“Yes, dear?”
“This might be a little weird to ask but,” I picked my words carefully, “Why don’t you have a car?”
“Oh, that’s not a weird question at all,” she replied, “I do have a car but I like simple things. I’m not as popular as my daughter so I can walk about freely. That way I get to interact freely with different people every day, I empathize with them in doing so. I’m not sure you might understand.”
“I think I do,” I reply, “When I’m with my camera, I take long walks along the beach. I take pictures of people for free and I get to have this little form of connection with them. While it might be different from what you’re saying but, I get to hear how they perceive life and most of them invite me over for weekend barbecues. You get to be in their lives for a little moment.”
She was silent. She just stared at me.
“I’m sorry Miss,” I chuckled lightly, “I probably went off point there. I wasn’t trying to be deep or anything. I had to just share what I felt.”
“Different.”
“Pardon, I didn’t get that,” I said, “Could you…”
“You’re different from him,” she said.
“Who?”
“Truth be told, just like Tracy I mistook you for someone I used to know in the past,” she replied, “He looked a lot like you. I can’t remember his name and neither can Aria. But, when Tracy called you Parker and claimed she had dated you before, I was worried.”
“I understand,” I said, “To be fair I was worried too. It was almost like I knew her as well, same thing as you but I wrote yours off because I concluded that you looked like Aria.”
“I… look like Aria?” she asked and touched her blond hair.
“Yeah, you do,” I said as I leaned in close, “She has your cheeks, shape of ears, basically your face seems like the basic framework for hers.”
Her cheeks turned a shade of red.
“Are you okay Miss?”
“Hic-,” she hiccupped for a little and pushed me away.
Her hand covered her mouth. To be honest she looked cute.
“I see, we look alike huh,” she said and slowly started to laugh, “Wow, that’s a first.”
“What is?”
“Well it’s the first time anyone has ever said my daughter looked like me,” she said, her voice was alittle sad though, “You really are something.”
“Thank you?”
“Also,” she leaned close and gave me a peck on the cheek.
“What was that for?” I said as I touched my cheek.
“Think of it as a reward and an apology,” she said and continued walking.
“An apology?” I asked, “What do you mean?”
She stopped walking but didn’t turn to face me, “Aria would be getting married in three- or four-months’ time.”
“Wait, she was engaged?” I was confused.
It didn’t make any sense. Was she really going to get married? Why was… “It was my decision by the way and she can’t defy me,” she said. “Why would you? Why are you forcing her to get married?” I tried to be calm, “In this time period, no one would, force anyone to settle down.”
“Aria didn’t leave me a choice,” she said.