Just Like Em. Marion Ekholm

a large bonus package.”

      The space between Roger and her was decreasing, because Roger kept leaning toward her as though he wanted to catch everything she had to say. Em considered moving her chair a little farther away, but decided she liked the idea that he found her interesting.

      “How did they keep you there?” Roger picked up a yellow legal pad and began making hen scratches.

      “They offered training we’d need to make ourselves more saleable in the work world and gave us counseling as well as help in writing résumés and... Am I going too fast for you?” Roger stopped writing and looked up.

      “No. This is great information. Go on.”

      “How are you going to read that?”

      Roger dropped his pencil and propped his head on his hand again. “It takes a while, but I manage.”

      “Wait a minute.” Em got up and returned after a moment with a laptop computer. At least this would keep her hands occupied. “I’ll put it all down in a readable form. What else do you want to know?”

      “What they did to make life bearable. Stuff like that.”

      Em typed as she talked. “They gave us unexpected breaks that cost them very little....”

      “That’s good,” Roger said, straightening and pointing to the computer. “Put that down.”

      “Like one day they gave us the afternoon off to watch a video, a comedy, and they provided popcorn and pop.”

      “Didn’t that cut down on production?”

      Em typed in his question then added her answer. “No. Production improved. Most of us were glad to have some relief from the pressure that was always present.” She was really getting into this, enjoying their exchange.

      “What else?”

      “Well...” She closed her eyes a moment to picture the scene. “They used incentives.”

      “To keep production at its peak?”

      Em chuckled as she typed. “No, to keep us coming in every day. People who had collected sick time began to get ill Wednesday and recover by the next Tuesday. The company needed reliable workers, so everyone who didn’t miss a day during the week got a little prize.”

      Roger placed his hands over his face and mumbled, “Oh, boy. Here it comes.” He brushed his hands through his hair before sitting back. “What’s it going to cost?”

      “What’s the cost of four or five days of pay for just one person out sick, not even counting the production cost or the strain on the other employees who have to fill in?”

      Roger whistled softly before Em added, “We received prizes of tickets for movies or lunch passes. In a month of perfect attendance, we might get items equal to an hour and a half of our pay. No big deal for them, but a fun thing for us.”

      “Who decided these things?”

      “Well, we had an agency working with HR and our supervisors worked closely with them. They constantly solicited our opinions. Also, those who’d made a month of perfect attendance had their names placed in a special drawing. Once it was a hundred-dollar gift certificate and another time a weekend at a dude ranch—big prizes that made us strive to stay.”

      “You ever win one?

      “No, I never had perfect attendance.” She’d often had to take time off to care for some emergency with Sammy.

      Roger leaned over and looked at her screen. “You getting all that?” Once again, she found it disconcerting to have him so close. She misspelled a word and hastily corrected it. When he gazed at her with a look of total admiration, she loused up a whole sentence and quickly erased it.

      “You know, I could use someone with your skills, but I can’t add any more people except temps. Your mother mentioned you’re a temp at your present job. Would you consider switching? I’d hire you on the spot.”

      Work for Roger? Today had been so enjoyable. Wouldn’t more time with him be even better? Em ran her tongue over her bottom lip and felt the area still raw from yesterday’s bite. Men. They could certainly louse up your life. Not likely anything would be different working with Roger.

      She rushed to say, “But my job—”

      “Weren’t you over at Metro looking for work?” he interrupted.

      “Yes, but when I heard about the layoffs at Metro, I accepted a permanent job for an excellent salary.” The lie came so easily. She hoped it would become truth tomorrow once she applied for the job. “Unfortunately, the medical plan isn’t the best.”

      He moved away but continued to stare at her. “You look healthy enough.” She warmed under his scrutiny.

      “I am, but Sammy suffers from asthma.” She returned her attention to the computer and saved the file. “Their policy doesn’t cover preexisting conditions for the first six months.”

      “Too bad. Isn’t he covered under your ex’s plan?”

      Without pausing to consider her words, Em rose and said, “Bradley doesn’t work. I’ll go attach this to my printer and get you a hard copy.”

      “Thanks.” Noise from the other room increased. “It sounds like the galaxy has been saved. I’ll round up the boys and get Samantha. I still have to type up my presentation before tomorrow’s meeting.” He punched the air with his index fingers, simulating his hunt-and-peck typing style.

      “I could type it for you. If it’s not sensitive or confidential.”

      “No, you’ve done enough already.” He backed away toward the living room. “Thanks for a very nice day.”

      The moment had turned awkward, but Em couldn’t figure out why. All she had done was volunteer to help, and Roger obviously needed all the help he could get.

      * * *

      ALONE AT HIS computer, Roger stared at his incomplete notes. It was after midnight, and he still couldn’t get his mind to focus on the job at hand. It was too busy rehashing and remembering each exchange with Em.

      The day had been perfect, much like the times he’d shared with his wife. More important than her typing skills, Em offered humor, something missing in his life. For a short time the pressure of his job and the needs of his children had been shared.

      Oh, she would make a wonderful assistant. He leaned back and grasped his hands behind his head, remembering her reaction when he offered the temporary position. Was it the hesitation or the awkward movements that seemed out of character? But then, what did he know?

      Roger picked up his notes and glanced at the picture of Karen’s smiling face on his desk. It had been taken several years before her death. In this photo, too, she looked so lovely. So full of life. Who knew that in just a short while....

      He’d enjoyed Em’s friendly companionship. That’s why he wouldn’t pursue it. He didn’t want to take advantage of her giving nature when he had nothing to give in return. Karen still remained the love of his life. He had nothing to offer anyone.

      * * *

      “YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, Dad.” Samantha stood by his desk, hands on hips. “I need clothes. I start high school in less than two weeks, and I don’t have a thing to wear.”

      Frustrated by the interruption, Roger turned from his computer. Only two weeks? Where had the summer gone? The schedules he needed by the next day still weren’t finished. After discussing Em’s suggestions with the group hired to handle the outplacements, Roger had implemented several of them. They’d go a long way toward helping the transition run smoothly. If everything could be completed, he’d have his weekend free to take the boys camping, a chance to relax for a change. Shopping certainly wouldn’t fill that bill.

      Maybe she did need clothes. Lately,