Chapter 129 Daydreaming about her
With the exception of the faint hum of the air conditioner and the gentle clicking of keyboards the office was silent.
The tiled floor was streaked with sunlight that came in through the blinds. Fred was seated behind his desk gazing at the computer screen but his thoughts were elsewhere.
With a sigh he reclined in his seat.
“Pay attention” he whispered to himself.
There was a dull-looking spreadsheet before him. The screen was filled with chart numbers and endless columns but he couldn’t make sense of any of it.
Anabelle kept coming up in his mind.
A picture of her appeared in his mind and he smiled dimly. He saw her standing in the kitchen smeared with flour on her cheek humming softly as she stirred a pot.
“Every time she bakes she creates a mess” he muttered to himself.
A voice called out from the doorway “Talking to yourself again?”
Fred turned abruptly and noticed Mark, his colleague smiling and leaning against the wall.
“Just speculating,” Fred remarked.
“Are you thinking about work or someone?” He asked with a smile
Fred laughed quietly.
“Perhaps both,” he remarked.
Mark chuckled.
“I can identify which one” he said
Fred tried to hide a smile as he shook his head. The silence returned when Mark walked away.
The numbers continued to captivate Fred’s attention as he gazed at the monitor once more.
He grabbed his coffee mug and sipped. Already it was freezing. His mind drifted back to Anabelle’s laughter as he gazed into the cup; it was the sound that filled the apartment whenever he said something a little out of the ordinary.
She had once laughed so hard she almost spilled her tea and said “Fred, you're so impossible.”
He laughed quietly at the recollection. Setting the mug aside he massaged his temple.
“You are losing it” he muttered to himself.
He attempted to type another line into the document but instead he saw an image of Anabelle scrolling through pictures on her camera while seated on the couch with her legs tucked under her.
When she discussed her work her eyes would always light up.
“She loves what she does.” he whispered “She truly does.”
His chin rested on his hand as he leaned forward on the desk letting out another sigh.
He refocused and typed steadily. For a while the cadence of his work brought him back to the present. He reviewed figures, corrected charts and responded to a few emails.
However as he began to pick up speed a faint thought of Anabelle's voice softly calling his name returned. His smile came uncontrollably.
“Fred?” Mark repeated as he abruptly showed up next to his desk.
Fred blinked.
“What?” He asked
“Look at your computer screen, you’re smiling” Mark said laughing.
Fred rolled his eyes.
“It's nothing.” he said
“Yeah” said Mark. “Is it the girl who forces you to eat salads these days?”
Fred laughed.
Mark continued to laugh as he left. The laughter gradually subsided as Fred returned his attention to his screen.
He recalled her smile when she gave him his tea the soft way she called his name when he arrived home late and the silent concern in her eyes when she asked if he had eaten.
Comfort wasn't the only thing left. There was more at play.
For a moment he closed his eyes and saw her again standing in the garden the other day her face bathed in sunlight.
While she was grinning at the flowers her hair fluttered in the slight wind.
He had asked “Do you like lilies?”
“Yes,” she had replied. “They make me miss my home.”
The idea made his chest warm. He opened his eyes to examine the papers strewn across his desk.
“What are you doing, Fred?” he muttered
Being lost in this way wasn't typical of him. Usually he was steady, rational and calm. But in some way Anabelle had altered that.
Every quiet moment of his day was infused with her presence. When the lunch bell rang the majority of his colleagues got to their feet.
He remained feigning to work as the office became empty. Once more he reclined in his chair and gazed out the window.
People were hurrying and cars were moving in the crowded city below. However, all he saw in his mind was her smile.
With his phone out he browsed his gallery until he came across the picture he had taken that morning of Anabelle laughing while pouring tea into a cup.
Her smile was modest but sincere.
He kept staring at it, grazing the screen with his thumb. She had gradually opened up to him and he had witnessed the spark return to her eyes.
And he cherished it greatly. He caught his breath a little at the realization.
“Love,” he muttered. “Does that describe this?”
He rubbed his forehead and set the phone face down.
“You’re going too far.” he muttered
However his heart disagreed. He made himself concentrate once more later in the afternoon.
He conducted brief meetings, took phone calls and sent the report. However each pause forced her to return to his thoughts. In the evening he gradually packed his belongings.
Soft light entered the office as the sun outside turned golden. He looked at his reflection in the window. It appeared worn out but a smile was pulling at his mouth.
Fred stayed after everyone had gone. He picked up his coat after surveying the now-quiet office. He left with a soft reverberation of his footsteps.
Leaning against the wall he smiled dimly once more in the elevator. He pondered that Anabelle would most likely be in the kitchen right now possibly humming the same song she always did.
Her voice was warm, gentle and almost audible. The cool evening air made his heart feel lighter by the time he stepped outside.
Fred smiled again as the wind blew softly carrying the smell of rain.
He had no idea where life would take them but he was certain that Anabelle had evolved into the subdued rhythm that gave everything else its meaning.
“I can't wait to see her,” he whispered as he made his way to his car.