Short Story--Keeping Secrets--Day 2
Ready for Day 2 of my annual short story? If you missed Day 1, you can catch up here. If you're ready to find out what happens next between Rob and Lindsey, read on. 
“You just looked so shocked.”
“It’s a lot shorter than I’m used to.” That was the other thing. When she’d warned of cutting off her hair, he’d figured it would end up around her shoulders. This style didn’t even cover her neck.
His fingers missed weaving through the strands normally covering her back as he held her. But he wouldn’t complain. He hadn’t married her for her hair.
“You know what this means, right?” She leaned back and grinned at him, her eyes practically twinkling. "We won’t spend so much money on shampoo?” He waggled his eyebrows.
She opened her mouth as if to protest and then blinked a few times. “Um, I guess.”
“Sounds good.” He kissed her once more. “You’re beautiful. If this makes you happy, I’m happy too.”
The crestfallen expression on her face almost had him repenting and admitting he knew her secret. But he wanted to hear her say it. Why wasn’t she coming right out with it?
Two could play this game. Because she didn’t know he knew, either. Which meant he could surprise her with something. Or at least, he hoped so.
***
That hadn’t gone as planned. Lindsey sat at her office desk, fingers on the keys, but mind miles away. Instead of the spreadsheet she was supposed to be updating, her thoughts ran back to a few days before when she’d cut her hair off.
Why hadn’t Rob started jumping up and down for joy? Why hadn’t he remembered? And now how was she going to let him know? This was her big original idea to spill the beans.
Maybe she’d find more inspiration on Pinterest.
But she didn’t want to do something other people had done. She wanted it to be something just between the two of them.
“You look lost in thought.” Harriet leaned against Lindsey’s cubical. “Numbers not adding up?”
“Oh, no. I got distracted.” She automatically hit ‘save’ even though she hadn’t actually made any changes. “Sorry about that.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yes. Just a situation that has me … stumped. Nothing to do with work. I’ll just take a quick restroom break and then be able to focus better.”
“Sure. Let me know if you need a listening ear.” Harriet tapped the metal frame of her “wall.” “I’ve been told I’m a good one.”
“Thanks, Harriet. It’s not even anything really serious. Just something I was expecting to go a different way.”
The older woman nodded and stepped out of Lindsey’s way. Thing was, even if Lindsey wanted to tell her, she couldn’t. No one else needed to know before Rob. And her plan to tell him had backfired. He’d seemed completely oblivious and shocked when she came home with her hair chopped off.
Normally, this time of day required a second cup of coffee, but she was trying to cut out some of her caffeine. She refilled her water jug instead. The aroma of the freshly brewed java gave her pause, but she straightened her back and resisted. She needed to be good.
Back at her desk, she returned her attention to the spreadsheet. This needed to be done by the end of the workday whether she cared about it or not. Time to review who already had their taxes done and who was still waiting. Not to mention those who simply needed to sign and submit. Extension season was too busy to be riddled with distractions.
Not that it kept Lindsey’s mind from wandering anyway as she reviewed files and messages. There had to be something she could do that wasn’t the same as anyone else. And she needed to figure it out soon. She had a doctor appointment in two weeks.
Have you figured out the secret yet? Come back tomorrow to find out what happens next with Lindsey and Rob.
“You just looked so shocked.”“It’s a lot shorter than I’m used to.” That was the other thing. When she’d warned of cutting off her hair, he’d figured it would end up around her shoulders. This style didn’t even cover her neck.
His fingers missed weaving through the strands normally covering her back as he held her. But he wouldn’t complain. He hadn’t married her for her hair.
“You know what this means, right?” She leaned back and grinned at him, her eyes practically twinkling. "We won’t spend so much money on shampoo?” He waggled his eyebrows.
She opened her mouth as if to protest and then blinked a few times. “Um, I guess.”
“Sounds good.” He kissed her once more. “You’re beautiful. If this makes you happy, I’m happy too.”
The crestfallen expression on her face almost had him repenting and admitting he knew her secret. But he wanted to hear her say it. Why wasn’t she coming right out with it?
Two could play this game. Because she didn’t know he knew, either. Which meant he could surprise her with something. Or at least, he hoped so.
***
That hadn’t gone as planned. Lindsey sat at her office desk, fingers on the keys, but mind miles away. Instead of the spreadsheet she was supposed to be updating, her thoughts ran back to a few days before when she’d cut her hair off.
Why hadn’t Rob started jumping up and down for joy? Why hadn’t he remembered? And now how was she going to let him know? This was her big original idea to spill the beans.
Maybe she’d find more inspiration on Pinterest.
But she didn’t want to do something other people had done. She wanted it to be something just between the two of them.
“You look lost in thought.” Harriet leaned against Lindsey’s cubical. “Numbers not adding up?”
“Oh, no. I got distracted.” She automatically hit ‘save’ even though she hadn’t actually made any changes. “Sorry about that.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yes. Just a situation that has me … stumped. Nothing to do with work. I’ll just take a quick restroom break and then be able to focus better.”
“Sure. Let me know if you need a listening ear.” Harriet tapped the metal frame of her “wall.” “I’ve been told I’m a good one.”
“Thanks, Harriet. It’s not even anything really serious. Just something I was expecting to go a different way.”
The older woman nodded and stepped out of Lindsey’s way. Thing was, even if Lindsey wanted to tell her, she couldn’t. No one else needed to know before Rob. And her plan to tell him had backfired. He’d seemed completely oblivious and shocked when she came home with her hair chopped off.
Normally, this time of day required a second cup of coffee, but she was trying to cut out some of her caffeine. She refilled her water jug instead. The aroma of the freshly brewed java gave her pause, but she straightened her back and resisted. She needed to be good.
Back at her desk, she returned her attention to the spreadsheet. This needed to be done by the end of the workday whether she cared about it or not. Time to review who already had their taxes done and who was still waiting. Not to mention those who simply needed to sign and submit. Extension season was too busy to be riddled with distractions.
Not that it kept Lindsey’s mind from wandering anyway as she reviewed files and messages. There had to be something she could do that wasn’t the same as anyone else. And she needed to figure it out soon. She had a doctor appointment in two weeks.
Have you figured out the secret yet? Come back tomorrow to find out what happens next with Lindsey and Rob.
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