what you’re going through.’’
“No, I didn’t know you were married before.”
“Well, I was. Beyond the financial ramifications, which were bad enough, I remember the loneliness. Once she remarried, I found myself trying to reestablish some relationship—”
“That’s not what this is about. I’m talking about the children.”
“And I’m the children’s new stepfather,” Kurt said. “That means I will love them and try my damnedest to form a new family with the woman I married.”
Ben’s face flushed.
Kurt kept himself steady; kept his face calm and understanding until he saw Ben settle back.
“Fair enough.” Ben rubbed his face. “What I’ve got to do is find a way to keep my relationship alive with them without screwing up yours. And that means some help from you as my boss in not sending me off to the far ends of the world, at least for a while.”
“Your career will suffer if I can’t send you where the stories are … and with your vacation, you’ve already blown off so many of those interviews that would’ve helped you secure outside projects.” Kurt glanced at his notebook. “The fact is, I was planning on sending you off to Oregon. Seems that the clash between the timber companies and the environmental groups is coming to a head again. I wanted you to go out, spend some time with both groups, including some of the small logging operations. Show it’s a two-sided issue, not just do a knee-jerk support on the side of the environmentalists. You handle that kind of duality well, and if I’ve got you pegged right, a little more time tramping through the woods wouldn’t hurt you or your career. Maybe even capture some shots on our dime to help that book of yours along.”
“Thanks, but no. I need to be here, and for once, I’m going to let my career come second. I’m talking about regaining something of my family before it’s too late.”
Kurt looked dubious. “I’m just trying to help you readjust to the new reality here.”
Ben paused. “Losing myself in my work isn’t the answer for any of us.”
Kurt nodded, but he still didn’t look convinced.
“Instead of cold professionalism, I think you and I will have to find a way to be friends,” Ben said. “Even though it’s not going to be a natural for either of us.” He put out his hand.
Just as Kurt was reaching out, Lisa stuck her head in the door. “Excuse me, but Peter is on the line. He’s on his car phone and said he’s just pulling up and that I should, quote, ‘Tell Ben to get his ass out front.’ “
“Duty calls,” Kurt said, withdrawing his hand.
“You heard it.” Ben started for the door. He looked back. “We’ll keep talking. And you should tell Andi I will be calling her about those visitation rights.”
“I’ll tell her to expect it.” Kurt smiled genially. “Thanks for coming in.”
Kurt straightened his desk and took the coffee cups out to the sink.
“I’ll do that,” Lisa said.
“Not a problem.” Keeping his hands busy was calming. When he went back into his office, he looked out the window onto Clarendon Street. It was a beautiful, sunlit morning and he had a corner office that also gave him a fantastic view of Copley Square. He caught sight of Peter pulling up across the street in Ben’s old van.
Kurt felt a sharp pang of jealousy.
Both Peter and Ben were doers. They got in, they got close, their talent was in capturing stories and ideas on the fly. Somehow, they weren’t afraid of following and then challenging guys like Johansen, or now this young hood Peter had been following, Jimbo McGuire.
Kurt had his own talents measured to the inch and he knew he was an office man. A competent editor with a good visual sense. A fair administrator. Before Andi, no one saw more than that in him, no matter what he knew was inside. Even she used terms like “steady” or “loving” to describe him; words that didn’t begin to convey the passion he felt for her.
Kurt could
“No, I didn’t know you were married before.”
“Well, I was. Beyond the financial ramifications, which were bad enough, I remember the loneliness. Once she remarried, I found myself trying to reestablish some relationship—”
“That’s not what this is about. I’m talking about the children.”
“And I’m the children’s new stepfather,” Kurt said. “That means I will love them and try my damnedest to form a new family with the woman I married.”
Ben’s face flushed.
Kurt kept himself steady; kept his face calm and understanding until he saw Ben settle back.
“Fair enough.” Ben rubbed his face. “What I’ve got to do is find a way to keep my relationship alive with them without screwing up yours. And that means some help from you as my boss in not sending me off to the far ends of the world, at least for a while.”
“Your career will suffer if I can’t send you where the stories are … and with your vacation, you’ve already blown off so many of those interviews that would’ve helped you secure outside projects.” Kurt glanced at his notebook. “The fact is, I was planning on sending you off to Oregon. Seems that the clash between the timber companies and the environmental groups is coming to a head again. I wanted you to go out, spend some time with both groups, including some of the small logging operations. Show it’s a two-sided issue, not just do a knee-jerk support on the side of the environmentalists. You handle that kind of duality well, and if I’ve got you pegged right, a little more time tramping through the woods wouldn’t hurt you or your career. Maybe even capture some shots on our dime to help that book of yours along.”
“Thanks, but no. I need to be here, and for once, I’m going to let my career come second. I’m talking about regaining something of my family before it’s too late.”
Kurt looked dubious. “I’m just trying to help you readjust to the new reality here.”
Ben paused. “Losing myself in my work isn’t the answer for any of us.”
Kurt nodded, but he still didn’t look convinced.
“Instead of cold professionalism, I think you and I will have to find a way to be friends,” Ben said. “Even though it’s not going to be a natural for either of us.” He put out his hand.
Just as Kurt was reaching out, Lisa stuck her head in the door. “Excuse me, but Peter is on the line. He’s on his car phone and said he’s just pulling up and that I should, quote, ‘Tell Ben to get his ass out front.’ “
“Duty calls,” Kurt said, withdrawing his hand.
“You heard it.” Ben started for the door. He looked back. “We’ll keep talking. And you should tell Andi I will be calling her about those visitation rights.”
“I’ll tell her to expect it.” Kurt smiled genially. “Thanks for coming in.”
Kurt straightened his desk and took the coffee cups out to the sink.
“I’ll do that,” Lisa said.
“Not a problem.” Keeping his hands busy was calming. When he went back into his office, he looked out the window onto Clarendon Street. It was a beautiful, sunlit morning and he had a corner office that also gave him a fantastic view of Copley Square. He caught sight of Peter pulling up across the street in Ben’s old van.
Kurt felt a sharp pang of jealousy.
Both Peter and Ben were doers. They got in, they got close, their talent was in capturing stories and ideas on the fly. Somehow, they weren’t afraid of following and then challenging guys like Johansen, or now this young hood Peter had been following, Jimbo McGuire.
Kurt had his own talents measured to the inch and he knew he was an office man. A competent editor with a good visual sense. A fair administrator. Before Andi, no one saw more than that in him, no matter what he knew was inside. Even she used terms like “steady” or “loving” to describe him; words that didn’t begin to convey the passion he felt for her.
Kurt could
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