?”
Dar played around with her beans and rice briefly, considering how to answer. “It’s real.” She replied. “I grew up down South of here, but I’ve been around a lot so most of it’s worked its way out.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I use it sometimes when I want to piss Jose off.” Dar offered.
“He really doesn’t like you.” Kerry said, giving Dar an apologetic look. “Does he?”
Dar shook her head. “Most people don’t.”
That was, Kerry knew, the truth. She had only to look around them and see the veiled stares to know that. Her political sense told her that her life would be quantum leaps easier if she joined the majority, and got in with Eleanor and Jose’s group, distancing herself from Dar as best as she was able.
Well. Screw that. “I do.” Kerry stated cheerfully. “Does that make me one of the few and proud?”
Dar looked up in surprise and their eyes met. She took a breath to answer, but shadows looming over them forced them to acknowledge two unwelcome visitors. “Yeah?” A cold shadow dropped over Dar’s face as Eleanor and Jose sat down at the table.
“Why, Dar, darling. We just came over to see if it was really you.” Eleanor smiled at her. “I’ve never, ever seen you at a party.”
“It’s me.” Dar stated. “Anything else you want to know?”
“What kind of god damned costume is that? You think you’re a Peter Pan or something?”
“Peter Pan?” Kerry mouthed silently to herself, her eyebrows contracting in puzzlement.
“It’s... lovely… Dar, really.” Eleanor gave her condescending look.
“Coming from a skunk and a monkey, that’s pretty damn funny.” Dar replied. “Why don’t you both go share fleas over in the corner? You’re making me itch.”
Kerry hastily wiped a grin off her face as Eleanor turned to her, seeking an easier victim.
“So, Kerry. Tell me. What are you and the missing link here chatting about?”
“Multipathed integrated routing tables.” Kerry replied. “And the implementation of the new IEEE specifications... interested?”
Eleanor got up. “You know, dear, I think I was wrong. I think you’re just exactly where you should be in this company.” She plucked Jose’s hairy sleeve. “C’mon, Jose. I see some wine glasses with our names on them.”
A loud squeal stopped most of the conversation, and then Mariana got control of her microphone and waved. “Okay, folks. Welcome to the party.”
Everyone cheered and clapped.
“I’m glad so many of you could join us.” Mariana said, making a point of looking right at Dar and grinning. “I think this might be the first time we have our entire executive contingent here, and it’s great to see that.”
Dar rolled her eyes.
“Now.” Mariana held up a sheaf of papers. “I’ve got some pretty nifty incentives here that were donated from our various clients. As you all know, I can’t just give them out, because if I do, then you all have to pay taxes on them.”
Good natured groaning arose.
“So, as usual, now I have to come up with stupid party games so one of you can ‘win’ these lovely items.” Mariana concluded. “I’ve decided to have to kinds. One, we’ll give two of these items to the best costumes, as chosen by our panel of distinguished judges... “She pointed to her right, where the two fortune tellers were now seated. The women waved happily. “And two, we’ll have a contest to see which team of two people can keep a volleyball in the air the longest.”
Dar snorted softly. “Well, it’s fair.” She concluded, resting her chin on her fist. “People who went all out in costumes can’t really do volleyballs, and people who are capable of doing volleyballs probably didn’t go all out in costume.”
“She’s pretty sharp.” Kerry agreed. “What are the prizes?”
“I have no idea.” Dar replied. “Usually day cruises, things like that.”
“Hm.” Kerry watched as two of Mariana’s assistants came out with four volleyballs. “I’ve never been on a cruise. “ She turned to Dar. “Want to give the volleyballs a try with me?” She stripped off her jacket, and slung it over her chair.
Dar was caught seriously flatfooted.
Kerry blushed slightly. “Sorry, I can find someone else to ask. You probably would rather eat nails then get up there. Maybe Mark’ll do it.” She started to get up, and then stopped when Dar put a hand out. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.” Dar disagreed. “If you really want to win it. Mark’s got the eye hand coordination of a pelican.” She didn’t stop to think. “Sure, I’ll do it. C’mon.”
And, actually, Dar had to acknowledge, the look on Mariana’s face when grabbed one of the vol
leyballs made the whole thing worth it.
**
Kerry found Dar’s rhythm quickly, after only a few tosses back and forth of the ball. She lightly tapped the surface with her fingertips with a sure skill learned over many hours of playing the game. She’d liked volleyball, actually, though she’d been at a serious height disadvantage against her much taller teammates and opponents.
Dar didn’t appear to be that familiar with the sport, but Kerry quickly found that her bosses’ natural athletic skill more than made up for that. Dar’s reach was outrageous, and she could return the ball to Kerry even with her arm stretched out to one side, attesting to the strength of her shoulders.
At first, it was hard, because she knew how many eyes were on her. She suspected Dar did also, but they both concentrated, and after a few minutes she started to have fun. She heard Mark hooting behind them, and saw Dar’s quick grin in acknowledgement.
Then those blue eyes were turned on her, and Kerry almost missed her hit. She recovered and sent the ball heading towards Dar, who batted it lazily back at her.
A shriek next to her, and she saw a ball go bounding into the crowd from the corner of one eye. Two of the contestants retired, laughing ruefully. That cleared a little space, and Kerry edged over, keeping her attention on Dar’s body, shifting under its light covering. She could see the muscles just under Dar’s skin jump and move, and her long torso seemed to have a lot of elastic power in it.
Kerry saw the ball heading back towards her and she moved over a bit, getting under it and popping it back with her fingertips. She was jostled then by the man next to her, who muttered an apology before he frantically tried to return a badly tossed ball from his partner.
“Hey.” Dar’s voice brought her attention sharply back, just in time to get the ball coming right for her face. She frowned at herself and re-sharpened her focus, getting back into the rhythm they’d established.
Dar tapped the ball back, and she went for it, and then found her opponent banging into her again, knocking her off balance. She got one hand on the ball, but it went back in a crazy arc, forcing Dar to leap after it. Her opponent tripped and almost made her go down, but she somehow managed to jump over his legs, precariously keeping her footing while she cast her eyes back in Dar’s direction.
Her boss had followed her motions precisely, getting a hand on the ball just before it hit the ground to give Kerry the most time she could in getting back on her feet. As she lifted her hands, Dar sent the ball back, along with a rakish grin and a wink.
The crowd clapped unexpectedly.
Yeah! Kerry tried to keep a handle on her competitive impulse, but felt it getting the better of her as she realized there were only two teams left. The prize was irrelevant, she knew. The winning was what she wanted, the winning, and the fact that it would be her, and Dar that did it.
That mattered most, all of a sudden.
Dar had just the biggest piratical grin on her face now, as they tossed the ball back and forth confidently. Kerry knew she did too, and as the other team faltered, and their ball went rolling off, she sent a last volley Dar’s way, as Mariana whistled into her mic.
Dar caught the ball and palmed it, then came towards Kerry and met her impulsive high five.
Their eyes met.
“What a team.” Mariana announced, laughing into the microphone.
And for the space of a few heartbeats, those words seemed to echo around them as they bumped shoulders and bounced off each other, Dar reaching a hand out to steady her as Kerry released her excess emotion.
Mariana handed them the slip of paper, still laughing. “I can’t believe you.” She addressed Dar. “What the heck got into you tonight?”
Dar tried to shrug it off. “Long as I was here, might as well do it right.” She drew in a breath, and addressed the still grinning Kerry. “I don’t know about you but… “
“I definitely need a drink.” Kerry agreed. “And some air.” She fanned herself, the packed room having become stuffy.
And so, they found themselves a few minutes later outside on the fourteenth floor balcony, cups in hand, and the entire sea to the horizon before them.
Kerry leaned against the railing and wiped her brow, glad of the cool on shore breeze at her back. “Wow.”
“You can say that again.” Dar replied, with a chuckle. “We’re gonna be hearing about this for the next fiscal decade.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Kerry took a long swallow of her fresh beer, her eyes watching Dar’s profile.
Dar leaned on the railing, looking out at the sea for a minute. “For me? No.” She eventually answered. “For you it might be.”
Kerry cocked her head in question. “How?”
‘If you wanted to go places inside the company, it’s better for you if you stay as clear of me as you can.” Dar spoke very quietly, and very evenly. She was surprised when Kerry laughed, and she turned to face her. “I was serious.”
“I know.” Kerry let her chuckles wind down. “But – the only place I want to be in this place is where I already am.” She told her boss. “So I don’t really care what the rest of them think of me for that.” Now it was her turn to be serious. “Dar, this may be out of line for me to say, but… you’re brilliant. I want to learn from you, to learn from the best, and the rest of this political bullshit doesn’t mean anything to me. I know more about that then anyone here anyway.” She glanced inside the open doors to the presentation room, and shook her head slightly. “Amateurs.”
Dar regarded her intently for a very long moment, and then her lips edged into a tiny smile. “You know something?” She said. “Someday you and I are going to sit down and tally up which one of us learned more from whom.” With that, she lifted her cup and extended it, and watched as Kerry touched the rim with her own.
They finished their drinks in peaceful silence, just enjoying the night air, and the full moon that lit the ocean with a pathway of lurid silver. Then Kerry half turned and regarded the noisy party, watching as Eleanor paraded before the judges in her costume. “I think I’ve had enough for one night, but with three beers in me, I’d better chill in the corner somewhere before I think about driving home.”
Dar blinked at the doors thoughtfully. “There’s a little coffee shop around the corner. Want to grab a cup instead of waiting in there?”
There were, Kerry was well aware, coffee machines in two varieties on every single floor of ILS’s office building. It was even free. It was amazing how happy the thought of paying for a cup of the stuff made her. “Sounds like a good plan.” She complimented her boss. “I don’t suppose you know a back way out of here, do you?”
“Sure.” Dar replied, pointing towards the other side of the balcony. “Follow me.”
“Anywhere.” Kerry readily complied, as they disappeared into the darkness. She’d started the night lonely for something she’d hardly realized she was missing, and ended it finding far more than she’d ever hoped for.
Only time would reveal where that would lead her.
***
T’was the Night before Christmas…
By Melissa Good
Kerry carefully hung the last, tiny wooden ornament on the tree, stepping back to inspect her work when she was done. “There.” She turned and faced the dark haired, long limbed woman sprawled on the couch watching her. “How’s that?”
Dar tilted her head to one side and reviewed the tree. “Is that the last one?” She stroked the head of a cream colored Labrador who was snoozing on the couch next to her.
“Yep.” Kerry folded her arms across her chest.
“Good, because I think one more and we’d have an avalanche on our hands.” Dar chuckled, grinning when Kerry gave her a mock glower. “It’s perfect, Ker.” She relented, admiring the eight foot tall spruce adorned with lights, tinsel, garlands, and a plethora of twinkling ornaments. “The only thing missing is chestnuts roasting on an open fire.”
“Well, unless you want to stand in the kitchen w
ith me and hold them over the gas burners…” Kerry walked over and sat down next to Dar. “We’ll just have to cope since we have no open fire to roast them on.”
They sat together, and watched the tree twinkle merrily. “Besides…” Kerry said. “There’s no way that tree’s toppling over. There’s too much holding it up.” She regarded the piles and piles of presents underneath the tree. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
“To get your presents?” Dar teased. “Or for our party?”
Kerry stuck her tongue out. “Both.” She admitted. “I love Christmas day, for a lot of reasons.”
Dar wiggled her sock covered toes contentedly. “Me, too.” She said. “So how about we go to bed, so it’ll come faster?”
