3. An Abrupt Departure
“Well,this isn’t one of your best dating stories, I must admit. I mean, it’s a little anti-climactic if you think about it. Sure, he’s married, but I’m willing to bet that 75% of the men on those sites are married or in “committed” relationships. I’ve already told you that. You didn’t believe me until you saw it firsthand,” Carla pointed out.
“You do realize I don’t date solely for your entertainment, right? I’m not exactly going for the cinematic collapse of my romantic life.” Gia rolled her eyes. “I’d actually like to find someone again someday. Somebody to settle down with and enjoy each other’s company. We all know my marriage was a disaster from day one, before that even. I just want a chance to try again. For the time being, though, I’m done. I can’t do it anymore.” Gia let out an exasperated sigh. “I can’t do the lies, the games, the bullshit. I just want someone I can find peace with… someone I like, my kids like, my dogs like. Am I asking for too much?”
“Nah. Perhaps too much from a dating site, though—at least the ones you’re on!” Suddenly, Carla’s eyes lit up momentarily, and Gia could tell she was trying to suppress some newly erupting excitement.
“Carla, what? No. I don’t know what you’re thinking of doing, but I can tell you right now, you better not do it. I know that look, and I don’t want it. I don’t want any of what it inevitably leads to. It never ends well. No!”
For as long as Gia had lived there, Carla had been scheming! Her mind was always in motion, from get-rich-quick plans and inventions to manipulating friends and relatives to get what she wanted from them. None of it was done out of malice, but things often didn’t work out precisely as she planned—and sometimes, it was downright catastrophic.
She had an unnerving flashback to the time Carla had arranged a blind date with a “college guy” for her in high school, and it turned out to be a man attending circus school. He showed up in a full clown costume! He turned out to be a nice guy, but not exactly what she had hoped to get out of the date—and it gave awkward a whole new meaning. “ Gia’s thoughts continued to drift as she recalled the time Carla had decided they should start a “Babysitters Club” but didn’t tell any of the participating children’s parents. She simply took the kids from their yards, consolidating them at Gia’s childhood home for arts and crafts. It caused an uproar—not to mention police involvement!
Gia did not want to be involved. Not again.
“I swear, I won’t do anything to harm your life, Gia baby! You know I only want what’s best for you.” Carla smirked.
While Gia didn’t love how Carla phrased that vow, she had no choice but to accept it and hope for the best—or pray she’d simply forget whatever hair-brained scheme had entered her mind when something more exciting came along.
“Can we change the subject now?” Gia asked with a sigh. “I don’t want to talk about dating, men, or the opposite sex… Can we talk about gardening or something? Hey, toss me that hoe, will you?”
Carla grabbed the tool resting against the wooden garden bed she was still using as a seat and flipped it across the narrow path between beds, aiming the handle toward Gia. “Here you go. But, I, uh… I have to go now. Can’t garden today, chicky! Have fun, though. I hope you find more clarity, or whatever.”
Gia thought it strange that Carla would come through the fence and stay for such a short time. They often spent hours over the weekends watching the birds, bees, and butterflies after Gia finished her yard work. Sometimes Carla helped, others she didn’t, but she was typically at least present and sharing a bottle of wine with her friend on the days Gia’s children were with her ex-husband or playing with them on days they were there, too.
“Um, okay. See ya later, then.” Gia stared after her friend in confusion as Carla hopped off the raised bed and moved back toward the fence line.
“Bye! I’ll give you a call later.”
Carla squeezed through the fence and replaced it behind her. They’d been visiting each other”s yards this way for over ten years, and at this point, it would be odd for either of them to enter via ordinary means, like a gate or the front door! However, as Carla made it to the other side, Gia was almost certain she heard her gait shift from a walk to a run, moving toward her own home.
“This probably isn’t good,” Gia said aloud, raising her eyes and arms to the sky, beseeching the gods for mercy and begging them to keep Carla’s interference in her love life to a minimum.
“Please. Please, please, please, let her mind her own business for once!”