Gerald's Story

Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

"You okay?" She offered him her hand.

He ignored it and picked himself up hurriedly, his face red and his brow tight. "I'm fine. I just tripped."

May blinked and her eyes grew distant for a moment. "Oh..."

"What?" Gerald snapped self consciously.

"No I was just...having some déjà vu..." May looked away and uneasily smoothed her skirt down.

Gerald was studying her face now, his attitude dissipating. "What is it, May?"

"Nothing I just..." she tried out a weak smile. "Something very similar happened with my brother Louis. It was a memory I had forgotten..."

Gerald's eyebrows rose. "Louis? I didn't know you had a brother."

"Yeah." May's eyes were on her skates. "I had two brothers and one sister."

"Were you the oldest?"

"No. I was the baby."

A moment passed before Gerald asked it. "Are they all..?"

May shrugged sadly. "I don't know. Probably. Denver and Kristen were already out of the house and had lives of their own. And Louis..." May closed her eyes tightly. "Dr. Kordata killed him."

Gerald's arms spread and May settled into him willingly. He hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry." He whispered into her hair. Great job May...she thought, the lump in her throat refusing to be swallowed away. Your first date and you go blow it by dragging in all the family drama... "I'm okay." She managed. "It was years ago...Everyone's lost someone."

He slowly released her and considered her face with his warm brown eyes. "Yes, but that doesn't make it any easier." He sighed, as if thinking. "Did you look for Denver and...?"

"Kristen. Yes. That was a big reason why I wanted to travel the U.S. last year with Sadessa. I wanted to finally look for them. I asked everywhere we went if anyone had heard of them but...it was a waste of time. They're gone."

"I had no idea..." Gerald murmured, his eyes going up to the lights.

"I don't really like to talk about it..." She said, her heart heavy. "I'm sorry Gerald, I messed this all up. This was supposed to be your birthday date...Let's talk about something else."

"No." Gerald said firmly, his eyes locking on hers. "I mean, no, you're not messing it up. This is what I want; to get to know you better. You don't have to talk about your family with me but..." He swallowed. "I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything. If you want to."

After a moment she nodded. "Okay."

Gerald took her hand and led her over to the wall of the rink. "Let's sit for a minute."

May slid herself down against the wall and watched as Gerald pulled a cardboard box over that May had just figured was garbage. He opened it up and pulled out a pile of cheesy crackers, old ding-dongs, M&M's, homemade cookie bars and a bottle of Sangria.

"What the hell?" May asked with a laugh.

Gerald gave her a look of mock indignation. "What kind of fool do you take me for? Date's involve food!"

She smiled as he handed her a cookie bar. "Did you make these?"

"Damn straight." He said as he opened up the Sangria.

May munched right into the bar. "Mmmh, this is really good."

"Your face is good."

May turned with wide eyes to stare at Gerald. "What?"