Oh, Calamity!

I had just gotten back to work after my short lunch break when my cell phone rang. Feeling rushed, I didn’t bother to look at the caller ID as I answered it. “Hello?” I questioned, sounding a little annoyed.
“Sorry to call you in the middle of work sweetheart,” the voice replied. “I just wanted to see if you were busy this evening.”
I smiled at the familiar voice. “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to sound so mad. Anyway, I have no plans tonight. Why? Do you have a hot date?”
He chuckled slightly at my comment. “I was hoping I could take you out to dinner tonight. After all, I haven’t seen you in awhile. I wanted to catch up with my youngest daughter.”
“That sounds wonderful. When and where should I meet you?” I wondered.
“Same place as always at about 8. Does the work for you?” he asked.
“Perfect. See you then,” I said.
We finished out goodbyes and I put my phone down, my mind wandering to the day I had first met my dad so many years ago. It didn’t seem very long ago, though it had been nearly a decade. Back then, I never imagined I’d be where I was now. Close to my dad, barely speaking to my mom, having a cushy reporter job, and most of all, dating someone who wasn’t Jack. Jack was there alongside me throughout the original drama involving my father. I could picture standing in the school hallway with him and my dad fled the scene, the lanky boy’s arms cradled around me protectively as I cried. What had happened to that lovely boy?
I focused on my work again, avoiding any memories of high school until I could finally leave the office. I clocked out, got into my car, and drove to the restaurant I always met my dad at. He was already seated and waiting for me at a table, waving me over. He stood up and gave me a hug as I approached, the familiar smell of aftershave clinging to him.
“Look at you! It’s like you’ve aged 20 years since I last saw you,” he commented, laughing.
I rolled my eyes playfully. “You always say that.”
“So, what’s happening in the life of Nora?” he asked, folding his hands out in front of him on the table and looking at me intently.
“Well, my best friend’s engaged, and I’m her maid of honor. She and the boys have been back in town for a couple weeks now, and we’ve gotten a good start on planning,” I explained.
“Ah yes, Baltimore’s own hometown heroes. I haven’t seen those kids in forever. Are they still rowdy and obnoxious?” he smiled.
“Oh, definitely. I think they’ve only grown more childish with age,” I mentioned. “Alex still tries to be cultured, and he’s settling down with Luna, so I gotta give him that; Rian’s been with Cass for 4 years now; Zack’s got a girlfriend too, though I don’t know her well; Jack’s with that Robin chick. Lucky for me, he’s the best man too.”
“How do you feel about having to work alongside your ex?” he wondered, furrowing his brow in concern.
I shrugged. “It’s weird. We’ve agreed to be friends, but I have no idea how well that’s going to work out. He’s got this stupid idea in his head that I’m suddenly a boring person and that it’s all Will’s fault.”
“Sounds like he might be jealous,” my dad said with a knowing grin.
“Don’t know why he would be. He’s got Robin, after all. She’s gorgeous, she’s funny, almost everybody likes her...she’s got it all. Hell, she managed to pin Jack down. This is only the second time he’s been in relationship since he dumped me,” I mentioned.
“My mistake. It sounds like you’re jealous,” he added.
I let out an unintentional scoff. “Jealous? Ha! She can have him. I’m way better off with my life the way it is now, and with Will.”
Dad held up his hands in defense. “Sorry, kiddo. Just making observations.”
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, and I excused myself to quickly answer it. Speaking of the devil, it was Jack. “Better make this quick, Barakat. I’m busy.”
“Damn, who shit in your cheerios?” he questioned.
I sighed. “I’m at dinner with my dad. What do you need?”
“Well I was just thinking that as Best Man and Maid of Honor, we should plan something special for the bride and groom. Like a gift or something,” he explained.
“Jack, I can’t help you plan right now,” I replied.
“I didn’t mean now. Jesus. Let’s just pick a day to get together and start working on it,” he said.
“I can do it tomorrow. Does that work for you?” I asked.
“Yeah. Come over to my place at about 2 and we’ll begin,” he responded.
With that, we said goodbyes and I returned to the table. I tried to enjoy my evening with my father, laughing at his stories from work, but there were other thoughts looming in the back of my mind. Jack and Will were such different people, it was a wonder why either of them had ended up with me. Being with Will was lovely, calm, like a hot summer day spent at the pool. With Jack on the other hand, it was like standing in the middle of a hurricane, where you’re drowning but it gets the adrenaline kicking and you feel like you’re alive for the very first time. Will was a peaceful afternoon and Jack was a wild Friday night party. Did Will really make me boring, or was Jack just too crazy by comparison? I wanted nothing more than to just hide in a hole and avoid both men like the plague, but life wasn’t supposed to be that easy. I was caught between the past and the present, stuck in a purgatory-like place. How was I going to get out?

Notes