Sunday was more of the same. Slightly removed, highly amused almost unspoken direction as I scribbled notes and kept track of Caleb's day. Only he kept upstaging my tasks by doing everything for me. Arranging breakfast, then lunch. Then dinner too. Carrying my bag which I kept having to stop him to dig into for my pen or his Blackberry or my planner. He made ridiculous small talk all day long and never once did he offer his arm, in spite of uneven paving stones and a rush to get to the next meeting. Traffic indeed. Not sure exactly what the merits of this place are unless you invest heavily in plastic surgery technology or despise actual seasons with a passion. Christmas looks like Easter here. Same tans. Same fake breasts and pastel pumps everywhere.
And so by dinnertime I was out of my mind. Stop it.
Stop what?
Being fake. This isn't you and it's not going to work. You don't change.
Maybe I'm trying.
Bullshit. It's a challenge. I am poking around, risking certain peace for familiarity.
His eyebrows go up and he leans across the table. What do you want me to do?
Be yourself.
The shutters come down over his face as it hardens and I watch with fascination. He sits back in his seat gazing at me. Amusement abandoned in his expression in favor of slightly guarded desire. He continues to sit there for a few moments and I stare back, never once breaking his gaze.
He breaks it first to signal to the server. I watch this unfold. Something has come up, could we have the bill please?
The server looks at our glasses of water and frowns and Caleb hands him a bill for the trouble. They can flip a coveted table that much faster tonight. No harm done.
He stands and comes around to pull out my chair, I stand up and he motions for me to lead the way. We leave and the car is already outside. I'm guessing he has a doomsday-driver button in his pocket or something.
We don't say a word on the seventy-five minute drive back out to the shore. Not a word. I look out the window. Sometimes I text Ben. Caleb takes several phone calls but I don't actually listen in.
When we get to the house Caleb sends everyone home for the night.
And then he turns to me and asks me exactly what it is that I want. And then he turns away as if he doesn't want to know.
I tell him I want to go home.
His answer was spoken clearly in the silent room.
No.
No?
No, Bridget. I'm not finished with you yet.
I knew he was in there somewhere.
