The Menopause Support Group by Heather Wardell

Author:Heather Wardell [Wardell, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Indie Author Project
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

MICHELLE

Why is it, I ask myself as I trudge through the unbearably hot air on my way to the office, that my days off have nice cool weather and my work days feel like I'm hanging out in hell? Canada Day yesterday could have been a perfect spring day even though it's July, and I spent it relaxing on my parents' deck and wondering how it can be that I both desperately want a baby and also didn't want to do too much with my niece and nephew. Other than those thoughts, it was a glorious day.

But today, the second of July? I'm sweating even without a hot flash, and since the office won't be air-conditioned because of stupid Dustin there's no relief ahead. I'll be overheated all day long.

Being met in our reception area by an angry Hugh doesn't improve things. "None of the interns are here," he says before I can so much as consider putting my bag down.

"It's still—" I glance at the wall clock. "No, it's not early. Wow. I left home ten minutes early and I'm right on—"

Cutting into my surprise at how much more slowly I'd been walking in the awful heat than I realized, Hugh says, "They've all left messages. Alexis is sick, Chase is nursing a twisted ankle, and Greg is apparently somehow stranded at his parents' house and can't get back. The rest have their stories too. But I suspect they're actually all hung over."

Since they were talking last week when they thought I couldn't hear them about having a massive party at one of their cottages, I suspect he's right, but I don't want to rat them out. Although I'm sure they'd be happy to do it to me. "Well, when they come back tomorrow, we can check their ankles and so on." A thought occurs to me. "On the bright side, it'll be quieter in here." And less full of interns and their annoying body heat. "Should be able to get a lot done."

Hugh narrows his eyes, which confuses me, then says, "We'll discuss that at our morning meeting. Dustin's already in the room, I think. Ready in three minutes?"

"Ready in one." I can't let Dustin appear more prepared or more eager than me.

I hurry to set down my bag, find my notebook, and do my best to be subtle at getting the sweat off my face without damaging my makeup. Those tasks accomplished, I follow Stephen and Hugh into the conference room where we find Dustin sitting in the chair to the right of Hugh's preferred one. Trying to be Hugh's right-hand man, I guess.

I manage to grab the equivalent spot by Stephen, and I see Dustin's jaw tighten. Even more pleasing, I see a drop of sweat on his forehead. He's the reason we're all working in this terrible heat, so I'm glad he's suffering too.

Once Calvin and Ken have settled into their chairs, Hugh says, "Good holiday yesterday, everyone?"

Four of us nod. Dustin says, "I worked, actually.

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