by Gabriela Paz
As Eva put the phone down, the only thing rushing through her mind was, Oh, my God, What about Leo? She wasn’t going to be able to go to the beach in the early afternoon, as she had told him. Maybe I can still make it. If I finish the interview fast, hopefully, he will still be there waiting for me.
She couldn’t miss that job interview for anything in the world, but she also didn’t want to stand him up. What if it’s a sign? A sign that it’s not meant to be and that maybe we should go our separate ways? He would forget about her, and she would leave for college to live her life. She didn’t like this scenario.
For the interview the following day, Eva wore the tallest heels she owned, a pair of simple black jeans and a white blazer her mom had lent her. She looked elegant and refined, resembling the ladies who typically walked in the gallery. She was nervous; she had never gone inside the place and much less to interview for a job.
As soon as her ride arrived, she hopped in the back seat and got on her way. She was running early, but she figured she would get there with plenty of time. The Uber driver was playing really loud music in the car, and it was making her feel even more anxious. She wanted to tell him to put the volume down, but he seemed to be enjoying it, so she chose not to. Eva liked to be sweet, and she had a hard time being rude to people, even when they deserved it. At least the car ride isn’t that long, she thought; she could handle this horrible loud music for a few more minutes.
As the car pulled up at the gallery entrance, she got out confidently and started walking towards the door. You can do this, Eva. She was already dreading her decision about wearing heels, but at least she looked polished and taller. Eva didn’t wear high heels often; she didn’t feel the need to. Today she was one of the professional women, or at least she was pretending to be.
As she opened the door to the gallery, there was a woman sitting at a reception desk, talking on the phone. Everything was so quiet inside. Even the woman was speaking in the softest tone possible. The floors and walls were all white, and it looked spotless. The only thing that stood out were the art pieces that hung from the walls. Each piece seemed so different from the other, and a large space between them made each painting feel as if each piece was so important that it needed to occupy a big area all on its own.
The place wasn’t as big as she had imagined; she could almost see the whole space from where she was standing. The woman finally hung up the phone. She looked like she was in her early thirties, and she was gorgeous. Her hair was done up tightly in a bun, she wore sophisticated glasses, and her skin glowed.
“Hello, can I help you?” she said in a polite tone.
“Yes, thanks, I’m here for the job interview. I received a call yesterday.”
The woman adjusted her glasses and said, “Okay, give me a minute. I’m going to call my boss. You can take a seat.”
“Sure,” Eva responded apprehensively as she proceeded to sit down.
After a few minutes, an older woman showed up out of nowhere to greet her. “Well, nice to meet you, darling. I’m Sylvaine Dubois, and you are?”
Eva was astonished when she heard the name. This woman was the artist of the gallery, and she had a really good reputation on the island. Famous people bought her paintings for thousands of dollars.
“Hello, Ms. Dubois, I’m Eva Coleman. I’m here for the job interview,” Eva said.
Ms. Dubois was short and had red cropped hair, which was definitely not her natural color. She wore bright red lipstick, and her voice was quite deep for a woman. Eva had imagined someone completely different, maybe someone more like the woman at the reception table; that would have made more sense. This woman wasn’t the most refined-looking person, but she was still intimidating.
“Yes, I know, follow me,” she said rapidly.
As Eva arrived at the woman's office, she sat down anxiously waiting for the interview to start.
“Okay, Eva Coleman, so when are you ready to start? I like to get to the point quickly, and I need help with a few things right now. You don’t need much experience. It will be simple tasks, so don’t worry, you aren’t being tested.”
Eva didn’t know when to speak as the woman seemed to be doing all the talking on her own, and she was afraid to interrupt her. “I can start right away,” she responded, meaning to sound eager.
The woman stood up, abruptly from her chair, and said, “Great. I’m going to show you where to start.”
Already? This is so strange. Who starts the same day they are interviewed? She must be desperate. “Oh, you mean today? As in right now?” Eva asked, surprised.
“Yes, didn’t you say you were ready to start?” Ms. Dubois said with an arched eyebrow.
Yeah, but I didn’t mean it literally. Eva didn’t have a choice but to say, “Yes, of course.”
All of her hopes of getting out early to see Leo were thrown down the drain in that instant. I can’t believe this is happening. Should I just tell her I rather start on Monday so I can see Leo today? But what if I miss this opportunity? Her brain was rambling in a million directions, and before she could even make her mind, Ms. Dubois said, “Follow me please,” with an intimating tone, and that was the end of it.
“Could you just give me one second to make a call before we start?” she nervously asked. She had to try something—and calling Cece was the only realistic option that popped in her mind. Maybe she could let Leo know she wasn’t going to make it so he wouldn’t wait for her. This has to work.
“You’ve reached Cece, please leave your message after the tone. Oh, and it better be a good one.” Her voice mail, of course. She tried two more times but no answer. Where are you, Cece? I need you.
“Are you ready now?” Ms. Dubois asked her as she impatiently tapped the top of her heel on the ground several times in an attempt to rush her.
Jeez, this woman needs to chill. “Yes, I’m ready,” she said, feeling like she was selling her soul to a complete psycho. The hopes of letting Leo know she wasn’t going to make it were all thrown down the drain in that instant. She couldn’t come up with any more ideas. It was a complete disaster. How will I ever see him again?
CHAPTER 13
Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose
Thinking of seeing Eva again drove Leo insane as he got ready to head to the beach early that afternoon. He couldn’t believe he was going to see her again, this time intentionally. It was so new for him to have these emotions. He was already twenty-two years old and had been with plenty of girls, but he had never felt this interested in anyone before.
As he headed to the beach, he realized that he didn’t want to show up empty-handed. This was going to be a date, and he wanted to be a gentleman, so he stopped at the farmer’s market for a sunflower bouquet. He thought about getting roses, but it would be too formal for the occasion. Sunflowers will do the trick. Leo wore beige Khaki shorts, a navy T-shirt, and matching moccasins. His hair was flawless; he had applied a bit of gel and was wearing aviator sunglasses. Since it was the first time he could prepare to see her, he wanted to look polished.
As he approached the boardwalk with flowers in hand, women around him turned and stared. Probably because it was strange to see such a good-looking guy carrying flowers in this century. Normally he would have given them a quick glance, but Eva was all he could think of. He had been picturing those beautiful green eyes all day, and he wasn’t going to let anything or anyone ruin this date.
Leo finally got to Luziano’s and chose to sit at the same table he had seen her last. Since it was humid out, he ordered a frozen piña colada to cool down while he waited. He didn’t know whether it was due to the nerves or the weather, but he was sweating profusely. “This time will be different. We both want to be here, and everything will go smoothly,” He tried to reassure himself.
One hour passed, and Leo was still sitting there, waiting. She hadn’t been clear about the time, so he knew tha
t he had to be patient. He ordered another cocktail and then a soda. He didn’t want to get drunk just yet, but there was still no sight of Eva.
Out of all of the scenarios he had made up in his head, this was never one of them. He had sensed that she liked him at their last meeting, so what happened? Did she have a change of heart? Or does she not like me enough? All sorts of doubts started to cross Leo’s mind, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he was going to be able to sit tight.
Another half hour went by, and the waiter approached Leo, “Excuse me, Sir. I’m sorry to bother you, but if you will not order any food, would you mind moving to the bar?”
What the hell happened? Why didn’t she come? She could have at least let me know instead of leaving me waiting like a complete moron.
Going back home wasn’t an option. He still had the rest of the day to try to make up for such horrible failure, and he wasn’t about to spend it moaning in his bed. So he decided to call up his friend Jonah to invite him for drinks.
“Hello?” Jonah answered.
“Hey man, how’ve you been? It’s Leo.”
“Hey, Leo! How are you? It’s been a minute. What’s up?”
Leo cleared his throat. “Everything’s good. I’ve just been working a lot. Sorry I haven’t been in touch more.”
“Nah, it’s okay. That’s what happens after college; people get a life.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Leo chortled. “I’m actually at the boardwalk and was wondering if you wanted to join me for a drink?”
“Sure, dude, I’d love to. Give me about fifteen minutes, and I will be there,”
“Perfect,” Leo said, surprised that his friend was actually coming; at least somebody wanted to see him. Back in college, Jonah was his best lad, he had a genuine soul, and Leo felt guilty for not staying in touch more. Especially when Jonah lived around the corner.
Leo stopped by the cove and sat at the bar. There was no way he was going back to Luziano’s; he was still frustrated. Did she not show up on purpose? Or did something come up? Maybe I wasn’t supposed to see her again at all, and I’m being obsessive. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. She seemed like a sweet girl. There was no way she would have stood him up on purpose.
Suddenly he heard a familiar voice interrupt his train of thought. “Hey,” Jonah said as he walked into the bar.
As soon as Leo saw his friend, all the memories from college came rushing back. “My man!” Leo said, excited to see him. Jonah had gotten a little bigger and had let his beard grow about two more inches. He still had that longish surfer blond hair and that funny and welcoming voice nonetheless. “How’s life? Thanks for coming.”
“Everything’s okay. Just been taking a break from everything,” Jonah said as he sat down.
“How come?”
“My mom got sick. I’m watching out for her until she gets better.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize. I’m sorry, but is she okay?” Leo asked, concerned.
“Yeah, yeah, she’s alright. I mean, she’s better now. She had to get a kidney removed, and she was struggling badly, but she’s finally recovering. It’s all better now, don’t worry.”
Wow, here I am complaining about my life. “I’m glad to hear. I’m so sorry I haven’t been around to help. I should have called.”
“Dude, don’t sweat it. You must be working like hell, and honestly, I haven’t been doing crap. I’ve been playing video games all summer while I took care of her.”
“Okay, but still. I’m sorry I didn’t call.” Leo said, ashamed. “Well, let me get you a beer.”
“Sure, I could use a drink. Thanks. I’m actually glad you called. I needed to get out.” Jonah sighed.
“I can imagine. You must be going crazy without being able to get out much.”
“Pretty much. But it has changed me. I feel like I’m years ahead of who I used to be in college; it’s crazy. All of this stuff makes you put things in perspective, you know? I was only thinking about my life and my goals for as long as I can remember. I never stopped to think that nothing would be as meaningful if my mom wasn’t here, you know?”
“I get it. I do. I feel like I take stuff for granted all the time lately, and I hate it. I don’t want to become the guy who doesn’t have time for anyone.”
“Don’t become that guy then. It’s our choice.”
“Yes, but it’s not that simple. Once you start working and you have goals, you start to want more and more. Without realizing it, the work swallows you in so deeply that you forget why you started working in the first place.”
“Do you remember?”
“Remember what?”
“Why you started working in the first place?”
“Yes, I do. But sometimes, I feel like I’m a long way from the guy I was in college or even before. I want to make my own money, so I don’t have to depend on my parents, but I have to sacrifice a lot of my time in order to achieve that goal.”
“That’s life, you gotta find a balance, and you will be fine.”
Easier said than done. “You’re right. A balance is what I need. I’m so glad to have met up with you. This is even better than the old times,” said Leo, as he chugged the rest of his beer now. He hadn’t had this much to drink in a long time, and when he started to feel light-headed, he remembered why. For a second there, he considered telling Jonah about Eva, but he didn’t think it was appropriate with everything he was going through. So, they caught up a little bit more on work and family instead until Jonah had to head back home to his mother.
Now more than ever, Leo knew that everything happened for a reason. Having that talk with his friend had lifted his spirits exactly when he needed it the most. It was crazy to him how emotions could change so dramatically in a matter of hours or even minutes. He had been so disappointed about Eva not showing up, and about an hour later, he was feeling completely grateful that he had a healthy family and that he could have that precious talk with his friend.
The next few weeks were busy for Leo. He had intentionally taken on loads of work to take his mind off his personal life. But he didn’t feel as intrinsically motivated as before. Perhaps he was getting impatient with his slow progress in the company. Or maybe it was his insufferable mentor, who hadn’t made any attempts to be pleasant.
Who am I kidding? Even if he didn’t want to admit it, there was still a little part of him that wondered, What if something happened to her? What if something important came up? These questions had been going around his head over and over, day after day, hindering his focus. He couldn’t leave it alone.
Even if he didn’t want to break his ‘Whatever happens, happens’ belief, he was finding himself struggling to stay faithful to it. He felt silly for feeling hurt about a girl he barely knew. He kept picturing Stefano laughing at him, telling him that he was wiped, which made him even madder.
As he ate breakfast on Saturday morning, his mother interrupted his thoughts.
“Hun, please don’t forget to stop by the mall today to get me those candles I had asked you for last week,” she shouted from the kitchen.
Right. The candles. He had completely forgotten about that. “Yes, Mom! I will go today, don’t worry,” he assured her.
Leo wasn’t one to go shopping much since he dreaded waiting in long lines and on indecisive people. He had to admit, patience wasn’t his strong suit, but at least, he was on his own this time. So as he entered the vanilla-scented candle store, he went straight to the point.
He had been there many times, but every time he came back, he had to admit that the boutique had its charm. With its different lavender flower assortments, the subtle lighting, and its delicate collection of well-made candles, it was difficult to get grumpy about anything. “Luminous Path” was the name of his mother’s favorite candle, and they only sold it in that store. He wondered if she liked the candle so much because of its
name rather than its scent. But as he brought the candle near his nose and took a quick sniff, he was sure it had to be the name.
Thankfully, there weren’t many people by the register, so it didn’t take him long to pay. As he walked out, he felt the strong breeze hit his face, and suddenly he had a realization as he set eyes on a gallery store near him. Didn’t Eva say something about getting a job in a gallery by the mall? He wasn't completely sure, but could it be possible that the “Luminous Path Candle” had brought him to her after all?
CHAPTER 14
Another Chance
Being this busy was definitely not what Eva had in mind before taking the job. Since Ms. Dubois had her doing all her dirty work, she barely even had time to breathe. Unfortunately, the beautiful girl from reception resigned the day after Eva started. Supposedly she had secured a better opportunity elsewhere, but Eva was sure that any opportunity was probably better than this one.
Alas, since she left, Ms. Dubois didn’t want to hire anyone else, so she was making Eva carry the load for two. Eva didn’t mind working hard, but she had her working extra hours and weekends as well, and it was a little unfair. The only reason she was sticking it out was because she needed the money.
Eva had made a promise to her mother that she didn’t intend to break, and this was her only chance to prove it to her. There were only nine days left until college anyway, so she would stick it out until the end. Her relationship with Ms. Dubois hadn’t quite expanded since the very first time they met. She only spoke to Eva when she needed her to do something or when she wanted her to leave. She pretended to be polite, but she was very demanding and moody. Some days she was nicer than others, but she was impossible to predict.
When Eva didn’t understand something, Ms. Dubois didn’t even consider explaining it to her. She looked from under her glasses and said, “Look it up or ask someone else, honey.” Rude. Yes, this was the kind of person Eva was dealing with, and her job basically consisted of keeping her happy, which was often difficult.
