Conrad
I am waiting for my mother at one of our favourite cafes for lunch. I am meeting her while I am on my lunch break from work. She is running a little late, but she is a busy woman, so she can be forgiven. I ordered a coffee until she gets here. I am lost in my thoughts, staring out of the window. Mia is still on my mind, even though it has been five days since the ball. I thought it would have passed, but nope! She is still in there.
I sigh and run my fingers through my hair.
“Tough day, son?”
The sound of my mother’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I glance up at her.
“No, sorry, lost in my head.” I chuckle.
She removed her coat and sat across from me. “Are you still thinking about the woman you met at the event?”
I could lie and tell her no, but she knows me so well.
“Yes. I can’t get her out of my head. I have tried finding her but with no luck. I know it sounds crazy since I only spend a few hours with her or seen under her mask.”
“It doesn’t sound crazy. I told you, tell me her name, and I will find out who she is.” She reminds.
“I can’t. She will get into trouble if I do.”
Mom looks at me confused, “By who?”
“It is a long story. But one thing I will say is Mia was there because of Meredith. I don’t know how they are connected. She was supposed to pretend to be Taylor.”
I don’t want to give too much away, but I also trust my mom not to say anything to Meredith.
“Really? Anyone who knows Taylor would have known it wasn’t here. Is that why she never took her mask off?”
“Yes, I noticed it straight away. I think that was her reason. I don’t think Mia was ever her right name.” I sigh and shake my head.
“You can always just ask Meredith.” She shrugs.
“No, I can’t. You know better than anyone else what she is like, Mom. If I do, she will use it against Mia, whoever she is to her for telling her secret.”
“So, what are you going to do? It is evident there are feelings because I have never seen you this way over a woman, especially one you barely know,” she says softly.
“I have no idea. I guess I need to find a way to move on.”
“You can try, son, but you will fail.” She replies.
“Why would you think that?”
“Because it has been five days, and she is still firmly on your mind, Conrad. You will have a hard time forgetting her. You are a man who needs answers; if you don’t get them, it will drive you crazy. You will end up living with regret.”
I groan in frustration, “You are right. I will find a way.”
What way it will be, I have no clue, but I need to do something.
“Son, if it was meant to be, it will be.” She smiles and squeezes my hands over the table.
I smile and nod in agreement. We finally put our lunch order in, and I changed the subject. It doesn’t take long for our food to arrive. I am in no rush anyway. I can take as long as I want for lunch; when I do that, I make up for it at the end of the day and stay a little longer.
Mom was talking to me about business, but I got distracted when I saw Maya walk in. She must be on her lunch break or getting Meredith’s lunch for her. She glances around for a table, her eyes falling on me.
I smile and wave. She gave me a shy smile, waved, and headed over to a table on the opposite side of the café. Hmm, why does she seem to be avoiding me on purpose? Did I do or say something to upset her? Surely not, because we have only had like two conversations with her. I haven’t seen her since I ran into her at the restaurant a few nights ago.
“Excuse me for a minute. I am going to say hello to a friend.” I say.
Mom nods, and I stroll over to Maya’s table.
“Hello again, Maya.” I greet.
She looks up at me, “Um, hello again, Sir.” She replies nervously.
“Are you here alone, or are you waiting for someone?”
“Alone. Just grabbing a quick lunch before I need to get back to work.”
“You can come and join my mother and me,” I suggest.
Mom won’t mind if Maya joins us.
“I appreciate the offer, but I am okay here on my own. You should get back to your mom.” She smiles.
“Are you sure?”
I don’t want her sitting alone.
Maya nods, “Yes.”
I won’t push. She doesn’t want to sit with us.
“Okay. Enjoy your lunch, Maya. I am sure we will see one another around.” I smile.
“Yes, we seem to be doing that a lot recently.” She snickers.
I nod in agreement, “I will leave you too. Goodbye, Maya.”
“Goodbye, Conrad.”
I give her one last smile before I rejoin my mom at the table. I am still a little confused with how Maya acts around me. Sometimes, she seemed at ease, laughing and talking with me, but then there were other moments where she seemed shy, nervous and a little standoffish.
“Everything okay?” Mom asks when I sit.
“I am not sure, but nothing to worry about it.”
Mom nods, and I focus back on my food. I find myself looking over at Maya’s table. She is in a world of her own, reading a book. She seems oblivious to everything else around her.
Mom turned around to see who I was looking at.
“Wait, is that Maya?” she asks.
“You know Maya?”
“Of course. I have met her when I have been to Meredith’s office. Is there a reason you keep staring at her?”
“I am not staring. I asked her to join us, but she said no.” I reply.
“Hmm, and you seemed bothered by it. Why?”
“I am not bothered by it. I just find it strange that we have met a few times, but each time, she acts differently around me.” I shrug.
“I wouldn’t take it personally. She is a shy girl; I am sure it is the only reason.”
I nod, “Maybe.”
I am sure she has her reasons. I pull my attention away from her before I start to creep her out. She seems anxious enough around me; I don’t need to make it worse.