She
walked outside into the cold and suddenly he was at her side. No matter
how hard she tried to ignore him, he hadn’t gotten the hint. It had been
nearly a month since she’d found out the truth about him. She’d wanted to
tell him off, but was afraid he’d just laugh at her…
They walked
the three blocks to her building in silence, and then she walked inside
without a backward glance. Taking the stairs up to the apartment two at a
time, she entertained thoughts of climbing into her nice warm bed – one
week ‘til Christmas, and it was cold as hell. Opening the door with
freezing hands, she was surprised to hear a woman’s voice.
“
Kyle, I never-.”
Kyle’s laughter boomed from the kitchen, “You
did too! I remember it as if it were yesterday. You kissed Pam
Troy. First you two passed a hat and made everyone put five bucks
in-.”
The woman giggled, “Oh, that time. Well, that was just
a…fund raiser…”
Maria walked into the kitchen to see Kyle sitting
at the kitchen table across from a bouncy blonde. There were papers spread
out over the surface of the table.
“Uh, Kyle?” she asked
hesitantly.
“Oh! Maria! I’m so glad you’re here,” her brother gave
her the biggest smile she’d seen in months. “This is Tess. Tess Harding.
We were in school together.”
“Nice to meet you,” the blonde smiled.
“Your brother has told me so much about you.”
“Oh,” Maria said with
a polite smile thinking, ‘He’s never mentioned you…’
“Well,” Tess
got to her feet, “I should get going. Look at the time. I’ll be in touch
Monday morning then, Kyle?”
“Absolutely,” Kyle gave her a big grin.
“Thank you again for coming all of the way out here to tell me in person,
it means a lot.”
Tess smiled and scrunched up her nose, “Oh,
please, the minute I saw your name I started squealing. Everyone in the
office thought I was crazy! I always knew you would do something like this
someday, we all were so much in awe of you.”
Kyle laughed and shook
his head as he started to get to his feet, but Tess held her hand out,
“No. Don’t. I can find my own way out. Nice to have met you, Maria,” she
called over her shoulder as she swept out of the kitchen.
“You
too,” Maria called, just before she heard the front door open and
close.
Raising his eyebrows mischievously, Kyle gave her a
wink.
“Wanna’ tell me what that was all about?” she asked, jerking
her thumb in the direction of the recently departed Tess.
“
That was about the beginning of the Valenti family’s return to
normalcy.”
“Ok…” Maria eyed him suspiciously.
“Maria,” Kyle
laughed, “I’ve been working on something for a while now…I sort of wrote a
book.”
“A book?”
“Yeah.”
“W-what?”
“I didn’t
really have anything else to do, so I started it…anyway, I sent it out to
a couple of houses, not really thinking anything would come of it…and,
well, one wants to publish it.”
“A book.”
“Yeah,” he smiled,
“I just wish I’d heard back in time for you to enroll for the next quarter
at school.”
“A book.”
“Yes, Maria. A
book.”
She sat down across from him feeling a little dazed, “I
can’t believe it.”
“Believe it. Did all right for my first one, got
fifteen grand up front, but that’s not even the best part. Tess, she works
there, and after they decided they wanted to buy it, she saw it and saw
that it was me…well, she said she wants me to do some part time editing,
nothing very major. I’m not fully qualified, but she’s pretty sure she can
pull some strings, she and I were pretty tight in school, and she thinks I
can handle it-.”
“Are you saying that- that…I can go back to
school?”
“Yeah, absolutely. Quit the diner tomorrow if you want,
Tess feels confident she can get me the job, and it pays enough…Why are
you crying?”
“I-I…I don’t know,” she sniffed, looking down at her
hands. “No, I shouldn’t quit, but if you’re sure, I could quit working the
second shift-.”
“Well, that goes without question. But, why don’t
you just quit? We can get by with what I’ll make and with the upfront
money. More than enough to get us through ‘til I’m done with therapy. You
could take a few months off, enjoy life. Oh, or maybe see about that
internship you were going to do at that agency.”
Maria gave him a
weak smile and stood slowly. He looked like himself again. She’d almost
forgotten that look he had. The ‘self assured’ air that had always defined
him had been missing since the accident, but now it was back. Somehow it
made her feel uneasy, and lost.
“I think I’ll go take a shower,”
she said softly, feeling lightheaded. She started to walk out of the room
and then stopped herself and turned back to hug him, whispering, “Kyle,
congratulations, I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, kid,” he said
squeezing her tight. He hadn’t called her ‘kid’ for…well, she didn’t know
how long.
“Can I read it?” she asked, as she moved toward the
hall.
“Of course!” he called.
She got some clothes and then
locked herself in the bathroom, letting the tears fall
freely.
***
Michael walked back toward the diner, wishing
he’d put on his heavy coat. She had pretended that he wasn’t even there,
just like she’d been doing for the last month. In fact she hadn’t spoken a
word to him since the night he’d driven her home. Not mad, mad, not mad,
mad for eternity…he didn’t care, she shouldn’t be walking home alone, if
she hated him or not.
He opened the door and walked inside,
plopping down at the counter next to a familiar
face.
“Max?”
“Oh, hey, Michael.”
They exchanged brief
glances, and Michael signaled Liz to come over.
“Coffee,
Michael?”
“Yeah, please,” he said, rubbing his hands
together.
After she’d given him the cup, she went back to the
kitchen.
Max turned to look at him, “So, Iz is pretty excited that
you haven’t backed out yet.”
Michael cringed, “Oh,
yeah.”
“Who are you bringing?”
“Bringing?”
“Yeah, she
said you were bringing a guest.”
“Oh sh*t, I forgot,”
Michael rubbed his eyebrow in irritation.
“You forgot? You forgot
who it was?”
Sighing, Michael looked at his friend, “Well, I can’t
go alone.”
“Yeah,” Max looked at him curiously, “I understand that.
So who are you bringing?”
Michael cringed again and looked
at him with a shrug.
“You don’t have a date,” Max said with an
amused look.
“Like I said, I forgot.”
“I could hook
you up with someone,” Liz said as she walked over to stand in front of
them.
Michael looked at her, “ I don’t need a
‘hook-up’.”
“Think a lot of girls are going to be free on Christmas
Day?” Liz said with a smile.
He hadn’t really considered
that.
“Anyone I know?” Max asked her.
“Yes, as a matter of
fact, Max. You remember my friend Kyle’s sister don’t you?” Liz asked him
raising her eyebrows expectantly.
Max’s brow furrowed, “Kyle’s
sister? Who’s Kyle?”
“Oh, you remember Kyle. We were at his
apartment last week. You know, Kyle and his daughter Abby…” Liz sounded as
if she were trying to coax the memory from his brain.
Some light
went on in Max’s head, because he suddenly grinned, “Ohhh. Kyle’s
sister.”
Michael looked from one to the other. Liz was nodding with
a stupid grin on her face, and Max was staring at her with the usual
‘you’re wonderful’ look.
“So, do you want me to set it up,
Michael?” Liz smiled in his direction.
Not
really.
She did have a point about the Christmas issue, though.
That, and the fact that he didn’t exactly keep a black book, so he’d have
to go scrounge something up somewhere. He looked to Max, hoping for an
honest opinion, “Is she my type?”
“Michael, I think sparks will
fly,” Max said with a sincere head nod.
They had an old code for
this sort of thing. So, she was definitely hot.
“Won’t embarrass
me, right?” he asked Max again.
“No. She’s smart and funny. You’ll
be surprised,” Max said confidently.
“You’re not gonna’ tell
anyone she’s just some chick I don’t know, right?”
“No,” Max
said.
“Not a chance,” Liz chimed in. “I’m sure it will seem like
you two have known each other forever.”
“Maxwell, I’m trusting you
here. This isn’t exactly an event I want to be a laughing stock
at…”
“Michael. You can trust me. This girl is perfect.”
“All
right,” he said. If she turned out to be a dud he could always lose her
before he actually got there. Probably better to go alone than with some
dimwit.
***
“ Maria? Are you serious?”
“Yeah,
Liz…” Maria picked at a piece of lint on the cardigan sweater she was
wearing over her uniform.
Suddenly Liz’s arms were around her neck,
“This is the best news! You must be so excited, you can go back to
school.”
Smiling, Maria pulled back, “Oh, yeah, of course I’m
excited about that.”
“You don’t seem overly excited,” Liz said,
looking at her sideways. “I mean, It’s been a long time, and you’ve been
working so hard-.”
“Oh, no-no. I’m excited really,” Maria said,
trying to make her smile bigger.
“Then, what’s the
matter?”
“I…I’m not sure. It’s stupid, really…” sighing, Maria
rolled her eyes, trying to avoid the gaze of her concerned
friend.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. It’s just that, I got
home last night, and everything was normal, and then…Well, I don’t know,
the whole world got turned upside down, and Kyle was happy – which is
great, it really is – but, I just don’t know where I fit
anymore…”
Liz put a hand on her arm, “You don’t think they need you
anymore?”
Maria tried to bite back the tears and shrugged,
“It’s-uh, it’s so stupid, you know…because I’m happy for him, I really am.
This is like the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened, because he
hated construction, and this is so much closer to what he really wanted to
do…And, it will be good for Abby...It’s just so out of the blue. I knew he
was obsessed with his computer, but I had no idea why…”
Liz moved
her to sit on the break room couch and sat down next to her, half hugging
her as she let the tears fall.
“Liz, I don’t know what I’m going to
do. I just haven’t really had time to think about my life, and now I’m
being forced to, and…I’m going back to school. I am going back to
school, but I’ve missed so much time, and I’m not even sure if advertising
is what I really wanted to do. You know, it’s just like, I don’t know…I
don’t have a life. My whole life is ruined, and I haven’t really had to
face it, but now that I do…And, here this wonderful, unbelievable thing is
happening for my brother who has lived through hell, and I’m…I’m…” Maria
held her hands up in exasperation.
“Shh…Maria. It’s ok. I can
understand how this would be a little scary, but your life isn’t ruined.
And, I think it’s fine for you to feel this way, you don’t have to
apologize for it.”
“But, it’s so stupid,” Maria choked on a sob, “I
sh-should be so thrilled, but instead I’m scared, and I don’t know what to
do…I don’t know who I am anymore. Everything is
changing…”
Liz squeezed her shoulders again.
Maria took
quick swipes at her tears and took a deep breath, then jumped to her feet,
“You know what? I’m not going to do this. This is too stupid for words.
I’ve had real problems in my life, I’m not going to sit here and waste
tears over one that I made up.”
Watching her closely, Liz stood up
as well, “Well, I don’t think you should just ignore your feelings, I
me-.”
“No, Liz. No. This was just me venting the frustration of the
last few…years. Anyway, this is a beginning,” Maria said, plastering on
the biggest grin she could muster. “I told Murray this morning, and he’s
already got a sign in the window, and he’ll have an ad in Sunday’s
paper.”
With a suspicious look, Liz moved to stand by her, “Maria,
it’s great that you’re being positive, just make sure you’re honest with
yourself about how you’re feeling.”
Somehow managing to keep the
smile on her face, Maria nodded and sniffed, “Oh, I am. I’m
happy.”
Liz nodded slowly, looking unconvinced, “Well, I did have
something I wanted to ask you about. It might be a distraction for
you…”
“What is it?” Maria asked, trying to sound cheerful as she
blew her nose.
“Well, remember that I told you Max’s sister,
Isabel, is getting married next weekend?”
Maria snorted,
“The wedding on Christmas Day? You’ve only been talking about it for the
last two weeks.”
“Yeah, I know,” Liz smiled. “Um, anyway, her
ex-boyfriend is going, but he doesn’t have a date-.”
“How do you
know her ex-boyfriend?”
“He’s a friend of Max’s. Anyway, he forgot
to get himself a date, and it’s Christmas and most people are
busy…”
“I think I see where you’re going here,” Maria started
shaking her head, “and the answer is-.”
“Maria, I think you’d
really like him. He’s interesting.”
“No. No way. Can’t get
his own date, and the only compliment you can give him is that he’s
‘interesting’? No, nope.”
“Come on, you never go out. This will be
something to keep your mind on for the next few days-.”
“No. No,
thank you. It’s bad enough that Kyle and Abby will be at Vikki’s parents
for Christmas…How pathetic is someone who needs a blind date on Christmas
Day?”
“He’s not pathetic, Maria, actually he’s-.”
“I was
talking about me, Liz. But, I’m sure he must be pathetic
too-.”
“Maria, please? I’m appealing to you as my friend, don’t
make me go alone. I won’t know anyone but Max and his parents and his
sister- well, and her fiancé, who I think you’ll love by the way - but
they’ll all be busy.”
“I wouldn’t have anything to wear. This is
some big ‘society’ event, right? Not really my forte. It’s not like I’ve
got a Dior hanging in my closet.”
“Well, I’ll be there, and I’m not
from that world either. And, I have the perfect dress for you to
wear…”
“Liz, I haven’t been on a date for…ages,” she closed her
eyes and tried to block out the image of his face. That did not
qualify as a date.
“All of the more reason to go. Come on,
Maria…”
“You owe me one.”
Liz gave her a quick hug, “Thank
you! You won’t regret it. This guy is so-.”
“No. Spare me. Don’t
try to sell me on him. I’m doing this because you want me there, not
because I’m interested in anything happening with the guy.”
A sly
smile spread across Liz’s lips, and she nodded ever so slightly while
looking at Maria.
Ignoring her, Maria walked out into the dining
room. Liz didn’t know. (Well, no one knew.) There was about a ‘zero’
percent chance that she’d be remotely interested in this guy.
She
got him a fresh glass of soda on her way to stand in front of him. He
looked up at her with the usual ‘intense’ look. If only he wouldn’t do
that. It made her think…things… remember things… For the first
time, she wondered if he would still walk her home when she started
leaving at 4 instead of 9. No, there wouldn’t be a reason anymore. Not
that she’d ever been sure what his reason was to begin
with.
***
She looked like she’d been crying.
He
picked up the fresh glass she’d set in front of him and stared up at her.
The ‘half angry’ look was on her face, he was used to it by
now.
After staring at him for a moment, she walked away and he took
a few sips of the soda before pulling the money out of his pocket and
placing it on the counter. Exact change. She didn’t take his
tips.
He had been about to leave, but paused for a moment. Liz kept
casting amused glances his way, and he finally decided to ignore her.
Glancing one last time at her, he rose and left, walking to his car. Tess
had told him to meet her at 6-sharp.
***
Maria cleaned up
after him. Almost relieved he was gone. Almost.
Famous Mr.
Guerin…
***
“Hey you!” Tess said punching him on the
arm.
“Uh, hey.”
“Ready?”
“I guess.”
“So, what
are we thinking? Sophisticated, ‘go ahead and marry another guy, see if I
care’, or wilder ‘hey, I’m still partying and your getting
married’?”
“Tess, this may come as a shock, but I’m not a girl. I
just want to make sure it’s formal enough or whatever.”
She giggled
and led him into the department store. He hadn’t been in it since the last
time Isabel had dragged him in. The sight of the sales clerk turning her
nose up at his jeans and sweater pissed him off.
Tess was in her
element, however – she’d spent years dressing Max, and immediately had the
girl showing them the latest in men’s suits. She slapped his hand when she
caught him checking the price tag on one. After she found a few she liked,
she sent him to the dressing room, and stood outside his room
chatting.
“…I think there might be a little something there. I
mean, he’s divorced, but he’s such a great guy. When we were in school I
always sort of wished…well, you know…” her voice babbled through
the door.
“Not really,” he muttered to himself as he pulled on the
sixth suit of the night. Opening the door, he stood waiting as she
inspected him.
“I like it. You should wear it with a different
colored shirt though, maybe taupe,” she said, with her hand on her
chin.
Obediently, he shrugged out of the jacket and started to
unbutton the shirt he was wearing. Tess called the sales girl over and
then turned back to him, “Uh, you don’t have to try the shirt on, I can
just hold it up to the suit, but if you really want to put on a strip
tease…”
He slammed the door of the dressing room closed, “I never
should have listened to you.”
“You need a new suit, and
let’s face it, you’d be lost shopping on your own,” there was laughter in
her voice.
“I don’t need to impress anyone.”
“Maybe not, but
you don’t want to walk in looking loser-ish either. And, what about your
date? Don’t you want to impress her?”
“No.”
He pulled the
next suit from it’s hangers and started to dress again.
“Ok, who is
she anyway?”
“I don’t know, some friend of Liz’s – I haven’t met
her.”
“Whoa, a blind date? Who’s Liz?”
Oops. “Oh, she works
at the diner across the street from my place.”
“Is she the waitress
Max is seeing?”
“Yeah…” this friendship thing she and Max had going
was bizarre. Who discussed their new girlfriend with their ex?
“Do
you like her?”
“She’s not that bad.”
“Is she pretty?” Tess’s
voice lost a little bit of pep.
“I guess. Not really my
type.”
“Oh, Michael…you and your non-existent
‘type’.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on, Michael.
Ever since Isabel, no one is your type.”
He opened the door
to show her the latest suit, “I do have a type.”
“So, how
many of your ‘types’ have you met in the last two years, huh?” she asked
crossing her arms.
“I don’t know…” he turned in a circle as she
made a twirling motion with her index finger.
“Don’t like it, try
the next one,” she said pushing him back into the room and closing the
door. “Actually, this is probably the first real date you’ve been on
since.”
“Hey, I’ve had plenty of dates.”
“Really?
When I say date, I mean you meet a girl somewhere and find her
interesting, you ask her to meet you at a later time, then you meet at the
later time and do some sort of activity.”
“Yeah, I do that - all
the time,” he wished she could see his glare through the door as he
crumpled the suit up and threw it in the corner.
“Michael, I do not
mean ‘you meet a girl, she throws herself at you, then you meet you at
your place twenty minutes later’. And, sex does not qualify as
‘some sort of activity’. ”
“Why?”
She started laughing and
he put on the final suit and opened the door, she stepped up and pinched
his cheek, “What am I gonna’ do with you?”
“I don’t know, but you
need to hurry, I have to be home by 9.”