Silently Falling in Love: Again (Edited)

Chapter 50 - Surprises

Fall 2009

Alex

My phone rang but I couldn't find it. I checked my pockets, my laptop bag, and realized it was on my desk underneath a pile of papers. I retrieved the phone; the caller ID was blocked. I held my breath. Anjali's calls from home showed a blocked caller ID. I stared at the ringing phone. It couldn't be her since she was in London.

I answered before it went into voicemail. "Hello, this is Alex Shergill."

"Hi, it's me."

"Hey Chris, your number showed up blocked on my phone."

"I'm using my landline which I never use. I couldn't find my cellphone."

"What's up?" I asked trying to sound cheery to mask my disappointment.

"Listen, I wanted to know what you're doing for lunch or if you have some time this afternoon. I wanted to come home and discuss a few things without the kids being around."

"Is everything okay?" I asked as my pulse exploded.

"Look, it's just some stuff I want to talk to you about without upsetting the kids. I think it's best we do this while they're at school." Did she know about Anjali and me?

"Sure. I'm free right now; why don't you come home?"

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."

I hung up the phone and hung my head between my knees trying to calm myself. Chris had been trying over the past couple of years to make things better, we'd even gone to couples counseling, but we were a work in progress. Maybe she just didn't want to work at it anymore. Maybe she knew about Anjali. Maybe it was work related, and they wanted to promote her and move her somewhere.

I walked to the bathroom and splashed my face and looked at myself in the mirror. What if she wanted a divorce? The thought divorce no longer gave me a dreaded sinking feeling. If she wanted a divorce, I wouldn't contest it.

To calm my nerves, I went to the kitchen to make a cup of chai. I had picked up the habit of drinking chai with Anjali and even though she was no longer here; I kept drinking it. Maybe because it reminded me of her. Maybe it reminded me of my dad. Or maybe I just liked it.

I grated the ginger, tore the mint leaves and crushed the cardamom while the black tea boiled. One by one, I added the ingredients and the milk and let it gurgle for a while. The gurgling tea calmed my nerves.

The front door opened as I strained the tea.

"I'm in the kitchen," I called out.

"Hi," Chris said.

"I've made chai do you want any?"

"No thanks."

I poured my cup, and I sat at the kitchen table.

"This is a surprise you coming home in the middle of the day."

"I know. I thought it would be best to talk without the kids nearby to listen in."

"You're killing me with the suspense," I said.

"Work has offered me an opportunity that I think we should discuss."

It was work related.

"What's the opportunity?"

"The firm wants to move me to San Francisco to run the West Coast region. I think it might be a good idea. You've been spending more time there with your apps and you'd be near the action and I'd get management experience. And it might be a good change for us. Something new, a fresh start," Chris said gently.