Passing Hearts Chapter 4

  Passing Hearts
Chapter 4

Amanda

Good grief, this town hasn’t changed in twenty years. The drive into “down town” from mom’s house was the same as it was the last time I drove it, which was two days after high school graduation and the day after getting stood up for the only date that I had ever really looked forward to.

“Snap out of it!” I fuss at myself as I get out of my car and start walking toward the front door of the diner. Mom just had to have some barbeque tonight and she just had to have me drive in to town to get it. As I open the door and the bell dings, I feel like I’m being transported back in time. NOTHING has changed in this place. Not even the cash register.

Before I know what has hit me, I’m bombarded by a blonde waitress in a short black skirt. She has me wrapped in a back-popping bear hug, then pulls back and looks me up and down at arm’s length. Oh no, it’s Cheerleader Jennifer, with the same big hair and heavy makeup, only twenty years older.

“Oh my goodness! I can’t believe you’re here. It’s been twenty years. Are you here for the reunion? Oh, I have to call all of our friends. EEEEEE! This will be the best reunion ever!” Holy Cow! She’s squealing in my ear.

Thankfully, there is a ding from behind the counter. Jennifer lets go of me and starts to rush off toward the kitchen. She turns around just before she disappears behind the double doors. “I’m so excited that you’re here! We’ve got to catch up!” With a wink, she disappears and I’m left standing there completely and utterly confused. I was never part of Jennifer’s world in high school. I can’t imagine why she would want to catch up now.

I rub my hands down the front of my pale blue sun dress to smooth out the aftermath of my Cheerleader Jennifer encounter and turn to see everyone in the diner just staring at me. I look back down at my dress to make sure I don’t have something all over it. That could be the only reason everyone is staring. I also make a mental note to give Gretchen a stern talking to when I get back to the office. I cannot believe I let her talk me into coming back here. What was I thinking?

After I’ve checked and rechecked my appearance, I take a deep breath, and finally look back up. Everyone is still staring at me but I don’t really see them. Instead, I see the most beautiful blue eyes looking straight at me. The package attached to those beautiful eyes is equally just as wonderful to behold. Wait a minute. It can’t be, can it? Is that Trenton Davis? Oh my goodness, it is him! A slight panic starts to set in. He’s sitting at the same booth that we sat at during our one and only date. We sat there and talked for hours about everything. It was so easy to talk to him, too. I had never been that at ease with anyone, ever. We even planned what would have been our first real date; the one he never showed up for. Our eyes are still locked and momentarily my breath catches with all of the memories come flooding back. I want to turn around and just leave, but I’m drawn to him just like the proverbial moth to the flame. Before I know it, I’m standing directly in front of him with my hand stuck out like an idiot. “Hi, Trent.”

Trent takes my hand and quickly pulls me into a hug. All I can manage is a gasp when he whispers in my ear, “I’ve missed you, Amanda”. Chills bloom from everywhere at that moment. I haven’t had a feeling like this since the last time Trent and I were in this place. Slowly, but surely, my arms find their way around him and I feel like I’m holding on for dear life.

So many emotions and sensations come rushing at me all at once. I feel safe and cherished just by being wrapped in Trent’s arms. Then I feel alone, hurt, and betrayed at the same time because he left so quickly and I never knew why or what I’d done. But having his arms around me feels so nice. He smells of a musky body wash and good, clean, sweaty man. I can feel the muscles in his arms around me, in his chest that my head is resting against, and in his back that my hands are touching. He’s very strong but soft and welcoming at the same time. I’m completely lost.

“Ahem.” I feel someone tapping on Trent’s arm. “Come on you two, y’all can break that up any time.” Oh no, it’s Jennifer. “Besides, I’ve got your supper here, Trent.”

Trent slowly lets me go and backs away slightly. Jennifer is standing beside of Trent, glaring at the two of us like we were some type of terrible, nasty bug in need of squashing. It is very obvious that she is annoyed but I have no idea why. She’s holding a plate with a huge hamburger on it and it’s over flowing with fries. Trent looks from me to Jennifer and back to me, and then he simply rolls his eyes and shrugs his shoulders. I almost laugh out loud but I don’t think that would be appropriate at the moment. Trent slides back into the booth and Jennifer basically flings his plate across the table at him without uttering a word. Then she turns to me. If looks could kill, I’d be dropping over right here and now. “I’ll have your order ready in just a few minutes,” she barks at me as she flips her hair over her shoulder and struts off toward the kitchen. Oh well, all I can do is stand there and stare; open mouthed and dumbfounded. And to think, we needed to ‘catch up’ not two minutes ago.

“Would you care to sit down for a minute, Amanda?” Oh my, Trent’s voice is still like velvet as he says my name.

I turn my focus back to Trent. Against my better judgment, my body willfully obeys his request, and I sit in the seat across from him. As the vinyl of the old booth seat squeaks when I sit, I’m jolted back to reality. I need to just get my food and go. Nothing good can come from sitting here staring at Trent. I know he’s married. I take a quick look at his left hand and I don’t see a wedding band, but that doesn’t mean anything. Lots of men I know don’t wear a ring. I don’t need this kind of drama and distraction in my life. I’ve got to go, that’s just all there is to it.

“Look, Trent…” I look up and sputter out.

“It’s really good to see you, Amanda…,” Trent says at the same time.

We both smile uneasily at each other. I suppose this is one of those awkward, after high school moments that I really didn’t want to ever deal with. Yes, Amanda, it’s time to go.

“It’s really good to see you too, Trent.” That’s no lie. He’s even better looking than I allowed myself to remember. “I should really get going. Momma likes to have her supper over with before ‘Wheel of Fortune’ comes on.” I smile at him as I put my hands on top of the table to force myself up out of the seat. Just before I get up, Trent puts his hand on mine.

“Stay. Please?” Trent says softly.

When I look at him, he is searching my face. His eyes are pleading; they actually say more than his words just did. I can’t resist, so I relax back into the seat. Trent relaxes too and moves his hand from mine. I miss his touch immediately but try not to let him see that.

“I owe you an apology, Amanda, for not calling you. You know, back then.” Trent looks at me as if he’s struggling for what to say.

“Trent, that was twenty years ago. We were different people in different places then.” I look down at my hands, remembering briefly how much I enjoyed that date with him and how bad it hurt when he left town without a word. “It’s ok. Really.” I lie to him, and try to make it as convincing as I possibly can. We sit there in truly awkward silence for a minute. When I look back at him, he’s still just watching me. He hasn’t touched a bite of his food.

“How is your mother?” Nice change of subject there, Trent.

“She’s good. Still as demanding and crazy as ever.” Probably even more so, I think but don’t say out loud. “How are your folks?”

“They’re good. Dad’s still controlling everyone and everything. Mom’s still taking care of everyone.” He grins a little when he’s talking about his parents. That grin still melts my heart, even after all this time. I really need to snap out of this.

We sit and stare at each other in more awkward silence. I wish I knew what he was thinking.  I’ve interviewed Heads of State all over the world, but I can’t seem to find the words to speak to Trent. Thankfully, the silence is broken when the man in the kitchen shouts out “Waters?” I wave to him to let him know that I’ll be right there, then turn back to Trent. Now, it’s really time for me to go.

“Guess that’s my cue. It’s been nice to see you again, Trent.” This time I do stand up, but Trent stands up with me. He grabs both of my hands in his. This is dèjá vu. We stood here, just like this the last time we were in this diner together; he sweetly leaned in and kissed me and then we said goodnight; promising to see each other the next night. Only, he left town the next day. And now, he is looking at me in the exact same way. I can’t do this! I’ve got to get out of here!  

“Pick you up at six Saturday night for the Reunion?” He asks. “That is why you’ve come home, isn’t it?” Oh my goodness! My breath catches and my heart rate picks up when he asks me that. I can’t go through that again. Besides, he’s married. What am I still doing here? This is all just too much.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think that’s a good idea, Trent.” I pull my hands out of his and turn around without another look. I’m afraid if I look at him now that I’ll break down and cry right here for the whole town to see. I don’t want Trent to know, nor do I want the whole town to know, just how much that one time date meant to me and just how much him leaving town hurt me. I hurry to the counter, hand the cook a twenty dollar bill, grab my order, and run out of the restaurant.

By the time I get in the car, the tears are falling like the rain of a summer thunderstorm. I can’t believe that he would be that hurtful. Apologize to me one minute as if he were truly sincere about it, then ask me out knowing good and well that he couldn’t take me. I should never have come here. I can’t believe that I left myself open for that, again. When I get back to Mom’s, I’ll pack and head back to New York.

The rest of the drive is a blur. Momma is waiting on the front porch for me. Twenty years haven’t changed her very much. She is still a tiny lady with a whole lot of sass. She still wears her hair short and in soft curls. The only difference now as opposed to twenty years ago is that she has finally had to start wearing glasses. As I put the car into park, I know I’ll never be able to hide my tears from Mom, so just like twenty years ago; I get out of the car and run right into her arms.

“Oh, Honey. What’s wrong?” She sets the bag of food from the diner down beside the swing, then wraps her arms around me. Together we just collapse into the porch swing. She holds me and pats my back, just like she did many years before. I cry ‘til I can finally sit up and talk to her. Looking into her eyes still makes me feel like she can read the very depths of my soul.

“I ran into Trent Davis at the diner.” I really don’t want to hash this out with her, but it starts spilling as I get up and start pacing the front porch. “He apologized for standing me up years ago. Then, turned around and asked me to go to the reunion with him. Ugh! What is it with men? I mean, I know he’s married and he has the nerve to ask me out! Does he really take me for a fool?”

“He’s not married, Amanda.” I snap back around and look at Mom. I’m sure my mouth is hanging wide open.

“What?”

“He’s been divorced for about eight or nine months now.”

I stand there and stare at my mom. I don’t know whether to cry, scream, laugh, fall over, or what to do. Finally, I leap off the porch, run and jump in the car, and just go. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’ve got to go somewhere.

“I’ll leave the porch light on, Dear.” I hear mom shout as I back out of the driveway.