Waiting on the Stars - Chapter Twelve

 

As the sweet aroma of the coffee settles around Adele, she takes her place at the large conference table surrounded by other members of the production team.  The low murmur of her colleagues forms a quiet and restful backdrop to her thoughts.

Raiden enters last. He moves easily through the room.  Handshakes, brief touches on shoulders, a few quiet words - Raiden brings warmth and respect into every room that he enters.  He is confident but not arrogant.  Authority without force. Wise but not consumed. Calm but not passive. In control but not manipulative. Firm but not unmovable.  He is a good leader and visionary.  Many of his team look up to him and see Raiden as a mentor whether officially named one or not. He is kind and friendly.  However, he is not easily fooled by flattery and too much attention. His skills and stamina are admired for the reality of their results rather than just for their potential. The kind of presence that steadies a room rather than fills it.

“I’m glad to see everyone.  Sam, welcome back.  We missed you last week” offers Raiden as everyone adjusts in their chairs and prepares for the meeting ahead.

Ellie can’t wait.

“Actually,” Ellie interrupts, lifting her hand with deliberate precision, as if to inform a group of unruly tourists of where they need to go, “Sam and I were just talking.  It would make more sense if I presented the new project rather than Adele.  She’s new. This is a lot to take on for a first presentation.  It’s probably terribly uncomfortable for her to make the presentation today.  I can’t imagine how much her nerves must be bothering her.  It’s completely fine with me if you need me to step in on her behalf.  I’ve handled these kinds of things for years and know our clients well.  I really think it would be a smart decision if I presented rather than trusting someone new who isn’t comfortable in this kind of situation. I’m far more familiar with our clients and expectations.” rambles Elle, as her words stack neatly into place not allowing anyone else to speak.

Raiden regards her evenly.

“I’ve already reviewed Adele’s presentation. She will present today.  She has been the one working on it.  Declan and Sam have reviewed the material and who also agree that the presentation is quite well done and I think will be something of value to the company.y” replies Raiden disappointed that Ellie is using tactics to discredit the efforts of her co-workers because she feels in competition with them rather than working as a member of a team.

A beat of silence.

“I see” Ellie answers reluctantly surrendering while shuffling her papers and starting to tap her digital quill on the plexiglass screen table to the annoyance of everyone else throughout the room. 

She strokes her hair back in place and raises her chin as if there has been an imaginary cramp in her neck. Then she tilts her head to the side, squinting her eyes, and slightly pursing her lips to focus directly on Raiden as he speaks his next words.

Raiden continues.

Unfazed by Ellie theatrics, Raiden proceeds through the agenda for the meeting. One by one, the team presented – measured, thorough, practiced.  Ideas refined, reshaped, open to possibility.

 Each manager presents what their specific team has been working on. Each are dedicated and thorough in their work. Many hours have been spent defining the details, merging concepts, and allowing room for creativity and inspiration rather than dwelling on past merits and the status quo.

The last item on the agenda is Adele’s project.  Raiden offers for Adele to come to the head of the conference table to use the virtual projection.

Then Adele stood.

 The projection blooms to life.  A 3-d image of the venue appears.  Each room slowly opens to display a holographic image of decorations, furniture arrangement, a menu, a touchable scroll down menu that includes a meeting outline, food menu and dessert descriptions, seating list, table decorations, budget, caterer contacts, and other viable information for the special event. Even contingency plans are neatly nestled within the design. It is  not simply a presentation, it is an environment.

The questions came.

Her colleagues are quite impressed but also have reasonable questions and concerns about alternate plans in case of unexpected interference.  Adele meets each question without hesitation, calm and prepared. Answering each question confidently as she explains every gap has been anticipated. Every uncertainty already considered. She has carefully researched and documented possible delays or other unexpected opportunities or situations.

Across the table, Ellie sits rigid.

With her arms crossed, and her leg swinging in a restrained cadence to her disgust. Ellie’s composure is intact, but her irritation barely concealed. She is visibly seething. This was not on her expected plan for today.  She is impressed with Adele’s complete project, but not out of admiration but out of reluctance to acknowledge her capable skill level. 

The meeting closes. Chairs shift. Papers gathered.  The room begins to empty.

“Adele.”

She turns.

“Do you have a minute?” Raiden asks.

A flicker of uncertainty crosses her face.

Not sure if something is wrong that he wants to discuss about the presentation, “Of course.    Do you need to go over something?” nervously asks Adele hoping there is not too much that will have to be re-designed.

“I was thinking,” gently interrupts Raiden, “we could celebrate with a congratulatory cup of coffee and dessert for your first presentation.” He smiles, self-consciously putting his hands in his pockets not quite use to feeling any type of nervousness when speaking to one of his employees.

The tension slips from her shoulders.

“This sounds perfect.  Dessert sounds great!” replies Adele feeling relieved that it wasn’t a reprimand or critique as previous difficult bosses had done before.

“Let me just get my coat.  There is a bakery I like in the area, if that is okay with you” offers Raiden feeling unexpectedly excited to be spending some time outside of work with Adele.

“Sounds great!  Bread of any kind is my favorite thing.” Unashamedly offers Adele laughing within her words knowing how true that statement is actually by definition.

“My glider is just downstairs in Airpod 2. Shall we walk together?” offers Raiden hoping to prolong their time together.  He gently helps Adele put on her coat by holding the back and letting her arm slide into the sleeve.  The share a common smile with each other.

“Thank you” kindly replies Adele not entirely use to someone helping her with basic things but that feel suddenly special and with the warmth of friendship.

The hallway stretches quietly around them.

Slowing down her pace,  Adele notices a piece of new artwork displayed digitally on the translucent walls.

She steps too close.

She accidentally bumps into Raiden. A soft collision. A shared laugh. 

“Oh, I’m so sorry!  I wasn’t watching what I was doing.  Isn’t that beautiful?” exclaims Adele gesturing toward the modern impressionistic motion painting by a new AI artist. 

“I found it through a friend of mine who recommended this new artist to me” offers Raiden, “What do you think of it?”

Studying it a little longer, “I’ve not quite seen anything like it before.  The vibrant colors, blending within the scenic background, yet each part is defined by its own beauty and sculpture.  It almost feels like you are participating in the painting rather than just observing it” reflects Adele with sincerity and astute observation.

Raiden glances at her, surprised.

“Yes,” he states after a moment, “Exactly.”

“I felt the same way the first time I saw it.  It was more of an experience rather than a display” replies Raiden amazed that she would feel the same as he does without a leading or explanation.

They walk on.

For a moment each silently walking next to each other feeling content and mutually understood.  Raiden stands to the side and still holds the automatic sliding door even though it is unnecessary because a camera monitors any movement and adjusts accordingly.

“I’ve been meaning to bring you here”, he adds almost offhand.

Adele smiles, missing the weight of it.

“I like trying new places.  I’ve been exploring on my own around Kell City but it’s better with company too” reflectively considers Adele believing that Raiden is just being polite to his new employee like he would anyone else.

Raiden doesn’t answer. 

Blushing slightly in the folds of the coat collar, he waits for Adele by her side of the door to enter the glider comfortably and be situated in her seat.  The door slides open as he walks to the side where he likes rest while the glider takes him to work each morning.

He holds the glider’s door open a moment longer than necessary.

The glider lifts cleaning into the open air.

 Below them, the skyscape of Kell City glistens in the horizon. The city is softened into lines of light and shadow.   The gorgeous sunset on the horizon blooms in vibrant hues of deep rust, citrus, burnished copper, and fading gold.  The brilliant sky looks as if an antique painting of the old Western Front.

A sudden shift. A nearby glider cutting too close.

A flutter of disturbance occurs when a speeding glider moves near.  The glider tilts to accommodate the flow of the unexpected traffic. “Are you ok?” asks Raiden as they each catch their balance.  “I’m fine.  That driver must have taken it off automatic pilot and decided to manually fly himself – not a good idea.”

Raiden exhales. “I don’t know why anyone would choose to do that. You miss everything.”

“I’d much rather enjoy the scenery than worry about the traffic around me” explains Raiden “I don’t know how drivers handled it in the past.  They missed out on so much because they had to concentrate on the roads rather than all the beauty around them.”

“I don’t know,” explains Adele, “Sometimes it’s nice to not know exactly where you are going.”

“Every once in a while, I like to drive myself but it is usually when there is not much traffic around.  I like the idea of randomly choosing where I would like to go without being obligated to be anywhere in particular” remarks Adele feeling that this statement also coincides with how she views her own life.

Raiden considers what she is saying, “Those are usually the moments that stay.”

“It’s funny how being open to new experiences sometimes create the most memorable moments of your life” reflects Raiden glad that a random invitation for dessert seemed like a good idea today.  “Here we are.”

Myrtle’s Baker & Creamery glows softly at the edge of the street.

The glider eases into the docking station.   The place is decorated in shades of delicate soft pinks and canary yellow, with floral trim and foliage.   They find a table with two white ironwork chairs with checkered pastel bench seats.

Inside, warmth. Sugar, coffee, baked bread – the air itself seems layered.

A delicious aroma of warm bread, sweet desserts, hot brewing coffee, and chocolate fill every atom of the café. “This smells like heaven” half-seriously remarks Adele taken in a very deep breath to appreciate the beautiful effort of confectionary care around her.

Raiden laughs to himself while observing Adele grateful for the moment of bliss, Raiden admires how well Adele seems to appreciate and adapt to whatever setting she finds herself in whether it is camping, a work meeting, or a café.

At the table next to them, their reverie is interrupted by the sound of two familiar voices arguing over tres de leches. 

“This is the best cake ever!” explains Alice Hammer “but I think adding grape jam to the top is just fine!

“No one adds jelly to cake!” replies Jennings taking her napkin and wiping her mouth after a huge bite of decadence. “That’s nonsense!”

“You just haven’t tried it!”  argues Alice Hammer “Sometimes I even add strawberry jam too. Haven’t you had a donut with jam in it?  Isn’t it the same thing?”

“I like my donuts plain with a glimmer of glaze” bluntly remarks Jennings “Donuts and jam don’t belong together.”

“But you eat toast, what’s the difference” perplexed replies Alice Hammer “I see you every Tuesday and Thursday at the Breakfast Club at the Silvercrest.  You put mixed berry jelly on your toast EVERY TIME!”

“That’s different” stubbornly replies Jennings staring down Alice Hammer to challenge her belief “it is not a dessert.”

“I don’t eat jelly on my toast, it mixes too much with the butter” honestly replies Alice Hammer, “I do like Nutella though”.

“You nutty – that’s all I got to say” remarks Jennings feeling as if she had the last word.

“Well, is that so? I think you are a bit fruity” retorts Alice Hammer feeling as if she has met Jennings challenge with defiance. Both ladies look angrily at each other.

What follows unravels quickly – cake into donuts, donuts into toast, toast into principle.

Raiden leans back amused by their chatter, “So, what is the final verdict?”

Laughing at the fight between two of his favorite people in the universe, he joyfully pauses for their answer.

“I know you agree with me Raiden.  Jelly does not belong in donuts” suggests Jennings having babysat Raiden when he was a little boy.

“Yeah – is that what you think?” defensively replies Alice Hammer, “I bet Adele agrees with me that biting into a strawberry jelly donut with icing on the top is one of the best flavors in the world, right Adele?”

Alice Hammer turns sharply, “Adele. Jelly donuts – yes or no?”

Alice Hammer turns to look at Adele as a little bit of red jelly falls from the corner of Alice Hammer’s mouth.  Jennings has been arguing with a pink powdered sugar mustache with a touch of sprinkles.

“Look fool!  You’ve got powdered sugar all over you!” explains Alice Hammer feeling quite the champion.

“What?  I’m no fool.  I’m not sitting there with clown face full of red lips of jelly!” Jennings snaps back.

Alice Hammer pleads to Adele, “What’s your favorite donut? With or without jelly, Adele?”

“A careful yes … but Im partial to chocolate glaze” honestly replies Adele hoping to help end the argument.

“Reasonable.” Jennings allows.

“What about you, Raiden?” presses Jennings hoping to have a compatriot on her side.

Raiden pauses.

“Honestly, I like bagels and cream cheese” replies Raiden looking over at a customer devouring a bagel at the next table.

Then – unexpected united agreement.

“Ooooh, that is good” replies Alice Hammer “I’ll have to get that next time.”

“With what kind of cream cheese?” asks Jennings feeling like provoking her best friend of fifty years again.

“I’d rather not discuss it and let it be a “present” of surprise for myself next time” replies Alice Hammer enjoying the randomness of a moment at opportune times.

“I guess jelly, butter, fruit, Nutella, doesn’t really matter at the end of the day, it’s all delicious anyway” replies Jennings smacking her lips after the last bite of her powdered donut.

The argument dissolves.

The room shifts again – quieter.

“What does your t-shirt say today?” asks Raiden liking the slogans Jennings likes to wear.

“It’s a picture of a donut – that’s how this discussion got started” replies Jennings it says “I may look soft and chewy, but I’m a little tart on the inside.”

“Jeez …” replies Alice Hammer rolling her eyes and shaking her head while wiping her mouth of the last crumb.

“Are you going to Isla’s on Friday?” asks Jennings, too casually.

 Alice Hammer swiftly kicks her leg under the table.

Too late.

“Oww!  What did you do that for?” asks Jennings as Alice Hammer enlarges her eyes and moves them back and forth between Adele and Jennings and back at Adele.

“Ohhh …” reversing the sound of her “oww” hoping that Adele didn’t hear her, Jennings replies “I  … I … I ..” not able to compensate for bringing up Isla into the conversation.

“I’ve been invited to the party as well” states Adele wanting to remove the awkwardness of the moment. “I’ve been asked to be there as Declan’s plus-one.”

Reflief flickers across Jenning’s face.

“I’m so glad you are coming too!” replies Jennings glad that her new friend will be there. “I’m not really a fan of Isla’s parties but she usually has really good food and desserts!”

Raiden stands.

“Well, we should go.  But we will see you Friday!” replies Raiden guiding Adele with his hand gently on her back towards the exit door. 

“It’s good to see you again!” waves Adele happy that it has turned into such an enjoyable evening.

Outside the air has cooled.  Rain threatens to fall.

Raiden’s connection band begins to flicker, and the letters “ISLA” circle above the band. “It  looks like Isla is calling.  I’ll call her later.”

“It’s okay, you can answer now” remarks Adele looking for her lipstick in her purse.

Raiden hesitates anyway -but then answers,

“Hello?” Raiden reluctantly replies, “Yes, I see.  Of course. No, that’s fine. It’s no problem at all.  I’ve got things that I need to do. I hope you have a good evening with Jayden.  I’ll see you Friday.”

A pause.  Then silence. He turns back.

“Ready? A storm’s coming.  I have an extra umbrella.” offers Raiden.

Thunder rolls faintly in the distance as they step into the glider.

Something unspoken settles quietly between them.