Clara walks elegantly towards us. She has a bright and wide smile on her face. She's wearing a yellow dress that holds her firm hips tightly. Her blonde hair glistens like polished gold as it blows about her.
"Hey…" she first says to me with a wave when she gets to our table. She turns around to where Leonard is. She bends over and gives him a short hug. I'm quiet as I watch them.
I watch as Leonard reciprocates her hug. His face brightens up. Better than it was when we got here. When they must have finished exchanging pleasantries, she turns back to me.
"Evelyn... It's been a while. You look good" she says but I know she doesn't mean it. I nod my head and force out a smile.
"Thank you. You too but I'm surprised to see you here. I didn't know you are back in town" I say.
But my mood has dropped just now. I thought Leonard planned a dinner for the both of us, why then is Clara here? How does she even know that we are here? Is she spying on him? Or did he invite her too? I don't know what to expect or think.
"Ohh…" She eyes me dryly "Well, I just got a hint and I thought I should join you guys for dinner…I'm sure Leonard doesn't mind at all. Right Leo?" she looks at Leonard who has been quiet and smiling all along. She touchs his jaw in a playful manner. She pulls out a seat and sits next to him.
"Sure. Of course" he replies.
His words presses sharp into my heart as I swallow painfully the lump forming in my throat. It's annoying how close she is to him but he'll say it's nothing.
I wanted him to decline. It's a dinner for us—our anniversary dinner. What is he thinking? I feel like I should leave but I don't—I shouldn't.
I watch Clara take Leonard's spoon and take a spoon full of what Leonard is having. She hums "this is great. Why haven't I been here before?" she glances around, placing a hand on his legs. Leonard doesn't protest or flinch.
"Because it's a new place." He answers her.
"Oh. But this is great. Please I want a plate of this" she tells Leonard who calls a waiter.
Leonard hasn't said anything to me since Clara arrived and I've been quiet too. The waiter arrived with her order.
"Happy anniversary by the way," she says to me. I can't say if she means it but I scoff out a thank you.
After that, she and Leonard becomes entangled in a conversation for the minutes that follows. I'm boiling inside wondering if Leonard still remembers I'm sitting right opposite from him. When I can't take it anymore—the slight touches she gives him, the way he doesn't react to them—I think of something, anything to leave there.
I clear my throat "I should go. I need to see Maya, she just sent me an emergency text" I say finally breaking off their conversation. Leonard looks up at me.
"Is everything alright?" He asks.
"I'm not sure. But I need to see her to be sure"
"So, sad you are leaving" Clara says all of a sudden but I chose to ignore her.
"Okay, let me know what happens. Mikel should take you, I'll call Bruce" he says. He doesn't even offer to walk me to the car but I nod my head and walk away.
When I'm out of their sight, I take a deep breath.
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When I get to Maya's apartment, I fidget as I press the doorbell. I don't know why but my hands instantly feel wet and weak. For a second I think of going back home but before I can make that decision, the door to the apartment flings open and Maya is standing at the entrance holding the door open for me.
"What are you doing here?" She ask as I walk in. She closes the door and follow me back in.
"What are you doing here all dressed up? What's up?" She asks again.
When I don't reply and sink into her couch, she comes to sit next to me.m
"What's wrong?"
I have a sigh "nothing, I've had a long night. Can I sleep here tonight?" I ask her.
She looks at me from head to toe. I know she doesn't believe me but that's the highest I plan to say to her.
"Of course, you can but what is wrong? You can't show up here like this and nothing is wrong"
I force out a tired smile. "I'm fine for real. I just don't want to go home tonight. That's it" I say.
"That's it?"
"Yeah, right"
She stays quiet for seconds as she observes me.
"Okay," she shrugs "if you say so"
"Thank you," I say but something tells me she'll bring this up again maybe later tonight. I hope she doesn't though.
"You can have my room then. I'll just stay here for the night"
"I can't May. And I really love this couch" I caress the seat of the couch. "It's comfy, enjoy your room I'll stay here."
She doesn't look convinced but I'm already stretching myself on the couch.
"Well, if you say so. I'll just get you a blanket" Maya says standing up from the couch. She disappears into her room and reappears with a grey fluffy blanket. She hands it over to me.
"Do you want to talk?" She asks
"No. I just want to sleep"
She exhales deeply. "Okay, goodnight" Maya says and leaves after I've responded. I know that she suspects something is wrong but I like that she understands me enough. Before going to bed, I text Leonard. I let him know that I won't be home tonight.
In the morning when I wake up, Maya is nowhere to be found but she dropped a note with breakfast—fresh toasts and scrambled eggs. I have a shower and have the breakfast. I change into one of Maya's clothes—we have almost the same body size. I stay a little longer at Maya's with Goody—her dog.
When I get home, it's almost evening. I know that Leonard is not home.
The smell of something rich and savory hits my nose the moment I step into the house. I wonder what Anabel is making. I drop my bag on the entryway table, hang my coat, and make my way toward the kitchen. I want to ask her what she's making.
I open the glass door to the kitchen but the scene before me stops me dead in my tracks as my legs become unable to move, my stomach starting to ache as anger starts brewing in me.
It's not Anabel.