Start at The Prologue - Paul
Read Part 1 - Heidi

“I don’t know what I was thinking at the time,” Heidi said, pausing mid-pace to look at the bed, “except I needed money, and my cards were locked up in the safe.” She sat on the foot of the bed after exhausting what nervous energy she had. “I knew he kept some cash in Metaphysics of Morals,” she continued quietly. Wade could see the exhaustion was setting in, taking a toll on her. It was no surprise since she spent the last twenty minutes on an emotional purge. “I just knew, so I went into his office, grabbed the book, and left,” she ran her hand through her hair and studied the floor. Wade watched silently, knowing she had more to say and knowing anything he had to say at the moment would be unhelpful. “I didn’t look to see how much was there; I just climbed back in the cab. I handed her a bill from the book, a fifty maybe, and asked her to drive--anywhere--and she did. I...” Heidi stood, frustrated. Wade could only guess at what; he didn’t have her talents. “...Next thing I know, we’re stopped at a bus station in Dickinson,” she laughed sardonically, “one minute I’m in Williston turning down a proposal, and the next I’m getting on a Greyhound headed south. That’s all I knew. South. And when the money ran out, I was in Amarillo with nothing but the clothes on my back.”

Wade stood and walked to the mini-fridge, grabbed two bottles of water, and handed one to Heidi as he walked back to the couch. She thanked him; he grunted his response and sat down to guzzle the cold liquid. Perhaps it would cool his temper, he thought and decided to start at the least volatile part of her story. “So you and Geraldine were friends first; then you met Paul. After that, Geraldine’s attitude toward you changed.”

“Well, it was a couple years after I met Paul...” Heidi started, but after a glance at Wade, “...yes.”

Wade took a breath to align his thoughts before continuing, “Then one summer, while Paul was out of town, you met Caleb, became friends, and stayed friends, despite his and Paul’s strained relations.”

“Yes, at least, until college when he stopped talking to me,” Heidi said, rubbing her face, “He never wrote or called.”

“Hmm, who picked up your mail?” Wade asked, guessing the answer.

Start with The Prologue - Paul

​Heidi sat in the City Cab hoping to hit traffic, or a sinkhole, or anything to keep her from her ten year reunion. Of course, all those would only delay the, already overdue, conciliation she owed her friends and Paul. Especially Paul. She hadn’t meant to run out on him, after he proposed, but she had. As a result, she found her place; her home; herself; and, Goddess help her, a man she loved dearly. Beginnings were frightening and endings were painful; faced with the beginning of an end, Heidi was feeling unmitigated trepidation. She smiled at her own use of vocabulary. In order to calm her nerves during the flight, Heidi scoured her Thesaurus app and found several ways to express her dire feelings. Unmitigated trepidation was her current favorite. When the hotel was in sight, Heidi checked the meter and began counting out the appropriate amount of cash. The cab driver stopped at the entrance of the hotel to allow the valet to open Heidi's door while another emptied the trunk. Once she and her luggage were unloaded, an all too efficient process as far as Heidi was concerned, she followed one of the valets inside as he pushed her luggage cart.

Heidi’s plan had been to arrive early, check in, and get settled before having to deal with anyone. She was sure there would be some over-eager bunch that would also want to arrive early, with the intent to socialize, so she planned to arrive the earliest. All she could think upon seeing at least a dozen of her over-eager classmates is that even the best laid plans go wrong.

“Don’t these people have lives?” she grumbled fully recognizing the absurdity of her situation and too annoyed to acknowledge it.

Acting quickly Heidi put her luggage between herself and everyone else; her last hope was to check in and escape to her room unnoticed. Traci Whitlow crushed those hopes with her loud drawn-out words. “Heidi Davis, I heard rumors you would be coming back for our little get together!” Heidi rolled her eyes, fixed a polite smile to her face, and turned around. “I see you’re as eager as the rest of us to see everyone again,” Traci said behind her hand as if they were trading secrets; yet her voice carried to every corner of the lobby.

The dinner is going well and everything is prepared for the proposal. She looks...beautiful. Or I suppose that would be the term others would use. It doesn’t matter, after the wedding, I won’t have to pretend to share her anymore. Thinking about our future together always incites a churning, simmering feeling in me, love apparently. I lose myself in the look of her; the dress she’s wearing isn’t quite right. I would have dressed her differently for such an important occasion. Her expression draws me out of my thoughts. Had she been speaking?  

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I ask, as she shifts under my gaze, a smile on her lips.

“I said, what’s the occasion?” She repeats with a soft laugh. Why is she laughing? “Paul? Did I lose you again?”

“No, of course not. I’m listening,” recalling a line I’ve heard others say, I decide to give it a try, “You just look so beautiful tonight; it’s distracting.” It makes no sense to me, but if it works for others then it will work for me.

She shifts again while looking down. Isn’t she supposed to laugh or act embarrassed? Her response to the line is not...adequate.  Perhaps my delivery was lacking? “You’ve been acting awfully strange lately. What are you up to now?” She asks, once again drawing me out of my thoughts. She seems impatient...maybe. I decide to move forward with my plan to propose. The sooner I can claim her the better.

“Heidi,” I say as I stand and move to her side, kneeling down as I’ve seen others do in this situation. I see no merit in it, but it seems to be required. I pull the velvet box from my breast pocket and open it. “Will you marry me?” I ask, showing her the ring. I remind myself to smile and make eye contact as that tends to be important for people.

“What?” Her voice is breathless and she looks stunned...maybe - no matter. This is the part where I put on the ring. As I take her hand and carefully slide the ring on her finger, all I can think about is our future together. Always being able to see her, watch her, and not have to hide it from others. They don’t understand that she belongs to me. No one else. I feel her whole body turn rigid a second before she jumps up and moves away. “I...I can’t. I can’t marry you,” she stumbles over the words as she pulls off the ring. “I’m sorry,” she whispers as she sets the ring down on the table and flees the restaurant.

The rolling heat inside me ceases all movement when her figure disappears from my sight. It freezes into a lump of burning ice inside me as my mind processes what she said. My body moves of its own accord; nothing outside me is even penetrating the chill I feel wrapping around me. When my awareness returns I am parked in front of my house. I climb out of the car as my mind, once again, reviews the evening's events. I must have surprised her, I realize stopping halfway up the walk. Looking at the house I’m renting, I can’t stop the disgusted sneer. Heidi would call it “a quaint home.” It was small and the construction was...less than adequate. Unfortunately, I can’t afford better right now. Maybe that has something to do with Heidi’s response.  

I take a moment before opening the door, preparing my expression for a talk about tonight’s dinner, that...how should I word it? I can’t say she belongs to me. True as it may be, people seem sensitive to such phrasing. That we belong together? That will suffice. As soon as I turn on the light I know she isn’t there. I can’t say how I know but the note pinned to the message board confirms my suspicion.

“Paul, I need time and space. I’m Sorry. Heidi.”

Next Part 1 - Heidi