“Hi,” said the visitor when Valeria finally opened the door.
“Hi,” she said, still in shock.
“I’d like to talk to you if that’s okay.”
“Sure, come in.”
Valeria led the visitor to her sofa where they sat down.
“Why are you here, Dr. O’Leary?”
“It’s about Lorenzo,” stated Kate.
“Lorenzo?”
“Yes, I don’t know if you already know this but I’ve moved out of his house,” Kate blurted, agony permeated her voice.
“You have?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Valeria asked with confusion.
“I know how he feels about you,” Kate said bitterly.
“What?”
“He has feelings for you,” she stammered.
“No—“
“Yes, it’s true.”
“No, this is a mistake.”
“How do you feel about him?”
“I don’t know what you think you know but there’s nothing between us,” Valeria insisted.
“How do you feel about him?” Kate repeated with a stronger tone.
“Dr. O’Leary,” Valeria said with irritation. “I don’t like this line of questioning. I don’t know why you’re here.”
“Shouldn’t you be married to your fiancé by now?” Kate asked lightly.
“I ended the engagement,” Valeria said quickly.
“Ended it?”
“Yes.”
Kate nodded. “It’s your pattern, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“Didn’t you tell me the first day I met you that you had problems with commitment?”
“Yes,” Valeria mumbled uncomfortably.
“Lorenzo can’t commit either. The reason we’re not married is because he has always said that he never wants to be tied down. He never wants to have children. I just thought you should know,” Kate stated, her voice desperate.
“Dr. O’Leary, I want you to know there’s nothing between us. I didn’t take him away from you.”
“Sure you did,” she declared with desolation. "Of course you did."
Chapter 31
Kate hadn’t meant to go to Valeria’s home. She hadn’t meant to check for her former patient's address in her files and show up at Valeria’s doorstep with hurtful words and gushing emotions. If a patient had told her about doing something like this, Kate would’ve strongly advised against it. But the therapist had been left way behind. The psychiatrist was absolutely nowhere in sight. Inside she felt she had to discharge some of the desperation threatening to eat her up alive.
The desperation choked her.
And pride twisted her emotions.
Chapter 32
During the week after Kate had left, Lorenzo managed to find a semblance of peace with her leaving and the ending of their relationship. After five years together, her departure meant many changes for him—arriving home to an empty house, cooking for one and sleeping alone on his king size bed. Guilt still stabbed him at never having fallen in love with such a great and deserving lady. Why did fate play such tricks?
At school, he caught himself looking through the glass on his door more than usual. His students, noticing his distraction, left him alone with his thoughts. They had other things to gossip about because even though the scandal with the former principal was finally dissipating and the atmosphere normalizing, juicy gossip still ran rampant about Bleaker and Arlene having had an affair.
Lorenzo didn’t care for such stories. What was important was that Bleaker had left for good. The atmosphere at Adelita High School felt very different—much lighter and more positive. He, however, mostly kept to himself while keeping opinions well hidden, except for when he saw what was happening across the hall and angry groans escaped from his mouth.
Billy had started showing up any moment he could to Valeria’s classroom. Even from a distance, Lorenzo could tell he was flirting. The guy was still trying to get it on with Valeria. Hadn’t Lorenzo suggested that he give her space? The guy didn’t know how to stay away. Every day, he’d pop in with his suave personality, his impressive wardrobe, and his particular charm. Lorenzo had seen very few women resist Billy. While Valeria wasn’t just any woman, in her current heartbroken state, her vulnerability could cause her to let her guard down.
The frown on his forehead deepened.
Fully irritated, Valeria found it difficult to be rude and tell Billy he needed to stop trying to put the make on her. Lately he seemed to be everywhere she was, flattering her, and with all kinds of invitations. She would politely turn him down every time, but he would just come back. The man didn’t know when to quit. He kept mentioning her looks as if whatever she looked like was all there was to her, and he tried to bombard her with stories of expensive trips, luxury cars, and designer clothes. She frowned, wondering why he would think that those things impressed her. Finally, she had had enough.
“Billy,” she muttered after he had tried to finagle an outing with her once again. “You need to know that I’m just not interested in dating right now.”
“I told you it wouldn’t be a date. We could go out as friends. I’m just trying to distract you from your problems.”
“Billy, I’m sorry but I’m not going out with you even as friends.”
“Why not?” he asked, hurt.
“I don’t want to lead you on or give you any false hopes. We’re wrong for each other.” Hadn’t she just had a similar conversation with Leonel? she wondered, exasperated.
“Why would you say that before getting to know me? Before spending time with me?”
Valeria sighed. “You need to take no for an answer.”
“Well, I’m not taking the no,” he stated.
“Yes, you are,” she retorted, crossing her arms in front of her. “This is bordering on harassment.”
“I’m not trying to harass you. I just want us to be friends.”
“You just want to be my friend?”
“Yes,” he said smugly. “Don’t get me wrong. I also think our friendship could turn into something special.”
“Special?” Valeria asked incredulously.
“Yes, special.”
“But I’ve been telling you that I’m not interested in you in that way.”
“You will be as soon as you go out with me.”
“Enough is enough. I’m tired of these games. I already said no and I meant it.”
“But—“
“I meant it,” she reiterated with a stronger tone.
“I’m offering you my friendship and all you're doing is slamming it in my face,” he declared angrily.
“A friendship isn’t all you want.”
“If that’s all I can get from you for now then it’s fine.”
Valeria shook her head. “Let’s put the cards on the table, okay?”
“What?”
“Let’s stop the games.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re trying to sell me on the crap that you just want a friendship with me.”
“It’s not crap. I—”
“Stop your B.S., okay? I’m not stupid.”
“Valeria—”
“I know your kind—you’re a Casanova. You go from one woman to another like a bee to flowers. Friendship isn’t really in the mix. I’m just a challenge for you—that’s all.”
“But—"
“Stop wasting your time with me. I’m not attracted to Casanova types, okay? I like a different kind of a man. I’m never going to go out with you.”
“That was cold, Valeria.”
“Billy, you didn’t give me much of a choice,” he blurted, his voice shaky. “I tried to be tactful.”
“You’re mean, very vicious. How do you sleep at night?”
“You’re not going to lay a guilt trip on me because I don’t want to go out with you and have
been up front about it,” Valeria asserted, looking straight into his eyes.
“I wish I had seen your cruelty coming, but I thought you were a nice person,” he snapped.
“Is that what all the women you leave behind tell you?”
“What?”
“You know who I’m talking about—those women who give their whole hearts to you but then you get bored. They end up in a flood of tears wondering about your cruelty while you barely remember their names.”
Billy stared at her with round eyes and an open mouth. He didn’t even try to form any words.
“You’re not a completely bad person,” she continued. “But you need to re-think you’re love life. You can’t be doing that to women. Some of us have already figured out the game.”
“The game?”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“I don’t. I—“
“C’mon, Billy.”
“But—“
“You’re a playboy,” Valeria declared. “Admit it.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You don’t fool me.”
“If you’re not going to listen to me then I’m leaving,” he snapped.
“Okay.”
“Bye, Valeria,” he mumbled as he left her classroom.
He stayed away after that truth session—to her deep, deep relief.
Chapter 33
After school one day, Lorenzo headed to Antojitos for a nice and comforting dinner. He hadn’t been out since the break-up. Finding out that Kate had closed her practice and left town, he worried about her state of mind. She had taken harsh, drastic measures. But she also seemed to be getting on with her life.
In the restaurant, he hesitated at the entrance to decide where to sit. Then he saw her. Why hadn’t he paid attention to the parking lot? Her car must’ve been there. Her wild mane in dark and curly waves down he back and her flickering presence shining a spotlight on her. He was about to turn around and walk out when his legs took him in another direction.
“Hi,” he said, going up to her with all the bravery he could muster.
Her almost-black questioning eyes looked at him with a startled expression. “Hi. What are you doing here?”
He gave her a wide smile, taking in her ethereal beauty. “Same as you—for dinner. Do you mind if I join you?”
“Go ahead.”
He sat down in front of her even though he knew it would be difficult to pull his eyes away from her. It was much easier than sitting next to her where his nose would fill with the perfume she always used of simple flowers, and her intense proximity would compel him into a battle of trying to avoid touching her.
He forced himself not to stare into her vivid eyes. The waitress appeared, jerking him out of where he was at and he quickly but with difficulty regained his composure. Because Valeria had already ordered the usual appetizers, he hastily asked for the enchilada plate without even glancing at the menu. He now felt free to order something other than appetizers. When the waitress left, he turned back to face Valeria.
“How’s everything going?” he asked, trying to sound light.
“Fine. How’s everything with you?”
“Okay.”
“Just okay?” she asked intently.
“To be honest with you, I’ve had a lot of upheaval in my life lately.”
“Can I help?” she asked, sincerity pouring from her eyes.
He shook his head. “No, it’s just something I have to get through on my own.”
Valeria nodded, her wild hair throwing shimmers as it moved. “I understand.”
“Thank you for your offer though.”
“You’re welcome.”
He took a large gulp of his coke. “I’m glad that I bumped into you. I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, his eyes sitting on hers.
“What?”
“I’m sorry,” he repeated.
“For what?”
“I haven’t been much of a friend lately. I’ve hardly spoken to you at all.”
“You’ve said hi and bye,” Valeria said, smiling.
“Gosh, I’ve got terrible manners.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“I should’ve stopped to talk to you.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t take better care of our friendship.”
Valeria’s dark, shiny eyes lit up. “We are friends, aren’t we?”
Lorenzo’s lips formed a bright smile. “After what we went through with Bleaker, I think we’re officially the best of friends.”
“Yes, that whole experience was something,” she stated, chuckling.
He loved the timbre of her laugh—unrestrained, unselfconscious and fun. “I hope you accept my apology,” he said, his tone turning serious again.
Her thoughtful eyes went to his. “You don’t need to apologize, Lorenzo. I haven’t been a great friend myself. I guess we’ve both had a lot happening in our lives lately.
“Yes, a lot,” he sighed.
Valeria patted his hand gently. “It’s okay to give each other space. That’s what friends do—be there when you need them but also be out of the picture when it’s necessary.”
Lorenzo gave her a warm, unselfconscious smile unlike any he had ever given anyone, including Kate. It lingered on his lips until a particular song started playing on the radio, and a deep frown replaced it.
“What’s wrong?” Valeria asked.
“That song,” he stated.
“The Ballad Of Forever?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t like it?” she asked with curiosity.
“It’s not that. It’s a really beautiful song, but it’s so depressing.”
Valeria smiled. “I know what you mean. I’ve never been able to get into the song either. It completely throws me off for some reason.”
“To be so in love and then lose each other,” stated Lorenzo.
Valeria nodded. “What a tragedy. I knew a lady who told me the song was based on her parents.”
Lorenzo’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”
“The poor woman was left an orphan as a baby, but she knew everything about her parents.”
His face went deep into contemplation. “How sad to lose your parents so young.”
“I can imagine.”
“It must be horrible.”
“The lady never got over it.”
“It just goes to show you that life isn’t fair,” Lorenzo assured.
“No, it isn’t.”
Chapter 34
“How are you?” Valeria asked with concern.
“Fine,” Leonel answered with a smile.
After having called him to see how he was getting along, he had asked her to dinner for a talk. He had quickly assured her that it wouldn’t be a romantic get-together. He had so much to tell her.
“Tell me everything,” she prompted at The Revolutionary Taco.
“I’m seeing someone,” Leonel announced as he took a swig of his Coke.
Valeria smiled with relief. “That's great.”
“It is, isn't it?”
“Tell me about her.”
“Dorinda is kind, sweet, and beautiful.”
Valeria patted his hand gently from across the table. “I'm so happy for you.”
“She adores me.”
“You deserve someone like her—someone who is fully into you.”
“I still haven’t gotten over you,” he mentioned wistfully, “but I think I’m on my way.
Valeria nodded. “Of course you are.”
“I’m not drinking anymore—not even a drop.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me.”
“I was about to get fired when you had that talk with me. Thank you, Val..”
“You’re welcome.”
Stopping at The Revolutionary Taco to pi
ck up an enchilada plate he had ordered for dinner, Lorenzo paid the cashier at the front of the restaurant. She had his take home container ready for him. He turned to leave when someone caught his eye. Valeria. She was at the far end of the restaurant, and she wasn’t alone. Leonel. Lorenzo’s face tightened as he hastened out of the eatery, forgetting his meal on a nearby table where he had set it as he composed himself.
“Are you ignoring me?” asked Valeria. The last bell of the day had rung, and she rushed into Lorenzo’s classroom before he could get away. He had been acting like a silent bull all day.
Staring at her intently, he hesitated before speaking. “We need to talk.”
“What about?”
“I don’t want to talk here. Let’s go have something to eat.”
“At Antojitos?”
“Let’s go someplace different.”
Following his car in her own as they drove to Nia’s, she wondered about the new restaurant he had suggested. Never having been there, she didn’t know what to expect, but it seemed nice enough with its spacious flower gardens and white stucco walls.
As soon as she and Lorenzo stepped in through its dark-brown, heavy double doors, she smiled warmly at the place.
“I love Greek,” she declared.
“I know.”
“You do?” asked Valeria, surprised.
“Yes.”
“How do you know that about me?”
“You mentioned it once,” he stated nonchalantly.
“Once?”
“A few months ago.”
“You must have a good memory.”
“No, actually, I remember what’s important to those people who are important to me.”
When a waiter approached them, Lorenzo asked to sit outside—next to the flower gardens. Fortunately, no other patron had requested the same, and they found themselves alone, with all the privacy they would ever want. As soon as Valeria ordered her favorite Greek salad with a skewer of succulent beef and he a lamb gyro, she immediately started questioning him. She liked getting to the point instead of dancing around it.
“What did you need to talk to me about?”
He eyed her solemnly before answering. “Are you back with Leonel?”
“What?”
“Are you and Leonel together again?”
“I don’t think it’s any of your business.”
"I need to know," he declared strongly.
"Why?" she challenged.
His eyes sat on hers. "I just do."
"I repeat—my life is my business."
“But—“
“Let’s drop this conversation,” she stated, annoyed.
He nodded quietly. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Forever Destiny Page 11