Finding Dad

High ponytail, dark sunglasses, oversized sweatshirt (the kind you steal from your boyfriend), dark blue boot cut jeans, black heeled boots. Put together yet comfortable, ready to face another day sorting through the enormous amount of mail that comes into the detective agency everyday, along with a myriad of other odd jobs that the higher-ups throw at her. She was looking for a better job, but it would do for now. It payed decent and her best friend worked there. That was the biggest reason she hadn't left yet. Jacob was irreplaceable. They were best friends from childhood and did practically everything together. Still thinking fondly of Jacob and their friendship, she stepped through the tall glass door into the wide open office of Cal-Van Detective Agency. She greeted the receptionist with a quick smile and a wave of her ID badge pinned to the edge of her sweatshirt. The receptionist glanced at her over her glasses, nodded briskly, and went back to her email. She had never been real friendly to Rosalind, but that never stopped Rosalind from being friendly to her. 

"Good morning, Rosalind! How are you this morning?" Rosalind turned as Ben strutted her way. 

"I'm doing great, Ben. How are you? You sure look like you are in a chipper mood."

Ben cocked an eyebrow at her and nodded slyly at her. "I have been planning a very special event for weeks and it is finally going to happen today!"

"Ah! What is it this time? A surprise party for an employee whose birthday isn't for another month? Or is it a gaming room that you are going to have to do away with because no one leaves and actually does their job? Oh, no, wait, maybe it will be a new coffee room that will have to be completely redone because someone blew up the coffee pots all over the walls on the first day." There was a twinkle in his eye as she recounted his failed attempts to change things up in the work space. She knew why he did it. The office could get boring and mundane. Their line of work wasn't always exciting. He meant well, but his methods weren't always the best. 

"Rosalind! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you don't trust your boss."

"Not with redecorating and entertainment.... I have to get to work. See you later, Ben." Rosalind often felt uncomfortable around Ben. It was another good reason to find a different job. Jacob didn't understand her discomfort with Ben, but supported and protected her. She rarely had  a conversation with Ben where Jacob didn't come and rescue her. Which reminded her, where was he? She went to the back office where she worked and found him sitting on the corner of her desk with a cocky grin on his face.

"Look who's finally here! I was worried that your coffee was going to get cold, and I was tempted to drink it." He pushed off the desk and embraced her heartedly, which she returned. As they enjoyed their morning cup of Dunkin Donuts, she recounted her conversation with Ben, and they traded ideas for what he could possibly be doing today. They laughed and joked and gradually Rosalind forgot about Ben and her reservations about him. 

The day continued without many problems, other than almost spilling a brand new pot of coffee on an important client who took a wrong turn in their search for Ben's office. She apologized profusely and delivered the young woman right to Ben's door. Ben grinned at her and then turned his full attention to his client. 

At the end of the day, Rosalind joined Jacob in his truck for the ride home. They chatted about the day, exchanging stories about rude clients, weird happenings, and of course the coffee incident. Jacob laughed at her embarrassment with the young woman. 

"She is not much different than you, Rosalind. Young, pretty....hey!!" Rosalind effectively cut him off by backhanding him in the arm. 

"That will be enough, thank you very much."

"What? It's true!" She glared at him as she gathered her things to get out of the truck. 

"Whatever. Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow?"

"Perhaps. I might run away between now and then."

"No, you won't. Not without me you won't and you know it!"

"You're right. Let's have dinner tomorrow. What do you say?"

"Sure. Bye."