Silent Eyes

41, Twist and Turns

Monica swung her purse as she headed out, catching her coworkers' strange smiles. "What's up?" she asked, sensing something was off. A friend wiggled their eyebrows, teasing, "Looks like your future husband is waiting for you!" Monica's eyebrows furrowed as she walked toward the exit. "Roy?" she mused aloud.

Stepping outside, Monica spotted Roy waiting patiently in his car. Rain poured down, prompting her to hasten her steps towards the vehicle. With a quick dash, she slipped inside and shut the door behind her. "Hey, babe!" she exclaimed, surprised by his presence. "What's the occasion?" Roy's face lit up with a grin as he leaned in for a kiss. "Just wanted to surprise you!" he replied.

Monica tilted her head, intrigued. "Surprise me with what?" she questioned. The man produced a gift card, his gaze locked onto hers. "Have you heard about that new Pizzeria in town?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips. "My job hooked me up with a $50 gift card for the place, and I was thinking, how about a date?"

Monica's eyes widened as she accepted the card, examining it. "Absolutely!" she exclaimed, the idea of pizza making her stomach growl already. However, her smile wavered, catching Roy's attention. "What's wrong?" he asked, searching her eyes. Monica sighed. "Well," she began, shifting uncomfortably. "I'd love to go, but who's going to watch Selene?"

Roy reassured Monica by wrapping an arm around her. "I already talked to your dad about that," he admitted with a sheepish smirk. Monica gasped, playfully slapping his arm. "I told you not to bother my parents!" she scolded, not wanting to burden them with babysitting. Despite her protest, Roy continued, "Come on, don't you think we deserve a break? Your dad is cool with watching Selene, as long as we're not gone for too long."

Reluctantly, Monica let her hand drop, contemplating the idea. After a moment, she nodded and gave Roy another quick peck on the lips. "Okay," she agreed. "Let's go, I'm already starving for some pizza!" With that, Roy started the engine, and they drove off into the rainy evening.

The couple arrived at the bustling pizzeria, finding a warm and cozy atmosphere with jazz music setting the mood. Opting for seats near the window, they enjoyed the view of raindrops drizzling outside. After placing their orders and sneakily indulging in breadsticks, Monica rested her chin in her hand, affectionately gazing at Roy, who blushed under her gaze. "Why are you staring at me like that?" he asked, a bashful grin on his face.

She smirked. "Because you're handsome, and I love you." Monica admitted her feelings, though a part of her mind still wandered to thoughts of Andreas. Nevertheless, she valued Roy's kindness, especially towards her daughter, and wanted to express gratitude for the surprise date. Leaning across the table, she planted a passionate kiss on Roy's lips. When she sat back down, Roy was left beet red, clearly taken by her sweet kiss.

As Roy began to speak, a loud ring interrupted, and Monica assumed it was him. To her surprise, it was her own phone! She quickly pulled it out, revealing a call from Andreas. Her expression shifted from curiosity to annoyance as she answered. "What now?" she muttered, her eyes rolling.

Roy, sensing something amiss, asked, "Who is it?" Monica grumbled, sliding out of her seat. "It's Selene's dad," she explained before moving to a quieter corner to take the call.

Answering with frustration, Monica snapped, "Why are you calling me? Didn't I tell you to just text? I'm not in the mood to argue right now!" However, Andreas didn't respond with anger. Instead, he sounded worried. "Monica, I'm deeply sorry," he sighed wearily. Her irritation softened as she blinked, unfolding her crossed arms. "Are you okay?" she asked in a gentler tone. Andreas revealed, "I have to fly back to Greece. I'm going to miss Selene's performance. Once again, I am sorry."

Monica snorted, her head shaking in disbelief. "What's so important that you're willing to miss our baby's show? You know she wants you to be there. You even promised her, Andreas!" Her frustration bubbled up, her heart racing with a mix of emotions, but Andreas persisted. "I know, fuck, I know..." His voice carried weariness, and Monica's concern grew. Taking a deep breath, she whispered, glancing around to ensure privacy. "Is it something dangerous?"

There was a prolonged silence before Andreas responded, "Not exactly." Monica, nibbling on her nail, pressed further, "Then what is it?" After another round of weary sighing, Andreas finally answered, "Not now, Monica. I promised to leave you and Selene out of this. I'll be back in a couple of days, but please," he paused, his words carrying a hint of guilt, "don't worry, and please tell Selene daddy is terribly sorry." With that, the call ended, leaving Monica staring at the blank screen. Despite her conflicted feelings towards Andreas, she couldn't help but wonder, is he going to be alright?

Monica returned to the table, and Roy immediately questioned, "Was he bothering you again?" She shook her head to dismiss the notion, but Roy persisted with more questions. Frustrated, Monica closed her eyes and theatrically raised both hands. "Roy, please stop," she pleaded, signaling for him to cease the questions. Taking the hint, Roy leaned back, and the date continued.

Despite the attempt to resume their evening, it felt different for Monica. Her attention wavered, focusing on the passing cars and thoughts of Andreas' well-being. He assured her it wasn't dangerous, asked her not to worry, and promised to be back in a couple of days. However, the stress in Andreas' voice lingered in her mind. What if he was in real danger? And the unsettling thought: would he even come back? It gnawed at her, and all Monica could do was rest her head in her hands, feeling scared.

Roy observed the change in Monica's demeanor, and a frown creased his forehead. Thoughts raced through his mind, wondering what Andreas might have done this time. He couldn't forget the fallout from their last argument at Chuck E Cheese, a scene that left Monica in tears and Selene looking deeply affected. Despite his curiosity, Roy respected Monica's decision not to discuss it, choosing to maintain a safe distance.

Clearing his throat, Roy decided to shift the focus. "Monica, I've been meaning to ask you a question," he said, attempting to introduce a different topic into the conversation.

Monica braced herself, expecting another round of questions about Andreas, but to her surprise, Roy had other plans. He stood up, walked over to her side of the table, and, dropping to one knee, revealed an engagement ring! The restaurant seemed to hush into silence as all eyes turned to them. Roy beamed and asked, "Monica, would you like to marry me?"

Stuck in place, she couldn't budge. Fear gripped her, haunted by the memory of her last marriage to a Greek man who hid his criminal background. Despite the happiness with Roy, doubts lingered. Did she really know him? Scarred from her past, Monica hesitated, and Roy's nerves were becoming noticeable. In another time, she might have joyfully leaped into his arms, but trust issues lingered.

...

A swift smile graced her lips as she pecked his. "Of course!" she beamed. "I'll marry you!" Applause erupted from bystanders as Roy and Monica embraced. Yet, beneath the joy, Monica felt a lump in her throat. Maybe Andreas was right all along. She was navigating this path to avoid shattering Roy's heart, and saying yes to this proposal marked the start of it all.

Was she making the right choice? Or was she making a grave mistake?