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<br><br> My life was cloudy and my life symphony playing out in minor chords.
I’m sure this is the way things would have continued were it not for the advent of an unexpected event.
It happened one rainy day in July during the doldrums when our publishing firm slows to a crawl for summer holidays.
<br><br>I was in my condo sipping wine and dreamily gazing through my huge picture window. A storm was brewing and the Toronto skyline was a black silhouette beneath a lowering sky.
I idly glanced at a newspaper left open on the coffee table and an ad caught my eye—a notice about a meeting of the local Cloud Appreciation Society to be hosted at Casa Loma, a Gothic Revival style castle in midtown Toronto.
The meeting was scheduled for that evening at eight and I knew I had to be there.
<br><br>I’m not usually impulsive but the idea of spending an evening appreciating clouds with a room full of like-minded individuals seemed like heaven to me.
So I cancelled my plans for an evening out with friends, choosing instead to pursue the romance of the soul.
I arrived at the famous castle on the hill well before eight.
<br><br>There was a wet bar set up just inside the foyer and several people, some in formal dress, were milling about as if waiting for the opera. I bought a glass of Yellow Tail and wandered about the room admiring the architecture.
In the milling crowd I heard familiar laughter and snooped around trying to find the source. I ended up looking directly into Bri’s huge dark eyes.
<br><br>“Derek! What are you doing here?”
“Same thing as you, I suppose.”
She looked shocked and a little nervous.
“Are you here with someone?”
I shook my head. “No. I saw the notice in the Toronto Star and on decided on impulse to drop by and check it out. I don’t know anyone who’s as obsessed about clouds as me.”
<br><br>“Well, now you do,” said an older gentleman chuckling and handing Bri a glass of wine. “I’m Ward Stephenson. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Derek Leitner, I smiled, grasping his outstretched hand. “Bri and I work together at Coach House Press.”
“Really?” he replied with a bemused smile. “I don’t recall your mentioning Mr. Leitner, Bri. Is this an affair de Coeur? I sincerely hope Derek and I won’t have to duel with muskets at twenty paces—my aim’s been off lately.”
<br><br>I laughed hollowly.
“Don’t worry, Ward—I’m sure Bri’s omission is more the result of disinterest—besides, workplace acquaintances don’t really count as friendships.”
At this point Bri seemed to recover her composure.
<br><br>“Oh puhlease! You two are horrid teasing me like this.”
She affected her coquettish little girl voice, “Of course I mentioned Derek to you, Ward—you were probably too preoccupied with the merger lately to recall such minor details.”
“Merger?” I feigned interest, “I take it you must be involved in the corporate world, Mr. Stephenson.”
<br><br>“Please, just call me Ward,” the older man chuckled affably. “Yes, you might say I’m in corporate financing. As a matter of fact we just acquired your firm along with several other small publishing houses we intend to merge and convert into an on-line marketer like Amazon.”
My heart sank. I loved working at Coach House—loved the atmosphere and camaraderie of a small press and the ambiance of Toronto.
Ward read my expression. “Don’t worry, Derek—nobody will be out of work. We’re expanding into a mega operation, but you may have to relocate to Seattle.”
<br><br>Bri gave me a brittle smile.
At that moment a small chime signalled the meeting was beginning.
I put on a brave face.
“I better go in and find a seat—didn’t have time to make reservations. It was good meeting you, Ward, and you too, Bri. Have a pleasant evening.”
“Oh, I’m sure Bri will,” the older man laughed. “She roped me into this. I’d rather stay in the bar if I had my druthers—but the things we do to keep women happy, eh Derek?”
<br><br>It was my turn to assume a brittle smile.
Bri stared hard at me and I couldn’t discern the meaning of her expression—perhaps it was anger, annoyance, disgust—or all of it mixed together.
I couldn’t be sure, but I felt I ruined her evening. I knew she ruined mine.
<br><br><center>© 2019, John J Geddes. All rights reserved</center>
<br><br><center>[Photo]( https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g155019-d186168-Reviews-Casa_Loma-Toronto_Ontario.html#photos;aggregationId=&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=305793659 )</center>
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