Chapter Twenty-Eight
Terence walked down King Street, window-shopping. Tourists meandered down the walk, pointing to the holiday decorations and
crowding into shops. They smiled and laughed, apparently at peace. Meanwhile, his own thoughts spun like a whirlpool.
He’d gone back to work the past few days, trying to stay busy, trying to keep his mind off Avila. He ran errands in the evenings,
arriving at home late and tired. Now, as the sun sank low on the horizon, he tried to figure out reasons to not return to
an empty house.
Avila. He could almost feel his blood pressure building at the thought of her. He thought about what she had said. There was
so much to take in. Terence couldn’t help but think about his parents.
His mother’s health was on the decline, which was part of the reason his parents had gone on that cruise recently. They didn’t
know how much time they had left together. They loved each other deeply and had a special connection. Terence had sensed it,
even when he was a child.
Terence wondered what his father would do if his wife passed. The doctor had said that was a possibility in the near future.
What Terence wouldn’t give to have a love like the one his parents shared! They were lucky. Terence had hoped for a love like that with Avila, but it wasn’t possible. Not now. He hoped she was happy now. Alone and happy.
He glanced up the street and saw Bryan. He was standing next to his van, speaking to a middle-aged woman dressed in clothes
better suited to a teenager. Terence slowed his steps, wishing he could sneak away. Bryan glanced over and did a double take
when he saw Terence. He waved him over.
Terence reluctantly headed in his direction. “How’s it going?” he asked.
“Great. What are you doing out here? I thought you were helping Avila.”
Terence didn’t want to talk about what happened with Avila, especially not with Bryan. He’d probably think Terence was too
na?ve or something. Maybe Terence was just a fool. He shrugged. “Not anymore. I’ve gone back to work this week. Just decided
to chill out today.”
Bryan glanced at Terence. “I have about an hour. Do you want to grab dinner at the Greek spot?”
Terence looked away. Bryan was bound to bring up Avila, and he wasn’t ready for that conversation. “Not tonight. I have to
get home. I have to rake leaves.”
“Come on. That can wait till tomorrow. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Did he really want to go home where he might see Avila or Ebony in the yard?
“All right,” Terence said. He’d keep the conversation neutral.
They walked down the sidewalk and crossed the street to the café. The inside of the café was crowded and noisy. He and Bryan followed the hostess, squeezing through the closely spaced tables to a spot in the corner. The smell of gyros filled the air, making Terence’s stomach rumble. He realized he had skipped lunch.
They ordered without needing the menu, then settled back in their chairs and talked for a while. When the conversation wound
down, Terence watched a toddler at a table across the room throw her cup on the floor. Her mom went to retrieve it. Then the
toddler did it again.
He thought about Ebony, and how much he enjoyed spending time with her. He would miss that.
Terence had lain awake the last few nights wondering about so many things. All these years, and he still couldn’t get into
Avila’s head and figure out what made her tick. He thought he knew her, but he was wrong.
“You seem like you have a lot on your mind. Are you going to talk about it or just sit there staring into space?” Bryan asked
over the music and rumble of chatter.
Terence pulled his gaze to Bryan’s. His friend had known him too long to be fooled. “Don’t want to talk about it.” He wouldn’t
have even come if Bryan hadn’t been so adamant.
The server brought their food, and Terence was relieved to have a distraction. He ate quietly, hardly tasting his gyro. When
he finished, he laid his napkin on his plate and finished his soda.
“It’s Avila, isn’t it?”
Terence pushed his drink back and gave him a hard look. “I said I don’t want to talk about it.”
Bryan shrugged. “All right, all right.” He adjusted his sunglasses on top of his head. “I was going to say that if you want
to talk about her, I’ll listen.” He held up his right hand as if swearing an oath.
The serious look on Bryan’s face told Terence that he would definitely listen.
“Think about it.” Bryan leaned his elbows on the table. “I have time, and you look as if you need to talk.”
He was right, though Terence hated to admit it. It was impossible to describe what he and Avila had together, what they always
had. She never told anyone at school when her dad left. She seemed almost ashamed, and Terence knew, even as a kid, she would’ve
never spoken to him again if he told anyone.
Bryan shrugged. “Avila will be leaving soon, in a little less than a month, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think your life will be back to normal after she leaves?”
As upset as he was with Avila, love didn’t just disintegrate. “I told her I loved her. Things will never go back to normal.”
“I completely understand that feeling.” Bryan looked at him with intensity in his eyes. “I hope the two of you can work it
out.”
Terence thought he saw sincerity in Bryan’s expression. But this was a heavy load.
Then again, with Avila leaving in a few weeks, what would it matter? “I told Avila something. It was serious, at least to
me.” He took a deep breath, stalling.
Bryan waited patiently, studying Terence’s face.
“I had hoped that Avila and I could rebuild a relationship as more than friends,” Terence began.
Bryan’s eyes shadowed. “Okay...”
Terence shook his head, struggling for words. Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything at all.
“Go on.” Bryan’s calm words urged him on.
Terence cleared his throat. “I told her that I was willing to leave my job here and live in New Jersey, just to be with them.”
“Oh, really? That’s serious.” Bryan leaned forward, his face tense with empathy. “What did she say to that?”
“She was fine with it, but she still didn’t seem very enthused.”
Bryan stared at him. “Would you still teach?”
“Of course.”
“Good,” Bryan said. “I don’t think you should risk a job for a relationship that isn’t one hundred percent guaranteed. You
know what I mean?”
Terence should’ve known he couldn’t talk this out with Bryan. “Not really. But yes, I would look for places to teach up there.”
Bryan tilted his head. “You’re really serious about her, huh?”
“Of course I am. I just wish she was just as serious about me,” Terence said. “A lot of things about the past came up since
she has been here.”
Bryan stared somewhere over Terence’s shoulder; his face was filled with concern. Terence wondered what was going on behind
those eyes. Maybe he didn’t want to know. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut.
“Even if she didn’t want to have a relationship with you, she should be nearby for the sake of the past that you shared together, a good past from what you’ve told me. Especially since you want to be in her life.” Bryan leaned on the table, his elbows spreading the width of it. “I remember when you spoke about what it was like for you to return from college after your first semester. You were practically distraught when you learned that Avila wasn’t there and that you couldn’t get in touch with her. Avila’s mother was short with you, and Ms. Mable didn’t speak too much either. Even when you were telling me about it years after the fact, you looked as if you had lost your world, man.”
Terence remembered that time too. He couldn’t sleep during that winter break, praying that Avila would answer his calls or
emails, and that all would be as it was before. When he realized that Avila must not want to keep in touch with him, a part
of him felt like it was missing. He had carried that missing piece with him all this time too, even while he had gotten married
to someone else. He hadn’t realized what he was missing until Avila had come back to Charleston a few weeks ago. “I remember,”
he said. He wished he could forget.
But apparently Avila didn’t share the same sentiments. If she did, it wouldn’t be so easy for her to say goodbye.
“It seems like Avila has no regard for your feelings as a friend,” Bryan said.
“She has been through a lot. So I can understand if she isn’t thinking clearly about the situation.”
Bryan drummed his fingers on the table. “You sure of that?”
“Of course I am. Why would it be any different?”
Bryan shrugged. “I don’t know. Guess I just don’t want you to have a one-track mind about her. You should think about what
your life would be like after she leaves. I don’t know, man. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. That’s all.”
Terence nodded. “Easier said than done.”