Chapter 6
Mid-December
On a lazy Sunday in the living room, as I’m journaling about Dr. Weinstein, Rob looks up from his iPad. “Hey, I meant to mention a couple of things. Stuff we need to plan.”
“Yeah?”
“There’s this thing we have here — it’s called Christmas. You’re familiar with it?” He waggles his eyebrows.
I laugh. “Some ancient festival, I believe?”
“Exactly. We were supposed to go to Seattle to spend it with my folks, since you and I were here without them last year, and we went to England the year before. Mum and Dad figure it’s their turn with us. I wasn’t sure you were up to a trip to Seattle, so they suggested they come here instead.”
Rob’s joviality has turned to uncertainty. He rushes on. “They’d stay about eight days, arrive Christmas Eve, leave after New Year’s . . . You get along with them so well, and they can’t wait to see you. What do you think?”
“I must know them pretty well, huh? It must be weird for them, too. You’ve told them I don’t remember anything since the time we met?”
“I said you have amnesia going back three years, not . . . anything else.” He grins. “Dad said it’s nice they get a second chance at a first impression with you.”
I smile back. “That’s sweet. Of course, they should come. You’re right, I’m not ready for Seattle, but it’ll be nice to spend Christmas with good people.” I glance about the apartment. And I’m getting used to this place. This life.
“It’ll be fun.” He turns back to his tablet.
I pick up my journal, then remember. “You said there were a couple of things?”
“Right. The other thing is a party to celebrate the penthouse sale. Hans wants us to host it, as we’re in the same building.
They’re filming the new season of Luxury Listing, which has been following the sale, so they want to bring the camera crew in, shoot the party, all that jazz.
Of course, I told Hans I’d run it past you. ”
“Wow. That sounds like a lot.”
I’m not sure I’m ready to be a glamorous party hostess on TV yet. If ever.
“Yeah. We’ve had parties like that before — not with a TV crew, but similar events.
It’d all be party-planned and catered, you’d only have to show up in the living room in a great dress.
Or even go stay with Suzie for the night, if you can’t handle it — I could do it solo.
” The reluctance is evident in his voice.
It doesn’t seem fair to leave him to host it alone. The sale is a big deal. “How soon are we talking?”
“February, I guess? Something like that.”
Two months. It’s hard to imagine still being here then, but it’s also hard to imagine I’ll have worked out how to get home.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” I sound more certain than I feel. Rob’s been so kind, and it is his home. “Tell Hans yes, we can host.”
“Yes to everything! I knew I liked you.” He gets up, stretching. “Soup for lunch?”
I laugh. “Sure. Did Mike tell you he’s stopping by this afternoon to talk to me about coming back to work?”
“He did.” Rob walks up into the kitchen. “I think it’s also a social call. He wants to watch hockey on our big screen. They’re bringing beers — Hans is coming too,” he explains at my quizzical look. “Mike’s your boss, but it’s cool. You’ll like them. They’re close friends of ours.”
Rob’s right. When Mike and Hans turn up a few hours later, I warm to them immediately.
Mike is a stocky, attractive guy with a trim goatee beard.
He’s about Rob’s age and was in his year at Cal.
His partner, Hans, is a familiar face, of course.
Apart from wanting to get him on my radio show, I’ve watched him for years on Luxury Listing NYC.
The tall, blond man makes me a little starstruck, but the feeling soon dissipates with his friendliness.
Mike and Hans make a great couple and clearly adore each other.
“Josie, darling, you’re looking gorgeous,” Hans says in his still-thick German accent.
He grabs my shoulders with both hands, bending to kiss me on each cheek, his affection for me obvious.
“We’ve been missing you. And I know you haven’t been missing us, because you don’t even remember who the hell we are. But you’re going to love us.”
As Hans and Rob settle down to watch the pre-game on the projector screen in the living room, Mike and I slip into the den for a chat.
“So, this is weird, but you do work for me.” Mike laughs. “We’re hoping you’ll come back soon. We miss you in the office. Professionally and personally. I’m just wondering where your head is at.” His honesty is refreshing.
“That’s very kind,” I tell him. “It is weird, because I don’t remember the job and I haven’t had a comms role before.
I don’t want you to have high expectations and be disappointed.
I’ll have to learn everything from scratch.
So if you want to hire someone else, someone with experience, or whoever has been filling in, I completely understand. ”
Mike’s response is immediate and flatteringly emphatic.
“Thanks, but no. We hired you based on your experience working in real estate journalism at Crain’s, and you still have that, right?
And when we took you on, you adapted so quickly, you’re a natural.
Even the person who has been filling in, Angela, she’s fine, but she isn’t as good as you were even in your first week. It’s you we want.”
“Wow. I appreciate the validation.” And I do. It’s good to know I’m good at my job. Even if I can’t remember how to do it. “Okay then. When do you want me to start?”
“We only have two weeks until the office closes for Christmas, so it’s an ideal time to ease into it — do some retraining, strategy meetings for 2018, and Angela can hand back projects. Then you’ll be able to hit the ground running in the New Year. Sound manageable?”
“Perfect. That makes it a bit less pressured. So . . . I’ll start tomorrow?”
Mike considers this. “Let’s make it Wednesday.
And you guys are coming to our Christmas party, right?
We’ve booked the private room at Lafayette again.
It’s Thursday. Everyone’s coming, partners too.
Hans and I will be there, all the staff, plus Rob’s team.
Didn’t he tell you?” I obviously look blank.
“Not yet. There’s been a lot to take in. But it sounds fun. I’ll have been at the office a couple of days, so I’ll have learned some names by then.”
“And Rob said you guys are up for hosting the Luxury Listing party?”
“Yeah, in February — we’ll have to see how fast it can be planned. Not much will get done till after New Year’s. Actually,” I pause, “now that I think about it, perhaps it should be around Valentine’s. We could even have it themed. Right? Set up a hashtag, #LoveLuxuryListing, or something—”
Mike throws his head back with a booming laugh. “Ha! You’re worried about this job? You’ve come up with an amazing party theme with a social hashtag in two seconds. You, my dear English rose, are going to have zero problemo.”
I’m excited for the first time. This job sounds kind of great. Mike seems like a fun boss, as well as a friend. Plus I know I have a talent for this kind of stuff.
Mike gets up and opens the door. “Right, I’m having a beer before our husbands drink them all. Coming?”
Rob is in the living room. He grins at my expression. “All good?” He pats the seat next to him, a warm invitation.
“Yeah, actually.” I sit down, tucking my feet under me and accepting the beer Mike passes over my shoulder. “I restart next Wednesday. And I’ll get to meet people at our office party Thursday.”
Rob nods, but he’s watching me carefully. “You okay with all that?”
“Sure. I’ve heard Lafayette is fabulous.”
Finally, he smiles. “You helped Angela organize the office party there last year.”
“Right. Still getting used to having been places I don’t remember.”
“More fun things to do for the first time.” He inches closer to me, glancing at the giant screen. “So, do you want the lowdown on the game?”
* * *
Mike steps into my small interior office at Halstein & Faust, where I’m reading through the winter PR campaigns I’ve apparently put together. My first day yesterday was a whirlwind of information and introductions, but today I’m beginning to figure out my responsibilities.
He pulls up a chair. “Going well? Anything too weird?”
“It’s a lot, but nothing’s weird. I can see my thought processes. I can execute on these. I’ll figure it out as I go.”
“No doubt,” Mike agrees. “We worked on all these together, so I’m always here to ask.
The other task is the Luxury Listing party at your place.
You’ll have to work with the producers, as they’ll be filming it.
You can do it in office hours, as it’s part of your job, working with party planners.
Is that a good first project until we wrap for Christmas? ”
“Perfect.”
Rob texts me in the afternoon.
Hey, hope your second day is going well? I’ll be done by 4.30 so figured I’d come to your office first, if you’re all leaving at 5.
Yes, going well, thanks for asking. Angela said we’re leaving around 4.50 as we’re booked at Lafayette at 5, so if you’re delayed, meet us there. We’re in the private cellar. See you later.
As I’m finishing my makeup in the restroom, Hans’s assistant, Angela, bursts in. She’s sporting a tight green dress with a plunging neckline, her hair bouffant. “Rob just showed up. He’s having a drink with Mike.”
“Thanks.” I apply lip gloss and spritz the mini bottle of perfume I found in an evening purse. It’s a good scent for me. “How do I look?” I’m in a silver chiffon cocktail dress that I found in the dressing room, and I’ve gone all-out with smoky makeup, my long, blonde hair piled up at the back.
“Great. As usual. How ’bout me?” She puffs her hair and pouts into the mirror.
“Sensational.” She does. She’s really pretty. “Okay, we’re ready.”