Chapter 24: The Same Lot

The company's ninth-anniversary party started at seven, and I was twenty minutes early again.

I stood at the edge of the hotel parking lot, next to the loading dock, in the same spot as last year.

This time I had no gift bag in my hand.

I had a navy tie that I'd knotted badly on purpose in the elevator mirror.

Maggie came across the asphalt in a green dress and flat sandals.

"Still crooked," she said. "Good. You look like a man waiting for someone."

"I'm early."

"You're a nervous wreck. Where's the car?"

"She's coming from her shift. She said seven-fifteen."

Maggie checked her watch and gave a satisfied nod.

"I've got twenty bucks on seven-fourteen."

"Against who?"

"Everybody."

She wasn't exaggerating.

The man from accounting walked past with a plastic cup, and he lifted it to me.

"Seven-ten," he said. "I have faith."

The security guard at the service door nodded as I passed him.

"She'll be on time, Mr. Stancliffe," he said. "She always is."

I had not asked either of them.

A woman from marketing leaned out of the stairwell and waved at the lot.

"Is she here yet? We're all betting."

"Not yet."

"She'll be here," she said, as if I had questioned it.

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