The frustration on her face was painfully obvious. Kelly plopped down at the lunch table and blew a heavy sigh through her lips.
"What? Nothing good for lunch today?" I asked playfully.
"I wish that was all it was," replied Kelly glancing at me and turning up a half-grin. "I've been trying to get a plumber to come to my house and install this dishwasher I bought. They want like a minimum of 200 bucks to come over and look at this thing. Most likely it'll cost me 250, I figure. I just can't afford that right now."
Something told me that this was more than just a complaint about money; I just bit into my sandwich.
I've known Kelly now for about three years and we've always enjoyed each other's company. A short time after she began working at my company my wife and I ran into her and her husband in the local mall. We all went out to dinner and had a really nice time. Although as a group didn't become really close, we did get together for cookouts or for a dinner party with some other friends, usually every other month or so. Before the first year was over, however, I noticed a dramatic drop in the frequency of the accepted invitations by Kelly and her husband to our parties. And they never called to invite us over or out. But Kelly and I remained close at work. We often ate lunch together, we even went out to lunch, but nearly always with other colleagues. In fact, she even came by my office every once in a while. She would stop to say hello and ask how the latest project was going. Occasionally, mostly at lunch, she would ask about how my wife and I were getting along. I found this kind of curious but I thought she was just making small talk, something besides work.
And as damn strange as it sounds, Kelly's questions were insightful. My wife had taken another job, a very demanding one. Her time at home and her time with me grew shorter and shorter. She would work 10 to 12 hour days and then go to the gym. She came home only to sleep. I had asked her about her long hours but she offered me a cursory answer about how she loved this job and how far it could advance her career if she put in the time and effort. Our relationship was basically evaporating. I pretty much followed my wife's lead and spent a lot of time at work. But I was not quite as infatuated with my job as she was. So I started looking for other things to do while my wife was working.
I began to fix up the house that we bought. It was an older home so it needed some work. I painted and fixed the woodwork and moulding in some bedrooms and the den and dining room. I then tackled the kitchen. It came out great. It took me 4 months from design to completing the final installations. I replaced the entire kitchen; cabinets, countertop, flooring and even the appliances. It cost a lot but I saved a bundle doing all the work myself. But my life boiled down to working at the office and then coming home and working on the house. I enjoyed it, but it was a bit lonely, so I welcomed Kelly's trips to my office. It was as if I had a real friend. Of course, I started visiting her at her office. But the attention we were giving each other became noticeable at work. We were not in the same department so there would be no problem with favoritism or anything like that. But I was married. I clung to that like it was something to protect. Something that would be there when my wife decided that work was just that and there was more... I waited and all the while maintained my friendship with Kelly.
One day Kelly came to my office early in the morning, she was obviously upset. I got her a cup of coffee and asked what was wrong. She and her husband had just filed for divorce. I told her that I knew something was wrong because we haven't seen her and her husband in the last six months. She said the relationship deteriorated over that time. She had hid it quite well, but then I realized she had dropped a lot of hints, especially her inquiries about my wife and me. To tried to make her feel better. I told her that I hardly see my wife anymore so marriage has little to do with closeness and friendship. I told Kelly that my wife has a greater interest in her career than in me, or so it seemed. This seemed to cheer her a bit. I offered more words of encouragement and offered to help her with anything she needed. She said she might just take me up on my offer. She was looking for a new place to live and might need help moving.
During her search for a place I told Kelly about my home restoration projects. And she told me about her home search. She found a place in about a month; a nice townhouse that was about 15 years old but in good shape. Me, two of her department co-workers and a couple friends moved her on the first weekend after she closed. That night I could tell she wanted people to stay. Perhaps it was my imagination but even as others were filtering off she tried hard to find reasons to keep me working. Little things, pictures, putting things into high places... Finally she offered me a beer and said it was time to stop and relax. As we drank our beers I said I knew it must be hard for her to stay in the new place alone. She asked if my wife was coming home that night; if not, Kelly offered her sofa, it would make her feel better. I demurred. My wife would be home, I told Kelly, and she was probably already there and that I must be going. Before I left I told her to call if there was more to do tomorrow. I should be able to help her. She did call, but only to thank me for the help moving and that she would see me Monday morning.
Our friendship grew slowly over the next two months, we went to lunch often and talked about my still deteriorating relationship with my wife, but there always remained this barrier. It was an intangible thing that prevented Kelly and I from growing closer, this vapid marriage that I held on to. But Kelly's smile was a delight; her hair smelled like wildflowers, she was so pretty... I wanted to take her to dinner, to a movie, to kiss her... but I couldn't bring myself to cross this threshold.
"You know, I installed the dishwasher in my kitchen," I simply plopped out there like a sack of flour.
Kelly's eyes opened wide but she looked down as she forked a cherry tomato into her mouth, chewed and swallowed.
"How difficult was it?" she just as plainly asked.
I kinda knew where this line of conversation was leading but like a new hiking trail it just begged to be followed, slowly and alertly.
"Not too difficult, if you know some basic carpentry and making electrical connections. Of course, you do know how to sweat joints to do the plumbing?"
Kelly gave me a terse look, "Doesn't everybody?"
I took another bite of sandwich and smiled at her.
After a pause of a few seconds she continued, "OK, for the sake of argument. Let's just pretend I know less than basic carpentry, just maybe I know the correct end to hold a hammer. Let's say that anything more complicated than screwing in a light bulb is beyond my ability to do the electrical work. And the only time I sweat is when I'm at the gym, and pipe joints are not doing the sweating. So what would I do then?"
The hiking trail had taken a straight path to the trail's end, but perhaps I could still take a side path.
"You know there are websites that give you step by step instructions... or perhaps I could help you."
"You could help me? Really?" Kelly asked eagerly.
"Sure. I could write you up a really detailed set of instructions. Like the first thing I would tell you is to shut off the electricity at the circuit breaker. Do this so you don't electrocute yourself. And then I would make sure you build a strong dolly so you can remove the old and bring in the new dishwasher without damaging your floors. I'll have to think a little bit so make sure I don't miss anything else important...
"Wait!"
Kelly decided that the path I was on was not one she cared to follow anymore.
She smiled at me and asked directly, "Do you think you can come over and help me install my dishwasher on Saturday?"
Well, there it was. She cut through all my playful diversion and left me with a decision. I sat there mulling over any implications that might be hidden behind this simple request for help. And most likely it was only that, so why was I hesitant? Why? Her pretty smile was too persuasive. After a few more seconds I made my decision.
"So you won't try it by yourself. Chicken. Yeah, I'm free; I guess I could help a little. But you'll have to do most of the work, including the heavy lifting."
"Yeah, OK," Kelly grimaced, "but who's the real chicken here?"
Kelly knew what she was doing. I was much less sure. She read my discomfort about being alone with her. She probably noticed the night I helped her move in too. But she was direct in asking for my help. And I realized that I was quite happy that she asked.
