“Thank you.” They grinned at me and Brandon and then ran off down the road. I watched them with slight worry. What was going to happen to them once the food was gone?
“You got them food.” Brandon pulled me towards him. “I’m so proud to be with you, Katie. You spoke up for those boys like a warrior princess and then you went back and got them food. You’re everything I want to be when I grow up.”
“Oh, Brandon.” I giggled as he kissed me. “I guess reading this book about inequality in France all those years ago and witnessing how it still goes on has gotten to me. Little kids shouldn’t be searching for food in the streets. There is something wrong with that in a country where we have so much and people are literally throwing good food away. Yet, those two boys aren’t even allowed to rummage for the leftovers. It’s wrong.”
“I completely agree.” He kissed the top of my head. “Never change, Katie. Never stop being my warrior princess.”
I sat up in bed as I remembered that day. I’d been a different girl back then. I’d been fearless. I had believed that nothing could or would stop me from achieving all of my dreams. My life changed after Brandon broke up with me. But it wasn’t his fault that I had lost a part of myself. I had made those decisions. I was the one who was in charge of my destiny and life. And he was right. I had worked hard in college and grad school to get a job like this. Granted, this particular company had offered extra perks, but I still wanted it. I still needed to prove myself. I had let Brandon win the game once before. I wasn’t going to let him win again and kick me off of the board. I jumped off of the bed and walked to my closet. I was going to go back to work. I was going to leave all my personal feelings at home. I was going to show Brandon that I was the warrior princess that he let get away.
***
Life is a funny thing. I went back to work the next day and Brandon wasn’t even there. All the pep talks I had given myself weren’t even needed. I felt tense almost all of the day until my immediate boss told me that Brandon was out of town. I didn’t ask where, or why, or with whom. I was starting to realize that the less information I knew, the better it would be for me. The next day he wasn’t there either, and then it was the weekend. By the time the next Monday rolled around, I was feeling more confident and sure of myself. Maybe he felt bad about what he had done and I would never have to see him again.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I sang along, with the song on the radio that one of the secretaries was playing, as I went through the sales figures from the previous week.
“Good morning, Katie.” Three simple words that stopped my heart. I looked up slowly and my eyes gobbled him in. He looked so smart and debonair in his navy pinstripe suit, with his crisp white shirt.
“Good morning, Brandon.” I nodded and smiled quickly. He walked into my office and closed the door.
“It’s good to see you.” His eyes surveyed my face, but I wasn’t sure what he was looking for.
“It’s good to be back. Sales are going great. Thirty-five percent increase over last year.” I mumbled on about work, hoping that we would keep it professional.
“I noticed.” He sat down in the seat in front of my desk. “You’re doing a great job.”
“I’m trying.” I nodded and looked down. “How is your son?” I groaned inwardly as the words slipped out. Why was I doing this to myself?
“He’s fine.” His eyes shone brightly. “Thanks for asking. He fell off of his bike and hurt his knee. Maria overreacted and took him to the hospital.” He shrugged. “I guess her maternal instinct kicked in.”
“I see.” My heart broke at his words. He was finally admitting it. Maria was Harry’s mother and so that meant that Maria and he had had sex before. He had lied to me. I stared at him and I wanted to shout. How could you lie to me like that? So easily. It burned in me that he had no shame about it and I realized that must have been the way he felt with me. Only a lot worse.
“He’s a good boy.” He stared at me intently. “A very handsome boy too. He has his mother’s eyes and my hair.” He laughed. “There’s no mistaking he’s my kid.”
“Why’s that?” I smiled weakly. “Because he’s so handsome?”
“No, because he’s into everything.” He laughed. “He wants to know everything and do everything.”
“He sounds like a good kid.”
“He’s the best. He’s my life.”
“You and Maria are very lucky to have him in your life.”
“We are.” He nodded and stood up. “I should let you get back to work. Come to my office around 11:30 a.m., I need to discuss some things with you.”
“Sure.” I nodded in agreement as he walked out the door.
“Oh, and Katie.” He turned around and gave me a small smile. “I’m glad you came back.”
I smiled to myself as he walked out of the room. I could handle this. Yes, the pain of hearing him talk about his son killed me inside, but I wasn’t going to die. Eventually, it would get better. And I’d be able to work with him without always thinking of the what-ifs.
My phone rang then, and I grabbed it up without looking at the screen. “Hello?”
“Katie, where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you!”
“Oh, Matt.” I bit my lower lip. “Sorry, I’ve been busy with work.”