House repairs.
Weather.
Plans that did not involve Damon.
At a small Italian restaurant on Pine Street where we had once had our first real date, I watched Petra tell a story about a client.
She was smiling.
I was smiling.
Suddenly I realized I was performing normalcy.
I wondered if she was too.
I almost asked.
Then the waiter arrived.
I ordered another glass of Barolo.
That was easier.
The final Saturday came in April.
On Thursday night, Petra had suggested we spend the weekend together.
“We haven’t done anything fun in forever.”
I nearly laughed at the irony.
“What do you want to do?”
“Olympic Sculpture Park Saturday morning?”
“Sure.”
“Then maybe Snoqualmie Falls?”
“That’s a lot of driving.”
“You’re old.”
“I’m two years older than you.”
“Ancient.”
We agreed.
Saturday morning, I woke early.
Made coffee.
Checked weather.
Petra came downstairs around nine already dressed.
I smiled.
“Ready?”
She avoided my eyes.
“What?”
“Damon texted.”
The smile disappeared.
“What happened?”
“He bought a sectional.”
I waited.
“And?”
“He thinks he made a mistake.”
I stared.
“He wants me to look at the room.”
“Today?”
“Just for an hour.”
“Our plans?”
“We can still go.”
“What time will you be back?”
“Two. Three latest.”
I almost said no.
Not because I believed I could forbid her.
Because I wanted her to choose us without being forced.
She didn’t.
“Okay.”
She kissed my cheek.
“I’ll be quick.”
At three fifteen, I texted.
Everything okay?
No answer.
At four twenty, she replied.
Sorry. Lost track of time. Leaving soon.
At five thirty, nothing.
At six, I stopped waiting.
I reheated leftovers.
Opened a book.
At seven fifteen, Petra walked through the door.
She looked relaxed.
Almost cheerful.
“Hey.”
I kept reading.
She set her bag down.
“Sorry.”
I turned a page.
“Eli.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“You’re upset.”
“I’m reading.”
“You do this.”
“Do what?”
“The quiet thing.”
I closed the book.
“The quiet thing?”
“When you’re angry and decide to make me guess.”
I stared at her.
Something in me finally broke loose.
“We had plans.”
“I know.”
“You said three.”
“I know.”
“You came home after seven.”
“I lost track of time.”
“For four hours?”
“Damon had questions.”
“What questions take four hours?”
“Furniture, lighting, then we talked.”
“About?”