Seven
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“ I know it’ s a twelve hundred dollar suit, but you need to treat it like an old pair of sweatpants. Like it means nothing to you.”“ I’ m confused,” he said.“ You have to act like these are the clothes you grew up wearing or these people will notice. Try it again,” she demanded, as Eddie put on the jacket, walked out of the room and returned. He pulled off the coat and tossed it on the chair.“ Perfect!” she said, getting up and handing him a wrapped box.“ What’ s this?”“ It’ s your Christmas present, but you need it now.”
Eddie opened the box. The black faced watch was thin and beautiful.“ Take off the Timex and replace it with a Movado. It’ s a five thousand dollar watch,” she said. Eddie stared.“ You paid five thousand dollars for a watch for me?”“ I never pay retail. Don’ t be ridiculous. I had to shop for six months,” she laughed.“ It is a discontinued style but that doesn’ t mean anything except when it comes to pricing. They don’ t have to pay for the advertising and they made all their money off the people who had to have the newest style,” she explained, while Eddie swapped the timepieces.“ Now you look like you belong at Frank Melling and Associates, even if you don’ t feel like you do. But people know what they see and you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” The embrace was genuine and it brought a tear to Tanya’ s eyes.“ Thank you,” was all he managed and it was enough.
Nicole and Justin came bounding down the stairs as Eddie put on the jacket, picked up the briefcase and headed up.“ Nice threads Dad,” Justin said, on the way to the kitchen.“ What’ s going on? Did someone die?” Nicole asked.“ No. I got a new job. One that requires me to wear a suit and tie,” he explained.“ You mean no more shirts with the patch over the pocket that say, Eddie?”“ Turning those in tomorrow,” he said, convincingly and found his way to the master suite, put away the new clothing and prepared for a good nights sleep. The clean sheets and warm comforter were a welcome feeling as Eddie slid into bed. Propped up on a few pillows he picked up the notepad and pen. He wrote until his brain offered nothing more.
He was just placing the pen on the nightstand when Tanya entered.“ I need a shower. That place was filthy. I have grit in places that seem impossible.”“ I didn’ t feel like I was taking a shower as much as I felt I was part of a mudslide,” Eddie said, making one more note. Steam billowed as Tanya stepped from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel.“ Are you happy Eddie?” she asked, removing pink pajamas from the triple dresser.“ I’ m nervous and excited,” he said, watching her dress. Climbing into bed Tanya curled in front of Eddie and pulled his arm around her and snuggled in. He held her tightly believing he made the right choice.