The Proverbial Mr. Universe

by Maria La Serra

  After Olivia had dropped off her sister, she headed back to her place to find Dario’s car still parked outside their apartment. Refusing to spend another minute with him, she decided to turn at the next light and headed east. Olivia never worked on Saturdays, unless it’s a few weeks before a buyer’s meeting. Her boss, Jack, had given her a set of keys to the office, hoping she would put in the extra hours when needed. Today would benefit them both. It gave Olivia a place to be and her boss a jump start for the next season. She didn’t make it very far. Once her computer was turned on, she decided to Google her father’s name.

  In bold, blue letters:

  James Montiano arrested on the allegation of tax evasion.

  Montreal construction magnate, James Montiano, denies mob links.

  Then she Googled Alzheimer’s.

  What is Alzheimer’s?

  Olivia clicked on the heading and continued to scroll down. The information was pretty much what the doctors had already told her family over a month ago, but she couldn’t stop searching the internet for something new, some vital information that she might have missed. She was just searching for hope.

  After surfing the web for an hour, she came across a home video of a woman filming her mother living with Alzheimer’s. The woman asked her mother several questions about herself. Some she got, some she told her daughter she didn’t remember. Then she was asked if she had any children.

  “Sure, I have children …”

  “How many children do you have?” the daughter asked.

  After a short moment, she responded, “I don’t remember.”

  “Do you know who I am?”

  “No,” the woman replied.

  “I’m your daughter. Do you remember my name?”

  “I don’t remember.”

  Olivia had enough. She shut her laptop then rubbed her eyes. She wondered about her father’s future. Sick with worry, she’s wasn’t sure how she was even breathing.

  It was dark outside when Olivia peered out of her large office window. It had been snowing all day, but by two o’clock it turned to rain, causing the snowy ground to become a thick sheet of ice. She glanced down at her wrist; it was already ten past five. The watch was a gift from Dario on her birthday last year. It was one of those overly-expensive, high-tech wristwatches—too many gadgets to even know what to do with it. It wasn’t even her style, just another reminder of how Dario never got her. How does one spend so much time with a person and not know them at all? She wondered. Perhaps it was time for Olivia to gather all the unappreciated gifts he gave her over the years and send them back. She slid on her coat and shut off the lights. Walking past the glass door, she headed toward the elevators. When Olivia stepped onto the street, which during the day had been a hustle of people and cars but now was completely transformed into to a remote and quite place. Before Olivia reached her car, she decided to go to the corner store and finally succumb to her urges. She gave the guy behind the counter a twenty and waited for her change when the sound of a familiar voice called out her name.

  She looked up and smiled. “Hey, stranger, where have you been? I didn’t see you all week.”

  “Oh, did you miss me?” Nick’s eyes fixed on her.

  Olivia took her change from the guy behind the counter. “Hey, can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, but it’s going to cost you,” Nick said cheerfully.

  “Do you live around here?”

  Nick reached for a pack of Trident peppermint gum from behind her.

  “You think I’m stalking you?” He smirked.

  “Well, one never knows.” Olivia smiled at him.

  “I live up the street.” He took his change from the clerk.

  Olivia glanced back up at him while he wasn’t looking. He was obviously in good spirits and appeared somewhat different, more handsome even. Thankfully that sad-looking hat was missing.

  “Look at you, all sharply dressed.”

  “I’m flattered you noticed.” He raised his brow. “Well, I got a … date.”

  “Oh …” was the only sound that escaped her mouth. It should mean nothing to her, but Olivia was baffled by the knot in her stomach.

  “Well, it’s a blind date. I promised myself I would never go on another one of those things, but my future sister-in-law forced me into it,” Nick said as they stood near the magazine rack and the frozen yogurt.

  “Well, you never know. She might be the one you’re looking for.” Olivia was trying hard to make it sound as honest as possible.

  He slightly opens his mouth to speak but whatever it was, remained just behind his lips. His soft, kind eyes gazed at her in a way that made her glance away. It was the kind of look that made her feel so momentous, like she was the only thing in the room.

  “Maybe …” His eyes slowly dropped down to the hand clutching the pack of cigarettes and frowned. “Those things will kill you.”

  “You don’t say.” Olivia discreetly slid them into her coat pocket. “Well, I got to go. Good luck on your date tonight.”

  She was out the door before he had another chance to say a word. After several attempts, Olivia finally managed to get her frozen car door opened. She started the engine of her black sedan then began to clean off the ice on her car. She didn’t get very far down the street before her phone rang.

  “Olivia, where are you?”

  “What do you want, Dario?”

  “I need to see you. I thought we might talk this morning, but you ran out the door before I could get a chance,” Dario said.

  “I have nothing left to say to you.”

  “I want to try to work things out between us.”

  “What’s there to work out?” Olivia frowned.

  “I’ll be here when you get home.”

  “No, I don’t want anything to do with you. It’s over. Do you understand?”

  Olivia finally realized he’d hung up, but not before seeing a set bright lights heading toward the passenger side window. Olivia wasn’t sure if she held her breath or if her life even flashed before her eyes, but at that moment the only thought in her mind was that this couldn’t be the end; she couldn’t put her family through another tragedy.

  Then everything moved in slow motion.

  Contact.

  Slamming into something with a violent crash.

  The sound of shattering glass and bending metal, followed by a swish from the air bags deploying.

  Everything stopped. Everything around her went silent and dark, except for the sounds of rapid breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Then, she realized it was her own.

  She’s alive, thankfully all in one piece. She sat there stunned and motionless when she detected movements and shadows around her.

  “Olivia, are you okay?” asked a familiar male voice.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you, lady? You went through a red light. Are you fucking crazy?” shrieked another voice.

  “Hey! Calm down, man.”

  When the disgruntled driver refused to step aside, the friendly stranger placed himself between Olivia, who was still sitting in the driver’s seat, and the man who rammed her on the passenger side.

  “Back the fuck off, will you,” the familiar voice said more assertively.

  When the man finally walked away, her savior turned his attention back to Olivia.

  “Are you hurt?” He opened her door.

  She inspected herself. “No … I don’t think so.”

  “Are you sure?” He looked her over.

  “Yes … yes, I’m fine—”

  An expression of relief crossed his face. “Hey, if this is some foolish attempt to stop me from going on that date, you could have just said so.” He smiled, trying to make light of things.

  “Is he right? Did I go through a red light?”

  “I didn’t see what happened. What’s important is that no one got hurt,” Nick reminded her.

  “Is she okay?” A stranger’s voice came from behind Nick’s shoulder.

  “I’m f
ine,” Olivia said as she unbuckled her seat belt. With shaking limbs, she tried to slide out of her seat.

  “Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”

  “I need to get out …”

  Reality began to set in. The space inside started to reduce in capacity. All kinds of wild scenarios filled her head. This was close. She could have died.

  “I think you should wait until the ambulance comes.”

  “No, you don’t understand. I can’t breathe.” Olivia’s hand went up to her chest, her breathing rapid.

  Nick searched around for someone to help them. “Olivia don’t move. I’ll be right back,” Nick reassured her.

  Her whole body shook. This was something Olivia never felt in her entire life, so out of control, and it frightened her even more. She grasped onto his coat with urgency, desperately not wanting him to leave her.

  “Please don’t go,” she begged, catching him off guard. His eyes softened as he took her hands into his, as though to keep them warm.

  “Hey, I am not going anywhere, Olivia. I promise,” he said a matter-of-factly. He brushed her hair out of her face, his stare … so intense. Olivia now realized why she always avoided direct eye contact when she saw him walking down the street. She would purposely pretend to text someone or look inside her purse, so she didn’t have to face him. It was never the question that she disliked Nick; it was because of the way he provoked something inside of her, that she couldn’t quite grasp.

  “Olivia, look at me,” he said, continuing to hold her hands in his. When he got her attention, he continued. “You’re going to be okay. Trust me.”

  She avoided completely gazing into his eyes. What was it about him that made her so compelled to give in, but felt she couldn’t? Like she wasn’t allowed to.

  “Close your eyes,” Nick said.

  She let out a long breath. “Okay …”

  “I know this might sound lame, but it works for me when I get scared.”

  She opened her eyes. “You don’t seem like the type who gets scared, Montgomery.”

  “It might come to a surprise to you, but I’m human. Shocking, I know.”

  “What now, Montgomery?”

  “Picture yourself in a place away from here. A place quiet and safe.”

  When she didn’t say anything, he continued. “Are you picturing it?”

  “Shhh … I thought you said somewhere quiet. You keep on talking.”

  He gave a little chuckle “Alright, where are you?”

  “Hmmm … I’m on some beach with the ocean right in front of me.” She smiled. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Describe it to me?” he asked.

  “It’s spectacular when the sun hits the water in a certain way that it changes from turquoise to a darker blue, so vivid and bright …”

  “You make me wish I was there.”

  She didn’t realize at what point her body stopped shaking. She gently opened her eyes to Nick’s concerned gaze. Those soulful eyes touched her, like she been seen for the first time. She’d never been this close to him before, so close, in fact, she could see the clarity of his eyes. Every shadow and light flickered inside.

  Why did she believe they were brown?

  “Since when have your eyes been blue?” she asked.

  He blinked several times “Ah … since I was born. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Right. No, I’m not sure.” Olivia wondered what else about Nick Montgomery she had been completely wrong about when the sound of sirens in the near distance shifted her train of thought. The flashing lights appeared from behind him. Help had finally arrived.

  Nick finally arrived at his quiet, one-bedroom apartment at eleven that night. There wasn’t much to it. Open concept with only the essentials, a hand-me-down couch, a couple of stools at his kitchen counter, and a bed. Nick kicked off his shoes, turned on the evening news, and walked into the kitchen to make himself a sandwich. He had a hell of a night, but was grateful for Olivia to be fine. Nick had seen the whole thing unfold right in front of him while he was clearing the snow off his car. At first, Nick didn’t even realize who the driver of the black sedan was until he got closer to the scene. When he realized it was Olivia’s car that had been violently propelled to the other side of the road, a fear swept right over him. When the ambulance arrived, Olivia refused to go with them at first, stating the gash on her forehead was only a scratch, until Nick persuaded her. He wasn’t able to ride in the ambulance, but Nick reassured her he would be there at the hospital when she arrived, even though it caused him some grief.

  Hating hospitals was an understatement. The smell of sanitizer was all it took to conjure painful memories from the past. Just like that, he was back sitting next to a hospital bed … or in one. If he had to sum up all the times he spent in this facility, the worst was the last time he saw his mom. He remembered how delicate she was, almost afraid to touch her. There were moments when Nick thought he couldn’t do it anymore, witnessing her suffering, watching her painfully slip further away from him. There were moments when he secretly wished he had died first.

  Nobody ever talks about the sound the heart makes just when they’re about to lose something. After that, the heart goes silent.

  As Nick was about to sit down at his kitchen counter, there was a knock at the door. He knew it could only be Dan, who lived in the apartment below his.

  Nick stepped aside to let his brother through. “Hey. Why are you still up?”

  “I heard you come in. So I wanted to check up on you.” He followed Nick back at the kitchen counter.

  “So, is she okay?”

  “Yeah, a little shaken up, but all right.”

  Nick took a bite out of his sandwich. “Do you want me to make you one?”

  “No thanks, I’m good. I had an enchilada stuffed with spaghetti for supper. I brought you something from the restaurant. I wasn’t sure if you had eaten anything.” Dan placed the paper bag on the counter and sat in front of his brother.

  “Nice!” Nick unwrapped the paper plate.

  He could always count on his brother to look out for him, but more so after he got sick. As grateful and appreciative for Amanda and his brother as Nick was, over time he became the irrelevant third wheel, probably more of a nuisance for them. Not that he needed someone to take care of him, but it would be nice to come home after a long day to look after someone else, instead of the other way around.

  Nick took the plate to the microwave and could feel Dan’s eyes observing him.

  “You look tired.”

  Nick rubbed his face. “Yeah, it was a long night. So, I imagine Amanda is not happy with me?” Nick winced.

  “That’s putting it lightly, but what do you expect? You blew her friend off for some girl you’ve been chasing around.”

  “Her friend must think I’m such an ass.”

  Dan gave what Nick considered it to be his best shot-down look. “I lied and told her you weren’t feeling well. Maybe you should give her a call tomorrow and apologize personally?”

  “I never asked you to lie for me.” Nick’s eyes sunk back down to his sandwich. Nick couldn’t understand why he repeatedly found himself in a position he didn’t want to be in, always trying to do what pleased others … mainly his brother.

  “No, but I thought maybe I’d try to salvage it for you. I could set up another date.”

  “Ah-ha! I knew it was a date. Alright, if that’s what you want.”

  “It’s not what I want. I’m only suggesting if you don’t want the door shut.”

  Nick wanted the door closed, even better … nailed shut, never to be opened again. Why couldn’t Dan understand that he didn’t need his help? He felt sorry for standing Lucy up, but it’s not like he knew the girl, and he never really wanted to go on this blind date to begin with. It wasn’t entirely his fault that a friend needed him. Friend? Or more of an acquaintance. Actually, he wasn’t all quite sure what Olivia was to him. He finished the remainder of his sandwich. Three bites
and it was all gone.

  Dan watched Nick as he devoured his meal and quirked his eyebrows. “I take it you didn’t eat all day?”

  “I’m starving. All I had was an oatmeal cookie from a hospital vending machine,” Nick responded with his mouth half-full, and it made his brother frown even more.

  “You know you shouldn’t do that. You have to eat to stay healthy, don’t fuckin’ mess around.”

  “Hey, I take thirty-five pills a day. Who needs dinner?” He smiled, which infuriated Dan even more.

  “You think you’re funny? I’m serious.”

  “Okay Papa Smurf, spare me the lecture.”

  “So I guess I don’t have to remind you what will happen if you don’t keep yourself healthy? We don’t want any relapse, right?”

  “You sound like my mother …” Nick mumbled, the words unintentionally slipping out of his mouth.

  After their mother passed away over a year ago, Dan and Nick barely spoke of her. How could they? It was too painful. His mother reminded him of a beautiful crystal vase, the kind the light easily mirrors through, reflecting warmth and glow on everything it touched. As beautiful as it was, it was also fragile. If broken, it shattered, crumbling into a million pieces and sending the glass scattering across the floor … sending everyone into the dark shadows.

  So now these days, life was grayer.

  He hadn’t talked to anyone about her until tonight. At the hospital, he found himself in the company of Olivia’s mother. As they waited together while Olivia was being looked over by the doctor, he found it surprisingly easy to speak to Mrs. Montiano. She was in her early sixties, elegant, and obviously the years had been good to her. He certainly knew where Olivia got her looks, except her mother, was more of a gentler character compared to Olivia’s standoffish nature. It wasn’t uncommon for people to lose a parent by the time they’re twenty-six, but there were many moments Nick wished his mom was still around. He missed seeing her, missed talking to her, to have her to comfort him. His mom was always good at that, and Mrs. Montiano was a good reminder of what he had lost.

  She had asked him about his family, and he openly told her it had only been Dan and himself for a while now. Whether she was genuinely sincere or simply felt sorry for him, she extended an invitation to dinner at the Montiano’s home once Olivia was feeling up to it.