Free Destroyed Dreams by Jessica Gray Page B

nodded, “That would look nice. I always hate the way flowerbeds and pots look during the winter; nothing growing in them. Evergreens would be perfect.”
     
    Robert didn’t know much about plants and really hadn’t given much thought to what would go in the planter boxes. His job was to build them, not fill them up. Just then, the phone inside the cabin started ringing. He watched as Melissa set her coffee cup down on the table and excused herself to go answer it.
     
    Melissa hurried inside and grabbed the phone on the fourth ring, “Hello?”
     
    “Melissa? It’s Stephen Forster.”
     
    “Mr. Forster, how are you?” Melissa wondered at why her boss was calling and how he had obtained the number even. “How did you get this number?”
     
    “I asked your secretary. It seems that you’ve been very diligent in making sure everyone around here knew how to get in touch with you.” After a slight pause, he said, “How’s your time up there in the mountains going? Are you feeling any more relaxed?”
     
    Melissa sighed, “I actually am. And you’ll be happy to know that I haven’t checked my email once in the last several days.”
     
    Stephen chuckled, “That’s good. I’d hate to have to fire my favorite attorney for failure to obey a direct order. Seriously though, how are you doing? Do you feel like you’ve gotten a break and are ready to return to work? Be honest here.”
     
    Melissa thought for a moment and then told him, “I think I’m ready. I’m much calmer and believe I can handle the stress now.”
     
    Stephen listened as she told him about the cabin and was pleased to hear how relaxed and happy she sounded. “Well, I know you still have some time left on your sabbatical, but we could really use your help in the office and I would be willing to let you return earlier, if you’re ready.”
    Melissa hadn’t even thought about going back to work early. She discovered that unlike a week ago where she would have jumped at the chance to return to work, she was hesitant to make that commitment. Instead she offered, “Mr. Forster, I appreciate the offer and I would like some time to think about it. I’ve sublet my apartment for the next few weeks and would have to find some place else to live until that was over. Could I get back to you in a few days time?”
     
    “That would be fine. Melissa, if you’re not ready to return yet, or you just want to finish your vacation, don’t hesitate to let me know that. I don’t want to pressure you into returning if you’re not ready.” Stephen Forster had been Melissa’s mentor during her senior year at college, and had always been impressed with her drive and tenacity in the courtroom. He had been concerned as he watched the changes that occurred and was still not convinced that she was cutout to practice family law. Not everyone was, and many sacrificed their personal life in the pursuit of a career. He liked Melissa too much to allow that to happen.
     
    Melissa had left the porch door open and Robert had tried not to listen in on her conversation, but had found himself straining to hear anyway.  He had guessed that someone from her workplace was calling when she first answered the phone and had stood up straighter.
     
    He had moved his tools over to work right next to the door in an effort to hear more of her conversation. When she had told the caller that she would consider returning to work earlier than planned, he found himself getting upset. He hadn’t even considered the fact that she was supposed to leave in several weeks.
     
    Now, faced with that reality, maybe even within the next several days, he found himself surprisingly saddened by the thought. He had enjoyed knowing that he would see her at the cabin each day and they had developed a sort of truce and were getting along really well. He would miss her when she left.
     
    Not wanting to give himself away, he moved back over to the other side of the deck as he heard her end the