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Not a single tear fell until I reached the solace of my bed.
And then they flowed.
Lucky
I checked the time again. She should have been here already. I wondered if the craft fair ran late. Maybe she forgot? Or was too tired to get together?
With both of us busy last night, we made plans to meet late this afternoon at my place. I texted to confirm as soon as I woke up, but she didn’t answer. She didn’t strike me as the type of woman to blow me off without an explanation and I began to worry.
I pulled out my phone and shot off another text.
Lucky: You were supposed to be here half an hour ago. Are you okay?
I had to pick up Brayleigh in a few hours. Shaving half an hour off my time with Minty did not sit well. I’d planned a repeat of our last date, culminating with her curled up beside me on my couch watching a movie after putting Brayleigh to bed.
Minty: I didn’t realize we were still on.
My mouth twisted to the side. What the hell?
Lucky: Why wouldn’t we be? Want me to come there?
Minty: I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Had something changed between Friday night and this morning? She saw her friends last night. Did they somehow convince her I was a bad bet? Why would they? They didn’t even know me.
Lucky: Are you having second thoughts?
Minty: Aren’t you?
Lucky: No! Not at all! I’ve thought of nothing save being with you today.
Minty: Even last night?
Lucky: Of course. Minty, what’s this about?
Out of patience and buzzing with apprehension, I zinged off another text without waiting for her reply.
Lucky: I’m coming to your place.
Minty: No! I’ll meet you for coffee.
She named a place, and I headed out. When I got there, I ordered myself a coffee and realized I didn’t even know what she liked to drink. I looked at the display case. They had chocolate cookies.
“I’ll take six of those to go.”
Fifteen minutes later, just as I began to lose hope, the door opened.
She looked beautiful as always, but instead of the smile I hoped for, she wore the blank, composed mask I mistakenly believed was a thing of the past.
I stood to pull out her chair. “I didn’t know what you wanted to drink but I got you cookies.” I pushed the little box of cookies toward her, but she barely spared it a glance. “What can I get you?”
“Nothing. I won’t be staying.”
Her words jolted me, like a chain hooked to my spine, wrenching my guts backwards.
I eased into the chair across from her. “What happened?”
Sitting with her hands clasped in her lap, she met my eyes coolly. Regally.
