The World of Myth Magazine

Glancing at all the desks around him, Reuben saw he and Beryl were the only two people left in the office. Everybody else had left for lunch, but she had a habit of bringing her own food from home and staying at her workstation to eat it. He usually did the same thing. Checking his watch, he discovered only fifteen minutes of their break remained and he still hadn't come up with a good idea. Each one that entered his mind seemed lamer than the last.

He finally made a decision about what to say, stood, and crossed the room. “Beryl…,” he began. But when she looked up from the book in her hands, Reuben completely lost his train of thought, mind going blank.

Setting down her book and a partially eaten sandwich, she wiped her mouth and cheeks with a paper napkin and asked, “Did I get it?”

He had no clue what she meant, but horror flooded him as he realized he’d been staring at her. Good grief. No telling what she must think of him… “Uh… What do you mean?” he forced out. Sinking through the floor seemed like a decent idea right about now.

“I had something on my face, didn't I? My sandwich has a ton of mustard and mayonnaise slathered on it, so…” She glanced down at her white blouse and sighed. “You know, it never fails. Whenever I wear light colors, I end up getting food on myself.”

Reuben couldn't help but chuckle and started to relax. “I do the same thing.”

Beryl laughed. “So, was it mayonnaise smeared on my face, or mustard?”

“There's nothing there — now,” he replied.

She sighed again. “That wasn’t a real answer, and since you won’t give me one, I figure it must’ve been mustard, huh?”

Reuben believed in being honest and didn't want to lie to her outright, so he said nothing.

“Do you need my help with something?” she asked.

That's when he remembered why he'd approached her. “Yeah. I'm having a little trouble printing pages.”

“Did you send your print job to the right printer? We have three.”

He blinked.

“That’s what I call a blank expression.” She grinned. “It's okay. I'll show you what I'm talking about.” Once she stood and walked toward his desk, he followed her.

Joe passed them on his way to his own cubicle and frowned. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to help Reuben,” she replied.

“But didn't you show him how to print yesterday?”

“She might have,” Reuben answered for her with a shrug. “I'm clueless when it comes to electronics.”

“That's strange,” their supervisor Linda commented, quietly coming up behind them. “You have no problem with the weekly reports, Reuben. Creating the graphs and charts. Even printing them out.”

“Probably 'cause he asks Beryl to show him how every time.” Joe smirked.

“Yeah,” Reuben agreed. “I'd be lost without her help.” As he glanced at Beryl, he thought her face seemed a bit flushed, but he wasn't sure.

“It's sweet of you to say that” she told him. “And you can come to me anytime you need help.” Sitting in his chair, she asked what document he needed to print, walked him through the steps to send it to the correct printer, then returned to her desk.

Afterward, Reuben felt incredibly lightheaded, and his head pounded as he retrieved the printed pages from the printer. He felt no better when he entered the men's restroom, and he hoped sitting in a stall for a couple minutes would help him calm down. Just being around Beryl affected him this way every time, but he always took special care to make sure their coworkers didn't notice. He didn't want her to notice, either. After everything, the poor woman had been through with her louse of an ex-husband, Reuben didn't want to do anything that might make her uncomfortable — or maybe even end their friendship.

“Hon, if you don't tear your eyes off that gorgeous hunk of man,” Marina whispered, “someone's going to notice.”

Beryl quickly looked away from Reuben who'd just come out of the men's restroom, forced herself to stare at her computer instead, and tried to collect her thoughts. “Do you think anyone else saw?” she asked her friend.

“No,” Marina assured her. “They're busy gossiping about our former boss, Sam.” He'd been fired for coming into work drunk as a skunk, as the saying went, and it appeared that was all anyone talked about lately.

“I can't help it,” Beryl murmured. “Reuben's such a great guy.”

“And a looker, too. But seriously, hon — the man can't figure out how to work a printer. Or much of anything electronic.”

Beryl shrugged. “So, he's not comfortable with them. Honestly, I don't care. He's intelligent, kind, funny when he wants to be. I haven't seen anyone as considerate as he is with our older clientele. Even the staff. We've talked about so many things over the past few years. It's just so easy with him. We actually have a lot in common, and I'm pretty sure he considers us friends. I mean, I do too, but I — I'm careful not to show any interest beyond that.”

“Why, girl? According to you, he's a catch. Total prime rib.”

Once she'd stopped laughing, Beryl spoke. “He is. He hasn't gotten involved with anyone at the office, and we all know Bethany tried hard. Carl did, too, even though Reuben's straight. He doesn't drink. Doesn't do drugs. We've even spoken about God. Our beliefs are the same, Marina. Reuben's everything a woman could want in a man.”

“Everything you want, honey. But you're real churchy and white bread if you know what I mean. I prefer guys who aren't as squeaky clean. You know, ones who play the game and show a girl a good time. Maybe that's just 'cause I haven't found one I want to settle down with yet.”

“Yeah. Well, even if you find one who seems good, he could still turn out to be a huge mistake.” Beryl rolled her eyes. “I learned that the hard way with Travis.”

“I hope that piece of shit rots in jail,” Marina hissed. “I hate cheaters. But I hate men who abuse women even more.”

Beryl ignored her friend's language. “He was the worst decision I've ever made. I didn't leave him when I should have. And that is why I'll never let Reuben know how I feel about him.”

“What? You're denying yourself a chance with a good man because your ex-husband was human garbage? Beryl, it's not your fault Travis abused you.”

“I know that. But I just… I should've left the first time he turned mean. Staying in an abusive marriage for years is my fault. And it changed me. It's like a part of me is broken inside. I'm not as open as I used to be. I don't…trust people. Not like I used to anyhow. I'm just — different. Reuben wouldn't want to deal with all my emotional baggage. He shouldn't have to. And there are plenty of women out there who aren't trying to pull themselves back together.”

“Oh, baby,” Marina murmured. She wrapped Beryl in a hug. “I didn't know you felt like this. Nothing's wrong with you. The problem was him — that piece of crap, Travis. You're an incredible person. A beautiful woman inside and out, and any guy would be so lucky to have you.”

“Now you've seen for yourself,” Eros said. “Those two deserve happiness.”

Aphrodite said nothing but studied the mountain top to which she'd transported them. It was thousands of feet above the valley, and she took in the panoramic view. Woods blanketed the mountain range, which stretched in all directions, interspersed with more valleys, pristine lakes, and streams. Stunning wildflowers sprawled across rolling meadows, where wild animals contentedly grazed and roamed, unaware of the deities' presence.

“If someone doesn't help them,” Eros added, “there's no telling what may happen.”

“You think they need help, so help them.”

“We haven't involved ourselves in the affairs of mortals for a long time. And I have never been as great as you, Aphrodite. You're the Goddess of Love. The strongest champion of love in the universe. The —”

She burst into laughter. “Have you heard the human phrase 'sucking up?'”

Eros froze. “I would never.”

“Of course not.” Aphrodite eyed him, then snorted. “Go away and let me think.”

“About how to help them?”

“No. About my real responsibilities.”

“I'd like everyone's attention for a few minutes,” Beryl announced at work the next day. “Some of you already know about the work I do with disabled children. For the rest of you, though, I'll explain real quick. I help organize activities for kids with disabilities. Nothing huge. Just small events at my church. Kids can come and play games, draw, and paint, listen to story time, go out on a nature trail. Stuff like that.”

“That's nice and everything, but what does this have to do with us?” Joe asked with a frown. A few of their coworkers nodded.

“Let her finish,” Reuben said quietly.

“The church just texted me with some bad news,” Beryl explained. “We had enough volunteers lined up for our next event, but two of them called to say they're sick.”

“You don't have backups ready?” Joe asked.

“Not this time. The people who are sick haven't ever missed an activity, so we assumed they'd be there.” She frowned. “It's strange, but both of them came down with a second round of chicken pox.”

“That is weird,” Joe admitted. “I thought you couldn't get chicken pox twice.”

“Me, too,” Linda and Reuben said at the same time.

“Well, if you're going to ask for people to fill in,” Joe added, “I can't.”

“How do you know?” Marina demanded, snorting as she looked him up and down. “She hasn't even said when the next event is.”

He shrugged, then walked away. Two other people followed him.

“It's three days from now — on Saturday,” Beryl told everyone else. “I need at least two people to help.”

Linda frowned. “What time does it start? And how long will it be?”

“It runs from nine in the morning to noon,” Beryl replied.

“I'm sorry.” Linda bit her lip. “I wish I could come, but I'm leaving town Friday night and won't be back till late Saturday.”

“Dang it,” Marina muttered, then eyed her friend. “Girl, I'd help if I could. But our family reunion runs all weekend long. I have to be there since I'm in charge of it.”

One by one, the rest of the staff denied being able to help. The only person who hadn't said anything yet was Reuben.

“I'm free on Saturday and I can help,” he offered. Although his voice was quiet, Beryl noticed the glimmer in his eyes.

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