He was nervous. He sat in his car, glancing into his rear view mirror every now and then, but it was his same old face that looked back at him. What am I doing? he asked himself. Shaking his head, he got out of the car. The large sign over the door read, Vito’s Italian Restaurant. He buttoned his jacket and went inside.

The maitre’d greeted him. “I’m Gary Baker. I’m here to meet someone,” he said. He was shown to his table in the crowded restaurant. Alice had not arrived yet. He ordered a bottle of wine and waited. Then he saw her. She had on an emerald green dress and her hair was still long. She turned and looked at him, and smiled, while she approached his table. She was older, but still lovely. When she got to the table, she held out her hand and he pressed it briefly, astonished at how bright her green eyes were.

“Oh, Gary, it’s so good to see you!” she said. The waiter appeared with the wine and poured two glasses. “I couldn’t believe it when you called. It’s been a long time.”

“I was just thinking about you and wondering how it is that we never run into each other anymore. I was remembering all the wonderful evenings we spent together. So, I looked you up. A few phone calls, it wasn’t that hard. I wanted to see how you’ve been.”

“I’ve been alright. It hasn’t been easy, but I have managed to carve out a life,” Alice said. She drank some wine and continued, “After I was fired from your firm, it was difficult to get a new job, but Smith & Smith gave me a chance and I proved myself. I was there for a few years, then I was hired by Zwerner & Klein. I have been with them since, and I do love it there.”

“I can see why. A very prestigious law firm. I’m sure the work is very interesting.” Gary said, and the waiter appeared to take their orders.

“Yes, but I loved my job at your firm. I wish things hadn’t happened the way they did.”

“Me, too,” Gary said, “but when my wife found out about us, I had no choice. A divorce would have ruined me financially and socially. I know you understand.” Gary reached across the table for her hand, “I had no choice, Alice.”

“That may be true, but you never contacted me to see if I was alright. You never even gave me a reference except to say I worked for you. I actually loved you, you know. It hurt, Gary, you hurt me.” Alice drank some wine and filled her glass. “So, I was surprised to hear from you. I thought, he’s finally going to put things right.”

“Put things right? What do you mean?” Gary asked, surprised.

“Well, why did you contact me after all this time?” Alice asked.

Gary paused. “Alice, my wife died a few months ago. I have been very lonely, and I just couldn’t get you out of my mind. I was really hoping we could pick up where we left off. I’ve never known a woman as amazing as you.” Gary held up his hand, “I know it’s been a long time, but we were good together, you and me. You said yourself that you loved me.”

Alice stared at him, unable to speak. When she could manage to talk, her words came tumbling out, “You want to pick up where we left off? Meeting at hotels and sneaking around? Staying late at the office and you promising me that you loved me, that you hated your wife and were going to leave her? Go back to my humiliation and ruin when I was escorted out of the office without a job and income? While you refused to even look at me?” Alice stood up, her whole body trembling with anger. “I thought you were finally going to say you were sorry for how awful you treated me. Perhaps help me financially for the predicament you put me in all those years ago. But no, I must’ve been crazy to think that you, Gary Baker, would do anything as human as that.” People were listening and staring at them, and Gary fidgeted in his seat. He begged her to be quiet and sit down. Instead, Alice turned on her heels and left, her shoulders back and her gaze directly ahead.

Gary could hear the murmurs around him, Gary Baker, attorney, did you hear that? His face was burning. He laid a hundred dollar bill on the table and left, every eye on him as he passed.

Written in response to Esther Chilton’s Writing Prompt

Writing Prompts