The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara
Thirteen
I see the bench in the distance and then hear the car stopping next to me.
It’s too late.
David’s coming toward me. The moment he’s at an arm’s length, he lunges at me and grabs me in a tight hug. And then his lips are on mine. I don’t even have time to react.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask and push him away.
“Kissing you—what does it look like? Happy birthday, Maya. Sorry I missed it.”
“I’m sorry for a lot of things too.”
“You’re acting weird, first on the phone and now.”
“You shouldn’t have come,” I say.
“Why? I apologized already for not answering your calls and ruining your birthday.”
“I actually had the best birthday of my life. Without you.”
“You’re particularly nasty this morning.”
“And you’re acting particularly innocent,” I snap back.
“Am I missing something?”
“From what I heard, you’re missing a blonde hanging on to you.”
He frowns.
“Out of words? Can’t think of a quick lie?” I say.
“I can’t think of anything because I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It’s fine. I honestly didn’t expect you to admit it.”
“Admit what? What’s this blonde thing?”
“Someone saw you with a woman yesterday.”
He shrugs. “So what?”
“So what? Now that’s new.”
“I’m always with someone. If there was some blonde woman, although I don’t particularly remember, it was someone from work.”
“Someone from work you couldn’t keep your hands off? And you were all over each other? Interesting colleagues you have.”
“Did you see that, Maya? Did you see me with another woman?”
I feel so frustrated. “No.”
“Then it could’ve very well been a lie. Who told you this? I thought you didn’t know anyone in California.”
“Is that what you were counting on?”
“I wasn’t counting on anything because I didn’t know you were coming. This is absurd.”
“So you’re saying you weren’t in a Lift yesterday with a woman, hugging and God knows what else.”
“In a Lift,” he says and stops. His nostrils flare, his face turns a shade of burgundy. “I knew there was something off about that guy. First of all, I think he was deranged. I almost called the police on him when he wouldn’t return my phone. Did he tell you all this nonsense?”
“Yes, and it’s not nonsense. Why would he lie? He doesn’t even know me.”
“Because he was a wacko. I’d be more concerned with the fact that he followed you here. You’re lucky he didn’t hurt you or kidnap you or something.”
“He didn’t follow me anywhere.”
“Then how did you talk to him? I should’ve called the cops on him.”
“We talked on the phone,” I say.
Not even. I never even got to hear Max’s voice…
I lean to the side and look behind David. The bench is empty; there’s nobody there. Where is he? Did he change his mind?
David grabs my shoulders, and I try to break away, but he’s too strong.
“There was no woman whatsoever. In a Lift or anywhere else. It’s all a lie. I was at work or in work meetings all day yesterday. I met someone at Embarcadero, then went back to the office and out for a work dinner. That’s all.”
He takes a step back. “I’m offended by your accusations. I thought you knew me better.”
He sounds upset and disappointed. Was I wrong and he’s telling the truth? Did Max lie to me? Or maybe it was an honest mistake; maybe he got men mixed up and what he saw was another blond guy with a blonde woman. It’s possible. Improbable, but possible.
“Let’s just call my office. They’ll confirm where I was yesterday. It will be awkward, but I’ll do it to end this. But if I’m honest, this is hurtful. How are we together if you don’t trust me, and instead, you believe a stranger, a complete lunatic?”
David is nothing if not convincing; after all, he convinces people for a living. He’s a litigation lawyer and a good one at that. I’m starting to have doubts. If he’s willing to call his work, then he must be telling the truth. Right?
“I’ll call now and wake up my boss if I have to because you clearly don’t believe me. But after this, we should reconsider our relationship. I don’t know if I can be with someone who doesn’t trust me.”
I look again at the bench and check the time. There’s no one on it or near it. Six-fifteen. I turn to my left, my right. It’s just us two here and some early risers jogging or walking their dogs. A man walking in the other direction, away from the rocks. A woman running past us. He’s not coming and my heart sinks.
Maybe you dodged a bullet, Maya,I say to myself. Perhaps it’s for the better…
This could’ve never worked. These things never last; they’re like summer romances. No, they’re fairy tales. Maybe that’s what this was: a fairy tale—virtual as it was—condensed into one perfect day. One of my perfect stories. And now we’ve reached ‘the end’.
What now? What are my options? Only two: to believe or not to believe David.
David is about to dial a number when I stop him.
I take a deep breath. “No, it’s OK,” I say. “I believe you.”
I want to. I’m trying to.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
“Have I ever given you reasons to doubt me? Never,” he says, sounding sure of himself again. “Did I ask what you did all day yesterday or where you spent the night?”
It’s my turn to look away.
He tilts his head. “Should I?”
“Should you what?”
“Ask you what you’ve been doing the last twenty-four hours in California?”
I wrap my perfect day and put it in a box somewhere deep in my heart. Mine alone.
“I explored this town. I didn’t know what else to do,” I say, not looking him in the eye.
He checks his watch. “We have to get going. My flight is in two hours. Are you on the same one? If not, we should change it, so we’re going back together.” He kisses me again and holds me in his arms. “I missed you,” he says.
“Let’s go back home,” I say.