Mitchell's Presence Read Free

coffee?”
    “Sure, when and where?”
    “I’ll come and pick you up at the store, if that’s okay.”
    “I’ll be waiting out on Cornelius; do you know where the entrance is on Cornelius?”
    “Sure do.” Arthur smiled, hoping it sounded like he was smiling. “I’ll see you then.”
    Mitchell disconnected the call before Arthur could make any small talk: Where are you? What are you doing? When does your shift start? Arthur flipped his phone shut, checked in with the senior partners about the delay in the latest project, and headed out to make his lunch appointment, making a mental note to go and look for Chopin CDs, obscure ones that Mitchell probably wouldn’t have.
     
    *  *  *
    “ Arthur , nice to see you again.” Rune was already at the bar.
    “Rune, you too.” Arthur motioned to a booth in the corner of the restaurant; it wasn’t crowded yet, but it would be very soon. As the hostess brought menus and Rune’s drink, to the table, Arthur pulled her aside and asked that the bill be brought to him. She nodded and informed him that their server would be out shortly. Until then, Arthur chatted with Rune about his family. He’d been sure to bring the Filofax card with Rune’s personal information to study in the taxi. Arthur had his back to the activity of the bar, an old trick he’d learned long ago to minimize distractions, and was chatting about Rune’s wife and three boys when he heard a familiar voice.
    “Good afternoon, gentlemen; may I get you anything from the bar?”
    Arthur looked up and into those blue eyes. Arthur wasn’t sure if he was pleased or shocked to see the stunned smile on Mitchell’s face, but he was certain that his face was just as much a jumble of emotions.
    “I’m fine for now, thank you.” Rune was looking at Arthur as if he’d been caught doing something illegal.
    “Just a Heineken for me, thanks, in a glass, please.” Arthur felt some control slipping away from him; he should have just acknowledged Mitchell, by name, and taken control of the ordering instead of staring like a gawky teenager at his first girly magazine.
    “Certainly, gentlemen. I’ll be back in a few minutes to take your order.” Mitchell pushed the pad of paper back into his half-apron and moved off to the bar.
    “Are you okay?” Rune was studying Arthur’s face.
    “Fine, thank you.” Arthur scolded himself; Jesus, pull it together . “Now, you were telling me about James’s first year of university.”
    “Jesus,” Rune huffed, “I can’t believe I’m going to have live through this with the other two….”
    Arthur tuned in and out, laughing at the right moments, frowning with sympathy at others, nodding his head periodically as if Rune’s comments were the most insightful he’d ever heard. Why hadn’t he called Mitchell by name? Why hadn’t he stood and shaken the man’s hand? Why had he felt so surprised and… what was the word he wanted to use? Betrayed? Certainly that couldn’t be the word he was looking for? Mitchell didn’t owe him anything; it wasn’t as if Mitchell had done anything wrong. Lots of people had two jobs and worked fifteen hour days, maybe longer.
    Mitchell had returned, standing there again, smiling, pen in hand, waiting while Rune finished his little anecdote about the skyrocketing cost of post-secondary education. Each man ordered, Mitchell writing it all down, very quickly, Arthur noted, and headed back to the kitchen.
    Rune had segued into talking about the new development, and, with Mitchell cleanly removed from Arthur’s mind, for the time being, Arthur was once again in his element. As they ate, Arthur detailed similar projects that his firm had handled, giving specifics of how the details would be observed for Dunlop Developments and how Rune could expect updates as frequently as he would tolerate phone calls from Arthur.
    Dessert was refused by both men, coffee consumed, and the bill given to Arthur as requested. Arthur handed his credit card