Chapter 26
Sydney
Now that summer was here, full fledged, the days were really long. So, even though it was already seven by the time I walked over to Nancy’s Seafood shack, it was still bright outside. I hadn’t bothered to dress up for the evening. It was only going to be a casual dinner with Leo. I’d found a crumpled cotton floral dress at the back of my closet which I ironed and slipped into. It had slim straps as sleeves and my arms were bare. I’d tied my hair up in a loose bun which I knew the breeze would unfurl any way. And just a pale pink lipstick in the form of makeup.
I was surprised therefore, when I found Leo at the table by the balcony. He had dressed up. In fact, I had never seen him in clothes like this before. He was in a pair of dark dress pants and a starched white shirt tucked in neatly. He had an electric blue tie on and he had shaved recently. Even his dirty blond hair was washed and neatly styled with a side parting that gave him a polished look. Other than the sparkling blue eyes that matched his tie, Leo was practically unrecognizable. I felt severely underdressed when I walked up to him.
Leo had stood up from his chair and he hurriedly walked around the table to hold the chair out for me.
“Thank you, Leo,” I said, as I settled in, a little nervous now that I saw he had put in some effort. Was this really a date for him?
“You look lovely Sydney, as always,” he said and laid a hand on my shoulder briefly, before going back to his chair.
“You look good too. I don’t think I’ve seen you in formal clothes like this before,” I said and he smiled. A charming boyish grin that I knew was going to start taking effect on me.
“I clean up well, don’t I?” he said with a laugh and fished out the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket that was already on the table.
“Champagne?” I said, arching my eyebrows.
“We should treat ourselves,” he said, half standing up to pour the bubbly golden liquid into both our glasses. We picked up our glasses and with smiles on our faces, we clinked them together.
“To new beginnings and Emilia,” he said, looking me deep into my eyes and suddenly I felt very special. Leo was notoriously known as a non-dater. He was very rarely seen around town on official dates with women. And definitely never seen putting in that much effort. I could already sense eyes on us. People were turning to stare at us, people who we knew or at least knew by face. Everyone, like me, was surprised to see Leo on an actual date, with a local woman no less. I was flattered and blushing by now.
“Why have I seen so little of you lately?” he asked, leaning towards me. I gulped and licked my lips because I didn’t want to look him in the eye. I was aware of the magical powers that Leo possessed.
“I’ve been busy with Emilia, I suppose,” I admitted and Leo continued to look at me, studying my face and my eyes and lips.
“Do you mind if I ask?” he said and I looked down at my lap where my hands were clasped together.
“What do you want to ask me, Leo?” I said and he remained silent.
“Who Em’s father is?” I urged him and he didn’t say a word. I rolled my eyes and looked away from him.
“Please don’t be like everyone else in this place, Leo. How does it matter who the father is? I’m happy that she is born. She is the joy of my life and I don’t think about how it happened,” I said, in a voice that was pleading with him to change the conversation. Why was he putting me through this? He knew who the father was. Leo was the only one who had seen me and Dane together. There couldn’t possibly be anyone else who I slept with in that time, and it was so obvious. And yet, it seemed like he wanted to hear me actually say the words.
Leo gulped and sat back in his chair.
“You’re right. How does it matter how it happened? She’s absolutely adorable and you’re a wonderful mom,” he said and I forced myself to smile.
“I only wish that you would allow me to be your friend, Sydney. I’ve been trying for the past year but you keep pushing me away. You keep pushing everyone away. I just want you to know that I’m here if you need my help,” he said and I reached out for his hand on the table. I held it in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Thank you, Leo. That is very generous of you,” I said and we smiled at each other.
“That is the least I can do, Sydney. I want to help in any way that I can,” he said and I nodded.
I realized that Leo was harmless, that he genuinely wanted to be friends and there was actually no reason for me to not let him into my life. Just a little, but at least that. Other than him, the reality was that I had nobody else in Tramore who I could really talk to. And he was offering me his help here.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you with your record earlier, Leo. I got so caught up with my pregnancy and now Em, that I just couldn’t…” I said and he shook his head.
“Forget about that. I don’t care about that record any more. I’m happy where I am. I’m not leaving Tramore, not for a very long time,” he said and picked up the menu off the table. I smiled and nodded my head. It would be good to have a friend around. In fact, I began to realize that I would be sorry to see Leo leave.