That Monday was a day that lasted forever.
It was a day when work was everything and the only thing that mattered was to be there at my desk ready to cover all eventualities and possible outcomes. Everyone was in the same boat and we all had to make sure we were rowing in the same direction. As the sun began to set in late afternoon, it felt as if we'd survived the economic storm and had come through it in pretty much one piece.
But ever since Janet had left my office that morning something else had been on my mind.
Something that would mean so much more to me in the coming days.
*
Tuesday.
Routine was to be in by eight and be ready to go by eight-thirty when we hooked up to the grid and the numbers started to come in. The assigned secretaries would make sure everything would run smoothly in the background with them keeping various clients and departments up to date with what was going on.
Today was different. Instead of heading up to my office, I made my way to the West side of the building to where the company canteen was. A place I usually avoided for obvious reasons and wanting to keep away from the noise and gossip that would no doubt arise as most of the secretaries took their breaks there during the day. Coming face to face with numbers one to nineteen was something I didn't fancy much so I had most of my meals delivered up to my office.
The canteen pretty much covered half of the ground floor with spacious row upon row of tables and chairs where various people were already sat taking in an early breakfast before starting out the day. It had just gone seven forty-five and the place was surprisingly busy with workers gathered in their various groups with the hubbub of chatter and laughter filling the room along with the fresh smell of coffee and toast.
Feeling slightly awkward, I made my way to a spare table next to one of the windows which sparkled with early morning Winter sunshine and sat myself down to wait and watch.
Waiting to see if it was her.
*
"She's blind."
Ever since Janet had said those words yesterday in my office, my whole sub-conscious had been completely consumed by the possibility that it had been the girl in the rain she was talking about. What were the odds? It had to be her.
That it probably was also meant I had to come to terms with the realization that I was more interested in this girl than I would normally have been with new recruits to the pool. Was it because of the events of yesterday? Was it the fact that she had this disability? Was I interested because I felt sorry for her? Was it a kinky sex thing? I took a sip of coffee and winced at my callous immaturity. Don't be so stupid. It was pathetic to even begin to think like that and was probably down more to curiosity than anything.
I was interested. Interested in her. As a person. I wanted to know her name. Who she was. What she was like. Where she came from. More than anything, I wanted her to know me.
I sat back in the chair and tried to relax. I hadn't felt this sense of anticipation for God knows how long. Relationships had pretty much been one night stands for the past few years and I had no real interest in beginning a longer one. Of all the women I had fucked recently, not a single one had piqued my interest enough to ask them out again. Come to think of it, the only one I'd consider as a "friend" would be Janet but that was probably due more to the fact that she was unobtainable than anything else. Janet, I could talk to. Janet, I could have a decent conversation with and not spend every other second trying to figure out how to get into her panties - not that I'd say no given the opportunity which Janet never would.
So here I was. Bemused. Confused. Nervous. Sat with the great unwashed waiting to see if this girl was who I thought she was. I frowned slightly as each thought gave rise to another then another.
If it was her, then what?
*
At that moment a group of six or so women came into the canteen and made their way to the far side of the room across from where I sat.
I took another sip of my coffee and stared at them over the rim of the plastic cup. Was she in that group? I continued to stare at them as they took their seats with three of them going over to the service counter and ordering various things from the girls serving.
It suddenly occurred to me that I only had a vague idea of what this woman looked like and from this distance it was impossible to tell. I hadn't seen a white stick or anything that would make her stand out from the crowd. I put my coffee down, gave my eyes a rub, and sighed. What on earth was I doing?
"Don't often see the wolf amongst the sheep."
I glanced up to see Janet standing in front of me holding her own coffee and looking at me intently. I gave her a wry smile. "I think I'm lost," I replied lamely as she took a seat opposite me.
"Uh huh," she said, "Curiosity has killed many a cat over the years. You should be careful."
I frowned at her and she waved a hand across her face.
"Don't worry, Mike," she promised, "I won't tell a soul. Ever since yesterday, I've known."
Known? Known what? I shifted in my seat as Janet continued to stare at me with a slight smile on her lips. I glanced over at the group of chatting women on the other side of the room and she grinned at me.
"What?"
She sat forward. "How long have I known you? Ten years?" She went on, "Give or take. From the first moment you started as a trainee in this place wet behind the ears and twice as scared. I've seen a lot of men like you come and go over the years. All spunk, bravado, and nonsense. But you, you I've always considered different and kept an eye on you. Like I said, I know." She sat back and took another sip of her coffee as she watched my face.
"You're imagining things," I muttered. No, she wasn't, and you knew damned fine well she wasn't. It was her job to know you better than you know yourself, you fool. She was like a second mother to you.
