“Do you know what countries you’ll be expanding to?”
“There’s talks about France and Sweden, but I’ll know more once I go back to San Diego. There’s so much that I have to sign off on and setup.”
She took the first bite of her burger and barely chewed it. I was killing her inside, but she was so incredibly brave and mature, not wanting to insist I put our relationship ahead of my business.
“I hear Sweden is a beautiful country,” she said, swallowing her food.
“I’ve heard that too.” I gave her a half-smile.
It felt like the people around us were watching, but it was probably just my nerves. I definitely didn’t want to have this conversation in public. If I’d had any inkling that she had heard my conference call, no way would I have invited her out for lunch. I would have stayed at the guest house and cooked.
When the waitress came by to offer us refills, Julianna didn’t even look up from her plate.
I waited for the waitress to leave, glancing up at Julianna, wanting to find a happy ground again. “So, who is picking up Caley after school since you’re going in late today?”
Julianna told me how her daughter was spending the evening with Aunt Annie, but she didn’t say where they were going or what they would be doing. Just that Annie offered to watch Caley while she worked.
“She kept talking about you all the way to school,” she said, sitting back in the booth.
It was becoming more apparent that Julianna was absolutely devastated. Her brave smile had started to fade, and I was feeling more and more like an ass.
“Oh,” I said. “Caley really is something else, Julianna. She has your personality and everything. She’ll grow up to be a beautiful woman… just like her mother.”
Julianna looked up at me with a furrowed brow, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. There was a momentary silence. I could feel the void between us growing, and it was lonely and devastating.
“I have to leave, I’m sorry.” She threw her napkin on the table.
“Julianna, wait. Let me take you to your car.”
She shook her head and never looked back at me as she walked out the door holding her cell phone to her ear.
I knew I should have chased after her, but I couldn't bring myself to get up. I gripped my fork so hard I could feel the cheap metal warping. The sound of the door shutting behind her echoed through my mind. When the waitress glanced over at me with a look of concern and pity, I nodded, letting her know I was finished.
While paying the bill, I decided to head for my parents’ house. If there was anyone who could give me sound advice right then, it’d be my dad.
Outside the cafe I caught a glimpse of Julianna climbing into a taxi. I still wanted to run to catch her, but that would only make things worse. There was no need for me to say a word to her until I had more clarity on my work situation.
After a short dive, I pulled into my parents’ driveway and found my dad working on his car in the garage.
“Hey, son,” Dad said as he stood, wiping his hands on a rag. “Your mother just made lasagna if you want a piece.”
“No, thanks,” I said. “I just had lunch with Julianna.”
The look on his face immediately changed, and he sat down on his bench. “And how are things with her?"
“Well, they were great until this morning. I have to go back to San Diego. The company is expanding globally.”
Dad looked up and took off his glasses. “Well, I’ll be damned. Congratulations, son! You’ve worked so hard, and it’s really starting to pay off.”
He could see that I wasn’t nearly as happy as he was, though.
“Thanks,” I said and leaned my back against his car.
“Julianna’s holding you back, isn’t she,” he said, as he stood and resumed working.
I didn’t have to say anything for him to continue his lecture. “Son, let me tell you something. I love your mother so much, but business always comes first.”
I looked at my father hard at work on his precious vintage sports car, then out at the size of his home and the surrounding property. I thought about all of the times I’d wanted to spend time with him after school and before bed, but Mom said he was busy at work, providing for his family. She always went out of her way to remind us that he was the provider, too, as though a real man isn’t home that much because he’s busy making money.
