Memories of a Life That Never Happened

Chapter 49 - Ill Wind

It would be a silent night if it were not for the wind hissing loudly outside. In the distance, one could hear the occasional rattle of a shutter against its window. The sun was trapped behind charcoal grey clouds and yellow lights popped out earlier than usual at every window. People retreated to their homes wishing for this strange weather behavior to be over soon. It made both tourists and locals grow weary and raunchy. Definitely not the best evening for an outdoor birthday celebration. 

Mica plodded through the sand, covering her head, half of her body and the lantern she was caring with a long scarf she had borrowed from her mother. She tackled the wind shoulders first, trying to fend off the sand as much as she could. That night, however, the wind was pitiless and Mica almost had to squeeze her eyes shut in order to carry on. 

Due to its shape, the large rock in front of which Escobar and Abel were sitting comfortably around a fire was nicknamed the Crescent Moon. Its curved wall provided the perfect shelter from the wind and, within a few more steps, Mica would be able to take off her scarf and put down the lantern. 

It was the first time she had seen Abel since his visit to her house. For reasons that now transcended the second stolen kiss and the subsequent unpleasant talk, something in their friendship had shifted. At that point, Mica felt awkward around him, but the sentiment did not seem to be mutual.  

Upon spotting the birthday girl, Abel jumped up and gave her a vigorous hug. "Happy Birthday, Mica! I got you something."  

Abel turned her had palm up and put a small, crumpled package in it. It was obvious that he had made an effort to wrap it himself and that washed away some of Mica's discomfort. She unwrapped her gift carefully and found an anklet with little sea life charms in it. Mica recognized it right away. 

"Oh my God!" She tossed and turned the anklet in her hand, examining it. "I used to wear this all the time, until I lost it. Where did you find it?"  

"Well, to be honest, it wasn't me. Bertha found it-or got it-I ain't sure. I saw it for sale in her shop and couldn't believe my luck. Now it's back where it belongs." 

Mica wrapped her arms around Abel's waist and leaned her head on his roomy chest. "That's very kind of you. Thanks. I love it."  

Her arms were still around Abel when someone cleared his throat and demanded attention.  

Heads whipped and Mica was dumbfounded with the group standing on the sand. Alan had arrived and he did not come solo.  

Eager to spot a certain pair of pale blue eyes, Mica scanned each face around her with anxiety. Her plan to invite Virginie and Jean-Pierre seemed to have worked. His loyalty to Theo would not keep him from a good excuse to meet the-albeit temporary-apple of his eyes.  

If the Swiss siblings were there, Joana could be no place else. And if she was coming, Nick would not miss that birthday party for the world either. As for Leo, him tagging along was a given.  

To Mica's standards, this was a huge group, but to the lot of them, big crowds, loud music and food and beverage to feed an army were premises of any decent celebration.  

Regardless of the party size, what upset Mica was the stark absence of the only person she truly wished was there. Heavy-hearted, she received polite birthday wishes from Alan, Joana and Jean-Pierre and a tight hug from Virginie.  

It was somewhat amazing that even though the two girls could not properly communicate without Joana, Mica had developed the same tenderness for Virginie that she would devote to a close relative.  

When it came to Nick and Leo, on the other hand, Mica was distraught by their audacity. Them being there was a cocky discourtesy taking into consideration what Nick had done to her. Therefore, she ignored their wishes as much as their presence.