He was right. We should know each other. I could feel it.
"Well, Henry," I said, "perhaps I will wait. I've got nothing else to do this afternoon."
That was a lie. I had plenty of things to do, including a date with the captain of a visiting women's track team from Finland. Strangely, my people and I were in full agreement on standing up the chesty Finn, let the javelins fall where they may.
Henry was surprised too. "You are going to wait for her? Uh. Well now, Mr. Barth, your reputation—ah—that is, she's only a child, you know, from the country."
The buzzer on his desk sounded. His secretary spoke up on the intercom. "Miss Reede is here."
Miss Reede came right on in the door without waiting for a further invitation.
We stood there gaping at each other. She was small, about 5'2" maybe, with short, black, curly hair, surface-cool green eyes with fire underneath, fresh, freckled nose, slim figure. Boyish? No. Not boyish.
I stared, taking in every little detail. Every little detail was perfect and—well, I can't begin to describe it. That was for me. I could feel it all through me, she was what I had been waiting for, dreaming of.
I made a quick call on the inside switchboard, determined to fight to override the veto I was sure was coming. I called.
No answer.