“You go ahead. The car isn’t here yet,” Victoria said. “I’ll have them load your stuff, and I’ll pick you up on the corner.”
I wandered down the sidewalk like a fly to a picnic. I flittered from street vendor to street vendor inhaling the warm cinnamon churros, the salted pretzels and the freshly grilled hotdogs.
I stopped at a crosswalk and watched a dark-haired girl cross while blowing an enormous bubble and earbuds on to close out the world. On the corner, a pregnant lady stood holding her back.
I ordered two hotdogs and guessed on the ketchup and mustard for Victoria. While I stood on the corner waiting, a blonde stepped out of a hair salon in front of me.
Nice hair. I should take a picture of that style and do it. Chloe is not here to stop me.
I could see Victoria still standing on the sidewalk talking on her cellphone, so I decided to explore a little further. The Ultimate Delights bakery had a swinging sign that caught my attention, and people were sitting on benches along the sidewalk in front of it. It was a beautiful day even if it was cold. A heater would have been a perfect touch, but maybe I was the only one really, really freezing.
Victoria pulled her car to a stop on the corner as promised. I jumped in holding tightly to the hotdogs. Then we quickly pulled away from the curb.
Taxis blew their horns while their drivers yelled at people of every nationality as they pushed to cross traffic-packed streets. The shouts and whistles of vendors and workmen surrounded me. I could imagine all this wonderful madness would be annoying to some people, but I loved it. The mirrored glass on the skyscrapers reflecting golden amber and vibrant pinks from a setting sun was something I’d only seen in movies.
I chuckled to myself as we passed row after row of apartment buildings lined with fire escape stairways. They brought so many movie scenes to mind. I wished we weren’t leaving.
And well, then we weren’t.
Forty minutes later, I gazed out the window, still creeping in bumper-to-bumper traffic. This was not a familiar occurrence for me, but somehow it was relaxing, and I needed this time to think and calm my nerves.
“Mia?”
At the sound of my name, I jumped then juggled the two now cold hotdogs I’d been holding, almost dropping them. Instead, my leg became the resting spot for the splatter of ketchup and mustard.
Thank God it didn’t get on the fancy leather upholstery. You are a dill for not grabbing napkins. Now, how the hell are you going to clean this up? Oh my God, please tell me Victoria didn’t see this. Or did she? Just don’t look up. Get rid of the evidence.
I didn’t have many other options, so I casually set the extra hotdog on the splatter, hoping it would soak into the bun.
Victoria had been on her cell phone for the last forty minutes, giving me plenty of time to enjoy the sights. I hadn’t had a chance to give her one of the hotdogs.
Of course now when she is off the phone is when I have to be clumsy.
I couldn’t help myself. I glanced to my left. I had to know if I could use the bun as a napkin without being caught. Victoria was smiling ear to ear.
“Mia, dear.” Victoria laughed. “Are you all right?”
“I’m sorry, I guess I’m a bit jumpy.” I swallowed. “I’ll be fine. I got you a hotdog.”
“Of course you are. How could you not be?” Victoria said. “So, I appreciate you buying me that hotdog, and I’m sorry I was on the phone all this time and didn’t eat it. Please feel free to grab a napkin out of the glove box. That’s going to be mighty sticky by the time we get home.”
We both started laughing.
I think I’m going to like her.
“Listen, Mia, we should talk. I know there are a lot of things you don’t understand about this situation, so please ask away.”
I could feel the beginning of a blister from chewing on my inner lip. The taste of blood was not my favorite. I really wasn’t sure where to start.
This is so damn awkward. What kind of weird situation am I in? She seems nice, but who buys a wife for their son? Then again, who allows themselves to be bought? I guess we are both weird. Just ask.
“I’m wondering about why you’re picking me up and not your son?” I asked. “Is he too busy?Changed his mind? Scared? Is he hideous like a beast?
“Let me stop you there, Mia, before you get too much more carried away by your imagination,” Victoria said with a wave of her hand and a laugh. “I promise it’s nothing as crazy as what you must be thinking. The truth is he simply doesn’t know about you.”
“Stone the crows! Sorry I meant You gotta be kidding me?” I blurted out “How, then, is this going to work? How will we have any kind of normal relationship?”
“Honey, with all due respect, there’s nothing normal about this,” Victoria said with a hint of laughter in her tone. “I have four sons and one daughter. My daughter, Murphy, has a doctorate as an aerospace engineer with an uptight fiancé. Murphy somehow figured out how to do a career and have a love life. Something her brothers have not done.”