by Avery Kirk
“This is a very good idea actually, because I would like to have some drinks to spare me from my thoughts on why we’re here.” I said, my mood lifting.
“Do you want to just go today? Right now?” he said quickly, a little mischievousness in his voice. He grabbed the brochure to see the hours. It was just about 5 and they closed at 6:30.
“Really?”
He nodded. “Why not!? We can do some damage in an hour and a half. It’s just down the road.”
That sounds great! Let me just….”, I gestured with an open hand to my face so he’d understand what I meant.
“Sure-go crazy.”
I re-appeared in the main area of the room.
“Good?” I asked, arms out, spinning a bit.
“Good.” He confirmed. “And we’re off.”
We walked into the winery and began to sample several wines. Kevin was perfect with our wine server, Gracie. She was all glassy eyed over him and she checked my finger and his several times for a ring. At one point, I set my hand on the counter for several minutes so she could get a good look at my hand. No ring.
Before we knew it, the place was closing. Gracie pointed out that there was also a restaurant at the winery with the same wine choices and much longer hours. So, we were happy to move our tasting over to the restaurant. Getting some bread in my stomach seemed like a good idea anyway. I stood up and realized that my legs were a bit on the wobbly side.
Kevin grabbed the back of my head and shook it vigorously, trying to mess with me.
“Looks like my friend needs something to eat sooner than later.”
“Stoooop.” I said in a baritone, slightly annoyed but laughing while my head was still spinning.
“Gracie, I very much appreciated your company this evening as well as your recommendations. Everything was wonderful. I need to get my friend some food-we’ve not eaten in several hours-but I think I speak for both of us,” he caught my eyes for a moment, “if I said that we’d be happy for you to join us if you’d like.” I nodded quickly and tried to smile quickly enough for her to see although she was deadlocked on his face.
I was a little surprised that he was only Lanie-free for less than two weeks and he was already hitting on someone. He must like her because he pulled out his apostrophe trick. The dog. I laughed to myself. He always said that if you wanted to sound smarter, you used different places for your apostrophe. ‘We’ve not’ instead of ‘we haven’t’. Same basic sentence, but for whatever reason-much fancier sounding.
She looked down and her face flushed. “I have to…finish up here.” she said, disappointed.
“Will you be long?” He asked.
“An hour or two”, she estimated. She sounded a little hesitant. She looked away a couple of times, over to her co-worker friend who had a perplexed look on her face as she pretended to dust wine bottles that were resting on a rack that covered the entire wall.
“How about this: We’ll head to the restaurant. We’ll get a table for three. If you’re able to join us, please do. If not, we had a lovely evening just the same.” It had been a while since I heard him in action. Impressive, but a little stuffy for me. He flashed her smile. I rolled my eyes and laughed discreetly as I heard her catch her breath.
“By the way”, I added abruptly. “We’re just friends. We’re not weirdoes or anything.” I didn’t want her to get any creepy impressions. I wanted to say something because people frequently got the wrong idea about us.
She smiled widely.
“Oh, GOOD!” She said with a little too much exuberance. “That’s good”, she echoed quietly-clearly a little embarrassed after her blast of a response.
Kevin laughed lightly and reached out and touched her upper-arm gently. Thank you Gracie. Maybe we’ll see you later then.
He turned to walk away and I looked back at her to smile-I saw her subconsciously grab her upper arm to be sure she was happy with how it must have felt to him. She seemed like a sweet girl. Maybe a bit young for him but still sweet.
“You like her?” I asked.
“I do. She’s a nice girl. She’s really awkward, which I love.”
“Is she? I guess I wasn’t paying much attention.”
“Yeah, you’re a wine lightweight I think. You were daydreaming for a ton of the time there.”
“Was I? I hope I wasn’t a drag.”
“Not at all, it was good. Now, what do you say to some food?” He said as he clapped his hands together and rubbed them in expectation.
“And more wine.”, I added.
“Yeah? You up for more? I don’t want to have to drag your ass back to the hotel.”
“Please. Bring it.”
“Don’t call for the dogs if you’re not ready to run, girlie.”
“Don’t make me say it twice, boy.” He hated to be called boy.
“OK, Sheila.” He always called me Sheila when he was trying to embarrass me for being female. It worked. I attempted to push him and I kind of wobbled. So, I hooked my arm around his for stability.
“Damn shoes.” I mumbled.
He laughed, not buying my excuse.
I felt very absentminded and a bit distracted. I chalked it up to my inexperience with wine.
The restaurant was already decorated for Christmas even though it was early November. It had kind of a comfy posh feeling to it. There were floor to ceiling windows in this place with crescent shaped tops and heavy, cranberry colored curtains. At each end of the curtain rods, there was a bough of evergreen with silver shiny bulbs. In the corner there was a Christmas tree with gold bulbs and wine cork garland with white lights. There were cranberry colored bows all over the tree and an ivory angel on the top. The opposite corner had a second tree made entirely out of wine bottles that was lit from within and gave a cool green glow. One wall across from the hostess stand was made up entirely of wine bottle bottoms that had been removed and placed on the wall acting as a kind of tile mosaic.
We were seated almost immediately. The host brought us to a table by the fireplace. It wasn’t cold out to me, but the wood in the fireplace was burning. I could hear it crackling. The tables were a rich colored wood that I couldn’t quite place. Mango maybe. I ran my hands over the top and legs of the table and bent over to look at the underside. The finish was as smooth as silk and impeccably crafted. I decided that if I had my own house and I was a millionaire, it would look like this; it was incredible.
“So, what aren’t you in the mood for?” He asked me.
“Hmmmm, no fish, no beef. What don’t you want?”
“I don’t want chicken or pork.” he said.
We glanced over the menu, quiet for a few minutes. I spoke first. “OK, if I were you….I’d get the beef Marsala or the veal scaloppini”
“And if I were you, I’d get the panko breaded fried chicken breast. You’ll love it.” He said.
“That sounds great.”
“I’ll get the veal.” He said.
“Don’t forget to get it without the capers.” I reminded him. He hated capers.
“Oh, right. Good call.”
Our waiter appeared. We ordered dinner and more wine. I vaguely remembered ordering. I was committed to keeping up with Kevin tonight.
Even though we were actually having a good time, in the back of my mind I kept reminding myself that we were here because of some phone calls and dreams I had. I really felt foolish so far. I guess I wanted to drown that feeling because that was currently my plan. That was unlike me and I knew it. I justified it by telling myself that we were on vacation. A weird, relatively unplanned vacation. I vaguely wondered how far Disneyland was.
“What’s up wack job?” Kevin interrupted my thoughts.
“What? Nothing.” I said, a glob of defensiveness in my tone.
“You’re a bona fide space cadet today. What’s on your mind?” he asked. “That little girl still?”
“No, nothing. It’s just weird. I guess I’m just preoccupied.”
“Cut it out.”
He raised his newly poured glass and cleared his throat unnecessarily. “Here’s to the discovery and appreciation of old grape juice in pretty glass bottles.” I laughed and we both drank.
For the next few minutes, we tried saying Sauvignon using many different accents all the while knowing that we didn’t really know how to say it in our American accents. Kevin was awesome at making the best of things. I loved that about him. It was one of his gifts. That, and his ability to make small talk. I was never good at making small talk. If I didn’t have anything to say, I didn’t talk or feel like I had to.
“Hey Mel, remind me to grab a bottle of wine for my parents. My mom would dig on this.”
I nodded as I finished swallowing a sip. “I like the Chianti better.” I offered. “I think I really like dry wines. I like the ones that suck the saliva right out of my mouth.” I said with a big movement of my hand near my mouth.
“Nice. Interesting image. Chianti it is. I liked that one too.” He said, laughing.
I was hesitant to bring it up but I decided to anyway. It might have been selfish of me but I thought that it was possibly selfish of me not to bring it up too, so I chanced it.
“Do you want to talk about with happened with Lanie?” I said, softly. I realized that I should probably be sure that the wine girl, Gracie, wasn’t going to show up. I looked around-no sign of her.
“We could.” He said looking down, a little unease in his voice.
“Do you want to tell me what happened?” I probably had been a bad friend for not asking earlier, but I tried to make it a habit to give people space when they’re upset, unless they ask for help. My mom always told me to do that. She would never give advice unless it was asked of her.
“Whelp, she didn’t go for the bike shop. I might have overreacted because I was expecting that answer, you know? We got into a fight. Didn’t help that we were both tired. I said some mean stuff, she said some mean stuff. Hard to forget. She is going back to school and said she wouldn’t have much time anyway, so there it is. We broke up.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I didn’t say anything.
That’s when it started. I got terrible pains behind my belly button. I thought it was the chicken but I had barely touched it. We polished off most of another bottle of wine waiting for dinner, but we kept the bread coming. I was unquestionably wrecked but it just didn’t feel like that was why I was feeling bad.
My hand slammed on the table without my permission, grabbing the edge.
What the…
“Mel!?” Kevin whispered urgently. “What’s wrong?” He looked around frantically.
“My stomach….”
I suddenly felt calm and no longer in pain. I released the table and Kevin eased back into his seat relaxing a little, but still leaning forward. Clearly a bit tense.
I smiled. I felt mechanical. I felt like I was a passenger in my body. I wanted to panic from the sensation but I just stayed calm knowing that it was the better choice.
“I’m OK.” I said to him, still smiling a bit. “Let me just go to the bathroom. I’ll be back.”
He nodded easily enough, but the wrinkle between his eyebrows didn’t go away.
I walked to the bathroom, asking for directions along the way.
The bathroom was even more calming. There was a subtle smell of what I think was lavender and the lighting was very soft. It felt like the bathroom of a wealthy relative. The stall doors were 6 panel, floor to ceiling for privacy. They were little rooms, not stalls.
I sat on the toilet with no intention of using it and put my head in my hands, closing my eyes. As soon as I did, I got flashes of outside. I abruptly opened my eyes and picked my head up, hands still up from where it rested. I looked around. Just a bathroom, what’s the problem? I looked around again and I heard a toilet flush, but otherwise nothing was out of the ordinary.
I let my head fall back, this time tipping my face up toward the ceiling. The ceiling had more intricate woodwork. I closed my eyes. Again, I saw images and my eyes popped open as I unintentionally gasped.
This time, my eyes were forced to close and I wasn’t worried in the least. I saw her. I saw a pregnant woman. No, too young. A pregnant…..girl. She ran. She was being chased or well, that’s what it looked like. I was very fearful for this girl. An urgency washed over me like a giant wave and suddenly I knew I came to help. I had to hurry. I knew somehow that she wasn’t too far from me. The pull to her was just about uncontrollable. But, what about Kevin? There wasn’t time. I had to get to her now. I’d tell Kevin where I was going once I knew.
I had a clear view of our table from the bathroom entry door. I peeked carefully around the door to see what he was doing. He was asking our waiter where the ladies room was no doubt as he was gesturing in this direction. I had to leave before I was made to explain to him-it would take too long.
As he got up to come and check on me, his eyes were elsewhere and I snuck out of the restroom. I ran up to the bar. I spotted a clean towel and tucked it into the back of my pants. I caught the bartender’s eye and asked him to call me a cab.
“Hey, give Sheri’s Cab a call, will you?” he said to the other bartender nearest the phone.
“She’s real good”, turning to me. “She’ll be here in 15, 20 minutes tops.” I must’ve looked like I was in a crazy big hurry.
“Thank you. The cab is for my friend since he’s had a lot of wine. I have to leave and I don’t have time to talk with him about it. He’s the dark haired guy in the Henley with the wavy hair.” I nodded in his direction, worried that pointing would call his attention. “His name is Kevin. I have to leave but I want him to come and find me as soon as she-the cab driver-picks him up. Tell him it’s not far from here but to look for semi-trailers and trees. I’ll be near there.” My latest flash of information as to where the pregnant girl is hiding, clearly in great pain. I put my hand over my belly again. Now the pain made sense.
“I’d be very grateful if you could tell him that and let him know that I intend to explain as soon as I see him.” I handed the man a twenty and held my hand there waiting for his acknowledgement. He nodded slowly in understanding and took the money, looking very puzzled. “West of here a couple miles. Semi-trailers and trees.” I said again, in a stronger tone-firmly holding his gaze until he nodded again.
I knew I shouldn’t drive after drinking all the wine although I didn’t feel any unbalance now. Just determination. Also, I didn’t have the keys. Kevin did. I decided to run.
I ran out the door and kept running. My instincts had told me to head west so I did. I ran as fast as I could. I was no runner, but my legs didn’t stop even once. It might’ve been faster to wait for the cab, I just knew I couldn’t.
I ran at full speed, parallel to a main road, crossed over an oddly empty expressway and desperately looked for semi-trailers. I occupied my mind with random thoughts but never lost a beat of what my drive kept me going toward. It was unbelievably powerful. I hardly noticed the exhaustion my body felt. I was frantically searching for the trailers. I spotted them. There were several parked in a large empty parking lot next to a park and behind a strip mall. It must be the place.
My direction changed. I saw a handsome, dark woman in front of the strip mall leaning against the wall. She was stocky and in her 50s or so. She wore her straight black hair in a low ponytail. It hung to the middle of her back. She wore sweatpants and an untucked button-down shirt. I was overwhelmed with the urge to speak with her. As I approached her, she stood facing left, her chin up-she seemed to be waiting. When I was within ten feet or so, she suddenly turned and lowered her chin and locked her eyes on mine. It seemed to be me she’d been waiting for.
I felt a surge of anxiety not having any idea what I planned to say or even if she spoke English. I doubted that she did. How would this go?
“Hello”, I managed. Near bursting with the need to rush. “My name is Amelia.”
“Hello” she replied in a thick accent. “I do
n’t speak much English. I am Annora.”
Without any pause, I replied in Spanish. But, I didn’t know how to speak Spanish. Yet, the words spilled from me fluently. Again, I felt like a passenger in my own body. The feeling was surreal but less alarming than it should have been. I knew exactly what I was asking her but I had no way to know or conscious knowledge of how to speak in this language. I asked her to follow me and to trust me. ‘Please follow my lead, I said. I need your help for an emergency and I need your discretion. I can’t promise that you’ll be out of harm so I need you to hide but to stay close enough that you can hear me.’
She nodded quickly and seemed to understand the urgency. We left running and she stopped to hide where the building met some trees. I ran hard, all the while searching for this woman who I was certain was close to me. She was deeply afraid and she was in pain. I heard a muffled thudding in one of the trailers. I lifted the latch and threw up the door. The girl covered her belly, terrified. I put my hands up palms facing her to let her know that I wasn’t there to hurt her.
“He’s coming. He knows and he’s trying to stop this-to hurt the baby and to hurt me.”
“Who?”
“The baby’s father-it’s his -. He’s trying to get revenge. I can’t keep the baby. I was going to….I just can’t. It’s just not possible. They can’t ask questions. It’s ……”
She must have gotten a contraction because she couldn’t talk anymore. Her face twisted and she pounded her fist on the trailer as noiselessly as possible to attempt cope with the pain.
I knew he was close. I had to leave her to deal with him-for their safety.
I squeezed her leg and moved my head to find her eyes so she’d see mine.
“I will be back. I will help you.”
She sat in a pool of watery blood; I knew there wasn’t much time. Although I felt the urge to stop and ask myself what the hell was going on, I consciously didn’t allow myself time to answer that question. I had to dedicate my whole being to what was happening. I had a choice. The feeling was odd. I felt like I could completely stop what was happening if I chose to do so. I knew it. I saw myself for a moment grabbing a cab and going back to the restaurant. Or, I could ignore all this and wait for Kevin in front of the mini mall. Just to test the idea, I stopped abruptly as I was closing the trailer doors. I stood there silently and without motion and freaked out for a split second as I allowed myself to absorb all that has happened. For the first time, I felt an aching in my quadriceps and realized that my shirt was wet in the back from sweating. Just then, I heard a muffled sound from inside the trailer that made me open the door again an inch and peer through the crack. The girl was already looking in my direction and nodded largely at me when she saw me peeking at her and lifted her hand-palm forward-to let me know that she was OK. The nameless woman who is about to give birth to a tiny creature with not even a diaper or blanket for the child.
