A very hip, tattooed, bearded man showed us to a table in the back and handed menus. It was as different from our dinner dates as night and day, but I had to admit that it did feel good to be out of the apartment. Maybe Angela and Thomas had been right – maybe all I needed was a little time, and then everything would get back to normal.
Thomas ordered two large cappuccinos for both of us, as well as an order of beignet and two large croissants stuffed with cream and strawberries. We sat in silence for a few moments and I looked all around, enviously watching the people working.
“It must be nice to work from home,” I said. I sighed. “I’ve never even thought about that.”
Thomas laughed. “Planning a career change?”
I shook my head. “No. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I don’t want to quit now. I’m just worried about how difficult it will be to find another position.”
“June, don’t write off the school yet,” Thomas said. “If they have any sense, they’ll bring you back.” He raised an eyebrow. “Sandy told me that if at all possible, they’ll call you and ask you to return. They don’t want to open themselves up to a lawsuit.”
“Sandy?”
“My lawyer, Sandy Goldstein,” Thomas said.
I laughed.
“What?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. I blushed. “It’s just…you’re such an adult,” I said. I wrinkled my nose. “Sometimes I don’t even have matching socks! And you’ve got a condo, and a child, and a lawyer…I just wonder what you’re doing with me.”
“June, I’m spending time with you because I like you,” Thomas said gently. “And the sooner you realize that, the better it’ll be.”
Just as I was about to respond, I saw a flash of bright red hair.
“Thomas!”
I glanced up. My heart sank when I saw Marlene lowering herself into a chair next to me, opposite from Thomas. She beamed at Thomas.
“Hello, Marlene,” Thomas said stiffly. “Feeling better?”
“No,” Marlene snipped. She turned to me. “What’s going on?”
“This is June, you’ve met before,” Thomas said slowly. “June is my girlfriend.”
Marlene’s green eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious,” she said softly.
“I am,” Thomas said. “Now we were in the middle of a very serious discussion. Marlene, please leave – if I need to reach you, I’ll go through your lawyer.”
I narrowed my eyes. What’s going on between them, I wondered. This is so strange. Did something happen?
“No,” Marlene said shortly. She turned to me. “You can’t be with Thomas,” she said.
I shrugged. “I am,” I said softly.
Marlene’s face changed from pale, to white, to bright red. She stood up and glared at me, her green eyes blazing with fury.
“You can’t have my husband,” Marlene said angrily. “And if you think I’m going to stand by and let—“
“Marlene, enough!” Thomas stood up and grabbed Marlene by the arm. For a moment, they tussled. Then Thomas pulled Marlene close and hissed something quietly in her face. Marlene turned to me and glared for another long second before stalking off, her fur coat swishing around her shapely legs.
“June?” Thomas sat back down and put his hand on my arm. I flinched. “June, I’m so sorry about that. I had no idea she’d even be around here.”
I sniffed. “I think I want to go home,” I said softly. “I don’t really feel like being here anymore.”
“June, come on – I’m really sorry,” Thomas said. His own face was flushed and I could tell he was almost as distressed by the encounter with his wife as I was. Still, I couldn’t keep myself from beginning to shake. Tears welled up in my eyes and my face turned bright hot red.
“Thomas, please, take me home,” I whispered in a scratchy voice. “I don’t want to cry – not around all of these people.”