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“I think you already have,” Lisbet said, looking pointedly at Mena. She had backed away from Theo, far enough that the bar must have been digging into her back.
“Get some fresh air with me,” Theo demanded.
“How much of all that did you hear? Were you eavesdropping?”
“You were talking about me!”
There was interruption as Craig stepped between them, talking to Mena.
“Hey, thanks for coming out tonight, and you brought your young man,” Craig boomed, sticking his hand out for Theo to shake.
Theo took it automatically, the frustration building in him as he shook yet another person's hand.
“Ah, it’s good to know the old place is going to be looked after. Old Mr. Allardyce loved these dinosaurs, his collection meant everything to him and, after he died, I thought the museum was …well, I’m glad to see people caring as much about them as he did. I know it’s in good hands. Thanks for coming tonight.” Craig clapped Theo heavily on the back, and leaning closer said in a low voice: “Take care of this one, she’s a keeper.”
Theo gave him a stony look, “I know.”
Fortunately, Craig sauntered off to talk to the group of people next to them and Theo was able to herd Mena outside. He desperately needed some space to breathe, but he couldn't bear to be parted from Mena, not now.
“You ok?” Mena asked, as he stood in the middle of the sidewalk, trying to assemble the jumble of his thoughts.
“I’m trying to work out how this happened.”
“Well, you said you’d come to a retirement party and that you didn’t need some fancy bar. But then you turned up, didn’t order a single drink and walked us out of there.”
Theo startled, Mena really had no idea what she’d just said.
“We can go back. I just want to know why you would say that I dumped you.”
Mena, who had started pacing a short little circuit in front of him, stopped walking and did a double take.
“Uh..cos it’s the truth?”
“No, the thought…the very idea, never crossed my mind. I thought we’d be together for the rest of our lives.”
Mena’s mouth fell open, like his words were a surprise to her.
“You knew that,” he argued.
“I don’t know why you’re saying this,” Mena blurted out. Her face had gone very pale, she really looked like she might be sick. Every instinct in Theo screamed at him to stop this conversation and make sure she was well, but he couldn’t. He needed to understand this. “You left me,” Mena said.
“Never! I love you. You were everything to me, and you went to Alberta, you didn’t even tell me you applied.”
Her jaw clenched and unclenched. “You…you told me it was over.”
Theo shook his head vehemently. That terrible morning was burned into his memory, Mena had been so excited that she’d got accepted into her course, that she’d gotten into the school she wanted and all Theo could do was sit there in crushed bewilderment.
They hadn’t exactly made plans to come to New York together, but he’d mentioned it often enough. Then, suddenly, she was explaining how she was moving to Canada.
He’d askedwhat about us?and Mena’s face had fallen, like she was surprised he’d even ask. So he’d asked her if they wereover and she’d just looked up at him with wide, sad eyes, not saying a word.
“I asked you if it was over -”
“No,” Mena said, her eyes glittering. “Yousaidit was over.”
“I asked! If you hadn’t wanted to end things, why apply to school in Canadawithout even mentioning it to me?”
Mena hugged her arms across her chest, her head shaking jerkily. “You didn’t…you weren’t…”
