Seven Days

by Charles, Rhoda

  “Did you like your job?”

  “Not particularly. Isn’t that crazy? I uprooted my whole life for what I thought was the change I needed after my parents’ accident and the only thing I found was just…I don’t know, nothing. I found nothing.”

  He felt her eyes on him and wondered if she understood what he was trying to say.

  “Did you meet any interesting people, at least?”

  “Oh, yeah. Everyone in New York is interesting. I just didn’t find anybody that interested me. I went there with all these expectations and it just was not what I expected. The city is so big and everybody there has already done this and that. There’s nothing new for them so there’s no wonder in anything for anybody”

  “Well, that’s sad.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  She was looking at him, not with any real expression, just with focus that showed him that she was really listening. He wanted her to truly hear.

  “It’s like this. I feel tired when I’m there. New York just tired me out. I realized that when I came back home. I haven’t felt so relaxed in such a long time and tonight…” he trailed off, remembering how he felt at Cera’s Place. “I haven’t felt like me until tonight at your club.”

  He’d carried this knowledge inside for some time, not having ever dared to speak it. The relief that saying the words brought! He looked down at his hands as if seeing them for the first time. He flexed his fingers and remembered the feel of the piano’s keys as he’d pressed them, as he had made music. That was what his hands were meant to do.

  “That’s nice to hear,” she said, and he let his hands drop onto his lap. “What will you do when you go back after the wedding?”

  His brown eyes snapped to hers, “I’m not going back.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. I actually quit my job last week. I’m coming home to stay. I just hadn’t told anyone yet.”

  “Hmm,” Cera took a deep breath and adjusted her blanket, pulling it tight around her, “the two of us and our secrets. When are you going to tell them?”

  If anyone had the right to judge or question his news it was Cera, but she didn’t. As always, she fielded whatever as thrown at her.

  “Soon. I just have to get them used to the idea of having me back around. Everybody’s so into who they think I am, I haven’t had a chance to tell them that that’s not me,” he paused. “You know, when I went to New York I felt like I had to go, but I also felt like that was what was expected of me. Like I was supposed to go off and make something of myself. Become some big businessman or something. Make lots of money so I could protect the family.”

  “And didn’t you?”

  “I did. But I didn’t really enjoy it. I mean, is that what my life’s supposed to be? Me doing a job I hate with people I can’t stand in a city I don’t like? That’s enough to drive anyone crazy.”

  “Yeah, I guess so. I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell anyone? I don’t think anyone had any idea.”

  “I don’t know. I guess I just figured people wouldn’t get it. I mean from the outside looking in, things look great. You know what I mean? But after a while things get real old real quick. I guess I was homesick or something.”

  He saw her surprise at that admission and knew everyone who knew him would react the same. He’d been lonely in New York and missed his friends and family more than he’d expected. No one had any idea. They all thought he was having the time of his life—hell, he expected to be having the time of his life! Funny how things had turned out.

  “Here we were all thinking that you were actually doing something with your life while we were sitting around at home spinning our wheels.”

  “Believe me, I was spinning my wheels, too, but no more. I’m taking back control of my life. Starting here and starting now.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Milan was dozing off. She was lying on her side with her head on Julian’s lap. After dinner they had both fallen into quietness on the sofa in the living room. In the back of her mind she was aware of Julian’s hand in her hair absently curling it between his fingers.

  When they were together like this, things were great, but too often there was tension between them. That same tension had been exciting when they had first started going out, but now it always seemed to drag them down and leave them tired and remote. They were like a broken porcelain dish whose pieces had been glued back together, but was forever marred by the line that told of the earlier break.

  Despite last night’s debacle at the bar, Milan was surprised at how easily Luke had managed to make her feel at ease. It was a refreshing change to the way things had been lately with Julian. She had chalked it up to the stress of planning the wedding, but when you looked at it, she was the one who was really doing all of the planning. Julian had it easy—show up for the fitting and plan the honeymoon.

  What was she going to do about Luke? Luke was attracted to her in a major way. Who knew how long he had been pining away for her? The James brothers were quite charming. Funny how she had never given Luke any thought before last night. Rhys was always the one who had caught her eye, but for some reason he never seemed to see her.

  She remembered when she first met Rhys. She and Julian had only been dating for a little while at the time. Julian worked out at the gym regularly then and he had brought her along as a guest. She remembered what dorks all those serious gym goers were strutting around in their spandex.

  Julian had just explained how to use one of the machines and she was propped up in this contraption with pulleys and weights all around her. She had no idea what she was doing, but she didn’t want Julian to know that at all. When he asked her if she would be alright for a few minutes while he ran to the men’s room, she put a nonchalant “no problem” look on her face and brushed him off with a, “take your time.”

  As soon as he was out of sight she disentangled herself from the machine and tried to figure out how to decrease the weight.

  “Much better,” she whispered and tried to settle back into the machine, but she couldn’t remember out how to place her arms. She tried this way and that but none of them seemed quite right. Feeling like an idiot, she surreptitiously looked around to make sure no one was watching her make a fool of herself.

  “This is ridiculous. He just showed me how to do this,” she said, frustrated. Faking confidence, she jammed her arms in and just started to push. If she looked like she knew what she was doing, no one would even notice.

  Milan looked up—and into the dark eyes of a very attractive man in the machine opposite her. He had a slight smile on his lips, one that he looked as if he was trying to suppress. His eyes sparkled, despite their deep brown hue.

  She immediately went into demure mode and quickly looked away. She had to admit, not everyone in this gym was a dork. She looked back at him, ready to respond to the kindness she had seen in his face, and realized that he was on the exact same machine as she except he was positioned differently.

  She panicked. Embarrassment that she was doing this completely wrong flooded through her body. All she wanted was to get out of there as quickly as possible. She surveyed the room in search of a quick exit. Where was Julian? She had never felt more alone.

  Milan started to move her arms very slowly off the pads as if by doing so no one would see her. She was so focused on her slow-motion exit from the machine that she didn’t notice her new workout buddy approach.

  “That’s a tricky machine,” he said. “I had a hard time figuring it out myself.”

  Unable to look up due to the sheer weight of her mortification, Milan mumbled, “Yeah, well I heard you could also use it to work out other muscle groups so I was trying a new form.”

  “Oh yeah? Hmm,” he seemed to ponder that piece of news.

  Was he buying this? Milan straightened up a little. “Yeah,” she said, “It also works on the triceps,” Milan looked up at him to see he was still smiling—and what a great smile he had. “But,” she stumbled over her words, �
��You could show me how you use it…?”

  “Sure, if you’d like,” he said. He leaned forward to position her in the apparatus and then pantomimed how to push the levers with her arms.

  “This works, too,” Milan said, trying to sound knowledgeable. “Thank you. I’ll see how this works.” She smiled at him as if to say, “thank you and good-bye.”

  He picked up on her silent cues. He nodded his head at her, slung his towel over his shoulder and melded into the mix of men in the room.

  As soon as he was gone she leapt off the machine and went in search of Julian. She didn’t have to go far. He was standing talking to some guy whose back was to her. When he saw her approaching he motioned enthusiastically for her to come over.

  “Guess who’s here?” he asked, holding out his arm to her, “I want you to meet my best friend since forever.” A tall man with an athlete’s body, chiseled features and a gorgeous smile turned to face her. “Milan, this is Rhys, the friend I’ve told you about.”

  Milan hardly heard a word Julian said. She was too busy being horrified. Julian’s friend was none other than her friendly helper.

  “Oh, hi again,” Rhys greeted her cheerfully and held out his hand.

  “You two have already met?” Julian subtly pulled her closer.

  “Sort of. Milan was showing me how to work my triceps.”

  He charmed her with that smile and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  “Yes, I was. But don’t overdo it. You’ll regret it the next day.”

  Rhys’s dimples made an appearance as he chuckled at Milan’s warning. “I wish I could hang around and get to know you better, but unfortunately I was on my way out. I’ve got to get going. Milan, it was very nice to meet you. I’m sure I will see you again.”

  “Same here. Thanks for your help.”

  Rhys patted Julian on the shoulder, “Jules, I’ll catch up with you soon.”

  Milan couldn’t believe how long ago that day had been. She had thought Julian was so handsome, but after meeting Rhys she finally knew what gorgeous was. How different things might have been if she had gone to that gym as someone else’s guest.

  Milan closed her eyes and allowed herself to fantasize just a little about how different her life might be right now if she had been with Rhys rather than Julian. She might even have gone off to New York with him. How funny, Julian would be the best man this time around and she wouldn’t be feeling this anxiety about him as they approached the wedding date.

  And Carolyn and I would be sisters! With Carolyn around, she’d never have any time at all with Rhys. Maybe things wouldn’t be so different after all.

  Sitting on the sofa with Milan’s head in his lap, Julian was restless. He really had wanted to make things right with Milan and it seemed that they were on their way to being back to normal, but something Milan had said earlier in the evening had stuck with him.

  She had asked him if he was having second thoughts. He had said he wasn’t, but now he wondered if maybe she was right. He was marrying one of the most beautiful women he had ever met. Shouldn’t he be more enthusiastic? She was ambitious and independent. They went well together. At least that’s what people always said about them. But did they really?

  On the surface, they were well matched he had to admit. It was when you went deeper that you noticed how the puzzle pieces were forced together. When it came right down to it, they didn’t have too much in common. He was laid-back and she was high-maintenance. She was what he always thought a woman should be and what he always thought he was supposed to want. After last night, it was becoming clear to him that maybe he wanted something else. Someone else.

  Julian shook his head. No, this is nerves, he thought. He was in love with Milan. He was going to marry her. Soon. They were going to be very…well-matched.

  He had to stand up; his leg had fallen asleep and the tingling was getting to him. Slowly he maneuvered Milan’s head onto a throw pillow and eased himself out from underneath her. He bent from the waist to stretch out his leg and reveled in the relief that came along with the extension.

  He had been restless all evening but especially now after sitting there for so long. The stretch felt good. Just like after a run. That was what he could use now. A nice long run would get rid of this restlessness. He looked out the balcony doors and saw how dark it was. It was after ten o’clock, too late to go running.

  Quietly stepping onto the balcony, Julian inhaled the crisp air. It was a beautiful night. The stars were out and the moon was just a sliver. It was the perfect temperature for running. Julian turned around and look through the glass at Milan’s sleeping figure. Why not? Milan was asleep. What else was he going to do? His stuff was in his car and if he wore himself out, he rationalized, he’d be able to go right to bed.

  Julian reentered the apartment and wrote a quick note on the brown paper bag that had held their dinner. He quietly picked up his keys and headed out the door making sure not to let it bang when he closed it. His efforts were in vain. Milan awoke just in time to see the door close behind him.

  * * *

  Julian laced up his sneakers while sitting in the backseat of his car. He had changed quickly in its shadow amusing himself with thoughts, should he get caught, of explaining to his friends why he was nearly naked when the police had arrived.

  His cell phone was on the seat next to him. Like the glimmer of a firefly, the thought of calling Carolyn flashed through his mind. They had never gone running at night. It was such a great night; Julian couldn’t think of anyone else he would rather have accompany him on this adventure.

  It’s late, he thought, and dismissed the idea while tying his shoelace. But it was only a little after ten, he rationalized. If she says no, then she says no. Not a big deal. He picked the phone up, but still his thumb hesitated over the speed-dial button.

  Home alone, tucked into the loveseat in the living room, flipping channels on the television. This was Carolyn’s Sunday night. It was unexciting at best but mostly frustrating, given how restless she was. Luke was putting in extra hours at the studio, Rhys had gone off somewhere with Cera and Mark was winging it to the Far East. It was up to Carolyn to find something to do.

  Palming the remote, she took one more tour through the channels. Still unimpressed, she checked the time. Quarter past ten. May as well go to bed. Carolyn clicked off the television and started to straighten the room before going upstairs.

  Her phone rang and it was the most exciting thing to happen all night. She raced across the room to grab it before voicemail kicked in and caught the name on the display as she flipped it open.

  “Hey, Jules,” she said and grinned.

  * * *

  Since it was dark, they decided to run along the Schuylkill River on the trail by the art museum—less chance of getting hit by a car. They stretched side by side feeling like kids who were sneaking off to do something they shouldn’t.

  “Look at us both grinning like idiots,” she said.

  “I know. I feel like we’re doing something risky in a way.”

  “Me too,” Carolyn agreed.

  “It’s silly. We’re just running, right?”

  “Yeah, just running. At least one of us is!” Carolyn took off in a sprint leaving Julian standing on the path. Seconds later he broke into a run.

  “Hey there, Speedy Gonzales,” he said as he caught up with her. “What’s your hurry?”

  “No hurry,” Carolyn was still smiling. “I just have so much energy tonight. I have to burn it off.”

  “Me too. It’s weird. I was so restless tonight; I actually left Milan sleeping on the couch.”

  “You did?” Carolyn was genuinely surprised. “She’s not going to like that.”

  “I left her a note. She’ll know that I went out.”

  “So you didn’t tell her you went running with me?”

  “No,” he said. “When I left I wasn’t going running with you. I didn’t think about calling you until after I got to my car.”


  “Are you going to tell her that we’ve added nighttime jogging to our exercise routine?”

  Julian considered her question for a moment, “I hadn’t given it much thought. She doesn’t even care that I run. It’s not her thing really.”

  The two jogged in silence for a few minutes and found their stride. “Do you think she’ll be mad that I went out?” Julian asked.

  His question sounded too nonchalant to Carolyn’s ears. How to answer this?

  “Well, I don’t know that ‘mad’ is the word,” she hedged, “but I’m pretty sure she won’t be too keen on the idea of your sneaking out to go running with me—not that you left to hang out with me,” she clarified hastily, “but that you left her and ended up with me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Carolyn raised her eyebrows at him as if to ask, ‘are you blind?’ but Julian was looking ahead and didn’t see her face.

  “Let’s say I don’t think she’s my number-one fan.”

  “Oh.”

  They ran in silence, their feet hitting the asphalt and the soft rush of wind stirring the water the only sounds.

  “So serious all of a sudden,” Carolyn interrupted his thoughts. “Hey, it’s okay. I can take it.”

  “What? No. Noo, you’re wrong.”

  “About Milan? I don’t think so.”

  Julian was quiet again and she let him be to do whatever figuring he needed.

  “Milan is a complicated woman.” He finally added, “She can be hard to get to know but believe me, she likes you.”

  “It’s okay, Jules. I’m a big girl.”

  He made a sound she interpreted as mild frustration.

  “You know what it is? She’s a little insecure at times and I think that sometimes our friendship scares her a bit but honestly, it’s nothing personal.”

  “I can see that,” Carolyn offered. It can be hard to break into a group of friends as close-knit as they were. Maybe Milan’s aloof manner was a defense rather than disdain.