21
Glover
I was pulling some stupid, crazy shit, and spent all weekend trying to talk myself out of it. It didn’t work. Friday, I went through the applications that had been dropped off the day before. I found three applications that matched what I was looking for. Mona had no idea that she’d helped me out with this.
Monday was the day. I showed up to work wearing my royal blue three-piece skirt set. Of the three applications I pulled, two of them agreed to come in for the DMV “prescreening interview.” I hadn’t heard from the third. The interview was a half-truth anyway. With my job, I had the authority to do some interviewing for the DMV openings, but never actually had. I usually reviewed the files of registered job seekers, forwarding those that might be compatible with the employer’s needs. The applications that I pulled and reviewed were for people seeking higher paying state jobs. I didn’t want to block that, so I just made copies of the two applications. Even though my intentions were less than noble, I did plan on forwarding my pre-screening results to the DMV.
My first interview was set up for 10:00
A.M.
I had cleared my desk and told Mona that I was expecting some interviewees. Mona had replied with a “Huh?” followed up by her more traditional “Whatever.”
She was still less than enthusiastic about working the front, but did come get me when the ten o’clock showed. The first interviewee was a twenty-four-year-old brother. He wore twists in his head and was polite as hell. He wasn’t the person I was looking for, but I thought he would be a great hire based on his interview.
While I interviewed him, I could see Charmaine making faces at me behind his back. She couldn’t wait to run up when I was finished.
“Girl, what in the
hell
are you doing?”
I playfully replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“First your ass shows up here dressed all professional, then you’re holding interviews? Girl, you up to somethin’. You
are
gonna fill me in, right?”
“I’m not sure myself, and you’re probably better off not knowing. Can’t I just be doing my job?”
Charmaine shot back, “Bitch,
please.
”
Mona walked up and interjected, “Ms. McDaniel, your
next
interview is here.” Mona then dropped one of those looks on me. Her eyes told me that she had a better understanding of what had gone down Friday than she let on. She was still in the dark, but could see the light under the door. She felt played, but wasn’t sure how.
I walked out to greet the final interviewee then escorted him back to my desk past a suspicious Mona. After I offered him a seat at my desk, we began to get into the interview.
“I’m glad you received my message last Friday. I’ve reviewed your state application, but why don’t you tell me some more about yourself . . . Mr. Nelson.”
Number two was another good candidate, and I was going to forward his information as well.
Two good candidates.
Maybe that was some consolation for making a fool of myself and trying to scheme. For someone normally confident and in control, I had been doing some stupid shit as of late. Here I was, engaged to be married but trying to create a “situation” to meet the brother with the nice smile from last Tuesday. Serves me right that neither of the two interviewees was him. I wasn’t even positive he had returned his application.
While finishing my interview with number two, Charmaine and Mona had gone on to lunch without me. My odd behavior was probably their hot topic.
I felt foolish and dejected as I threw my purse on my shoulder. I decided to do lunch at the little diner across the street that had great specials, needing the walk to clear my head. I punched out, dragging my feet as I headed for the front door. I was frowning at a scuffmark on one of my pumps and didn’t see the door swinging open.
Bang!
I bumped heads with someone, catching a glimpse of a gray pant leg and black loafers in the instant before it happened.
“I’m sorry, ma’am! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m—”
It was him. The smile was there, and the eyes didn’t seem tired this time. He wore a gray suit, looking all
GQ
ed and debonair.
“I got a call Friday for an interview and I know I’m running late. Is Ms. McDaniel here?”
“That would be me. I’m the one who called. You must be number thr—” I caught myself. “I mean you must be Mr. Guillory.” His was the application that I hadn’t heard from.
“Right. Call me Max,” he said, sticking out his hand to shake mine. I reciprocated, holding his hand a little longer than usual. He was smiling as much as I was.
“I’m going to lunch right now. Care to join me, Max?” I asked, feeling wonderfully reckless and free for a change. Now I anxiously awaited his answer after putting it out there.
“Okay,” he answered.
Hallelujah.
“It’s the least I could do, since I ran into you, Ms... .”
“Glover. Call me Glover,” I answered for him, suspecting our lunch conversation would be a lot less formal than our appearances.
22
Max
I’d tried calling the employment office once I got over the shock of my message. I was too late. It was closed for the day. The DMV wasn’t what I had in mind, but I couldn’t be too choosy. I worked the weekend at Denny’s, so I was to call the employment office first thing Monday morning. Thing is, I hadn’t looked at Monday’s schedule. Just my luck, I was scheduled for that morning. Samir, being the man, agreed to let me off early so I could make it downtown in time.
Now I sat at lunch with the blur, who had finally slowed enough for me to fully appreciate her.
Her name was Glover and she looked as beautiful as ever. Too bad she was taken. Too bad for me and good for whomever the buster was.
Still mindful of my budget, I ordered a grilled cheese and fries, while she had the soup and salad.
“Again, I’m sorry about running into you. I knew I was late, so I was rushing. I’m still new here, so I’m afraid to try shortcuts when traffic backs up.”
“New? New to L.A. or new to California altogether?”
“New to California. I’m from Louisiana. Do you have any people from there?” I asked, wanting to know more.
“No. Most of my family is from Virginia, around Arlington and Fredericksburg. Me and my mother moved here when I was a kid ... before she passed away. Why’d you ask about Louisiana?”
“No reason really. You resemble a lot of people from there,” I answered, realizing that the perceived familiarity may have been what attracted me to her initially. “You have lovely eyes. What are they? Light brown? Hazel?”
“Whatever you want to call them, Max,” she replied, those lovely lips of hers curling into the perfect smile. She reached over and helped herself to one of my fries, but the sight of that ring on her hand brought me back down to Earth. We hadn’t discussed any business yet.
“I called this morning to let you know I was coming in, but the girl who answered didn’t know what I was talking about.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. I should have left my direct number for you. You’re looking good today,” she said, admiring my suit. My best one.
“You mean compared to the other day when you saw me,” I teased. “I was a little rough then. I’d been all over downtown that day and was worn out.”
“Trust me, you were fine that day,” Glover stated playfully as she adjusted herself in her seat. Made it hard for me to focus on my purpose here. “Tell me, would you really be interested in one of the openings at the DMV?”
“Real talk?”
She laughed at my slang, making me self-conscious. Even if she were on the market, maybe she was too sophisticated for me.
If.
“Yes, real talk,” she answered.
“To tell you the truth, I’m hoping for more money than probably what they’re offering, but you have to start somewhere. What made you call me?”
“What made you come down here for the interview?” she shot back. Glover seemed rattled for a second, hesitating as if avoiding my question. Women sure could be hard to read, and this one was no different.
“Ms. Glover doesn’t want to answer my question, huh? What happened to ‘real talk’?” I teased, feeling more comfortable around her.
“No, it’s not that! It ... it’s just that I’m the one who’s supposed to be asking the questions here. That’s all.” Her playfulness shown, I was really feeling her. And I think she knew it.
“Okay. I apologize. Can I ask one more question, ma’am?”
“Oh my, such a gentleman. Yes, you may, sir,” she replied, enjoying the game as much as I was.
“How did you get your name? A girl named Glover. It’s different.”
“Yeah, it is different. I was named after my great-grandmother. And to correct you, that’s a woman named Glover,” she chided. I nodded my understanding while lost in her eyes. “Max, is there a special someone in your life out here ... or in Louisiana?”
I swallowed hard, shocked by such a personal question coming from her.
If I didn’t know better ...
There I went with such foolish thoughts.
“No, nothing here. Just going through the motions right now. And the last serious thing ended a long time ago back home. We all can’t be as lucky as you,” I said, eyeing that sparkling rock again. Seemed the lovely lady in front of me offered no change in my luck nor a cure for my past hurt.
“Oh. Okay,” she said, smiling even though it was apparent I’d bothered her with that remark. Not quite sure, but maybe the ring was a front to keep the wolves at bay. Was I having lunch with a player?
More importantly, was I playing myself?
“By the way, you owe me for that fry you took.”
“Maybe I’ll have the chance to return the favor in the future.” Our eyes met and I knew I was playing a dangerous game.
“Just make sure the fries are hot. I hate cold fries.”
“How about frozen? Or maybe just warm. That’s okay?” she clowned, making her eyes cross.
“Are you usually this silly?”
“No, I have you to thank for that. Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Just for being here. I know the only reason we’re sitting here is because of the interview, but you’ve really helped me forget about some things that are going on right now. So I just want to say thank you.” I watched her lips in slow motion.
“Things are going that bad right now?” I inquired, wondering if I was just a timely distraction as she’d stated, or if maybe there was more to her call. Like maybe she felt that spark too.
“No, just complicated. You’re someone without a vested interest, so it’s easier for me to say it to you. That’s all.”
I knew not to push the subject. If she wanted to open up, she would do so on her own. I sat back in my chair, easing up on the moment. Odd that we never got around to what I would consider real interview questions. I’d heard of business deals done over a round of golf, but this didn’t fit that. I may have been a little bit
country,
as Jay would call it, but I don’t think things are this different in California.
“What do I do now? About the opening,” I clarified. “Do you need me to go back to the office and sign something?”
“No. I’ll forward your info to the DMV; then it’ll be up to them. Your application for the state jobs was put in the system and sent off to Sacramento last week. And that’s it,” she said with a sigh. It was like she didn’t want lunch to end. Our plates already cleared, I put the money on the table.
“Well, at least let me walk you back to your office.”
As Glover walked ahead, I surveyed the curve of her hips through the tight blue skirt she wore. I wondered how it would have felt to the touch.
We walked back across the street, stopping in front of her office. The look she gave told me this was it. No following her inside. This was the place to say good-bye.
Finality.
Both of us smiled, standing there, absent words.
“Thank you,” she finally said. I wanted to silence her again, take this stranger in my arms and feel those lips, but instead I gave her a polite, professional handshake.
“Sorry about your mother,” I offered oddly.
“Huh?”
“You mentioned your mother passing away.”
“I did, didn’t I? Well, thank you. Again.” Confusion had overcome her, but the smile was genuine.
She disappeared through the door and was gone like a blur—again.