FERRY-LOVE-BOAT

Chapter 31

Carina's POV:

-You don't have to do this. - I commented softly when Maya pulled out the chair for me to sit in. - You don't have to follow a heteronormative pattern; I don't expect that from you.

-I'm not trying to follow a heteronormative pattern. - She replied as she sat down in front of me. - I'm trying to appreciate you and spoil you a little. You deserve to be treated as nicely as possible.

Her confession made me flinch; I didn't know how to respond to her words. I wasn't used to developing relationships; in the last few years there have been very few times when I have managed to stay with the same person for more than three weeks, and most of the time they were work colleagues who didn't mind taking me out to dinner, opening car doors for me, or pulling out chairs for me to sit in.

-Thank you, Maya. - That's all I could say.

-Here, I think I will be following you tonight! I'll trust your choices. - She slid the wine menu that was already on the table toward me.

-I like the sound of that. - I replied, giving her a wink before picking up the menu and looking through the wine options the restaurant had.

After I shared my choice of wine with the waiter, and we ordered our entrees, the conversation flowed smoothly. Maya was very interested in everything I said, she wasn't the kind of person who just listened, she asked questions at the right time, always commented and laughed at my stories. She simply made me comfortable.

-What about your childhood? How was it? - I asked, sipping my wine.

-I don't have many family memories like you. It was always me, my mom, my dad, and Mason. - She replied, the tip of her forefinger skimming the rim of her glass.

-Mason is your brother? - I remembered the name, but didn't know many details.

-Yes. - She was brief in her reply.

-You two aren't close? - I asked back.

-I haven't seen him in a long time. - She still avoided my gaze. - He's a brilliant guy, you know? He's an artist, his paintings are amazing, but that wasn't enough for our father, and my brother ended up being neglected during the whole time he lived with us. His talent had no value, according to my father.

-This is... - I started to speak.

-Terrible, I know. - She added. - He left home one night with some clothes and went to live his life away from us. I found him once, living on the streets, skinny and not sure he would eat that day, and no pain I have ever faced compared to seeing him like that. I tried to help him, but he disappeared. That was 13 months ago.

There was so much pain in his words that my chest tightened in solidarity. When Maya lifted her gaze to look into my eyes, I saw that the blue was even brighter due to a few tears welling up in her eyes.

-I'm sorry, Maya. - I whispered, reaching across the table to take her hand.

-My father is a bad person, you know. - She squeezed my hand lovingly, rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand repeatedly. - He caused me, my mother, and Mase a lot of harm. I just wish it hadn't taken so long for me to realize it. Maybe if I had been a little braver, I would have been able to help my brother.

-We don't need to talk about this, but I'm sure that you made the choices that were possible for you at the time. You shouldn't take responsibility for your father's evil choices, or for the harm he chose to cause. - I had a lot of background on the subject, my father had done me wrong too. - I know it is difficult, but it was not your fault.