Page 78 of All In
Maria.
What in the world?When did she start working there?
I can't believe it's really her. It's as if a ghost from my past has reappeared to haunt me, uninvited.
She’s dressed in black scrubs, a gray hoodie hugs her body, and her blonde hair, still long, is up in a high ponytail, swaying with each long stride.
Dear Lord, she looks incredible.
Something else stands out as well. Something I can’t un-see.
She’s wearing my watch. Still, after all this time, she wears it. That has to mean something. Right?
Or maybe it means it’s a good watch, and she likes it. I need to stop reaching.
She’s trailing behind the other gang of women, and it makes no sense why I haven’t seen her before today if she works so close to me? With each passing moment, I watch her intently, my heart sinking deeper into my stomach. Ricky wasn’t lying. She looks … so good. She’s older now, but somehow still looks like she’s twenty. Which is very unfair to the other representatives of the female race. Her legs are a mile long, as I remember them, and her body looks amazing. Nothing about her appearance is making this easier.
Everything fades to black around me. The chirping morning birds disappears, and the only thing I hear is my beating heart hammering out of my chest.
“Oh, thanks, Maria,” the other woman, Richelle, I’m assuming, says as she grabs the badge from Maria’s hand.
“Sure. You’re welcome.” Maria flashes her the smile that I miss so much.
I can’t take my eyes off of her as the two of them resume walking toward the employee entrance, which I now realize I’m parked right in front of.
CRAP!I scoot my body down on my seat and pull on my sunglasses. I can’t risk her seeing me. Not yet anyway. My head and heart are in no position for that encounter. So instead, I’ll eavesdrop and watch like a creeper. Good plan.
“So, how is your first week going so far?” Richelle asks.
Ah! Thank you for getting answers to my questions, Richelle. Maria has only been here a week. No wonder I haven’t seen her yet. My first patient is typically at seven every morning, so I’m in my office by the time she arrives for work. Unfortunately, it’s also the appointment that has the most cancellations. Like today.
“Great! Can’t complain. Everyone has been nice, and it works well with my kids’ schedule, so that’s a plus. And the pay is great.” Maria taps her badge on the entrance lock, and the door releases with a clank. She opens it, holding it open for Richelle as they enter.
“We should have lunch…” The door slams shut on whatever Richelle was going to suggest, which I'm assuming was going to be lunch. I exhale deeply, feeling a rush of relief, and then sit up straight in my seat.
This is the first time I have seen Maria since 2004. Twelve years and she still looks the same. She sounds the same. Walks the same. Does she still smell like coconut?
I groan and pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to compose myself. That was a lot of information and feelings to have thrown at me first thing Monday morning.
That day after the gym, over a year ago, when Ricky told me he spoke to Maria, it took every ounce of my willpower to not contact her. But Ricky was right. It wasn’t the right time. So gradually, I tried to force myself to forget. Well, not forget entirely. I could never forget Maria. But, I did begin to date.
Not only did I join Instagram, but Ricky convinced me to join a dating app. Total disaster and waste of time. I arranged to meet a woman for dinner that I was talking to, and shocker … she stood me up. I deleted the app the next day, vowing that my lot in life is to stay single.
Soon, that unreasonable outlook changed, and I did start seeing an old friend. It’s not serious, but it could be. We are taking it slow and keeping things casual, seeing where it goes. Honestly, when I’m with her, I forget about Maria in a way no other woman has ever been able to do. Even Erica.
But seeing Maria now … is this the universe or God telling me she and I should talk? Can we give this another go? Is that what I want? Could I trust her again? And would she even be interested? Especially after the last email I sent her.
Baffling how quickly my current relationship gets tossed out the window with only one glance at my past.
Maria’s little encounter with both Ricky and this Richelle gave me some insight into her world. I make a list in my head. She’s divorced (best news ever), she’s working again (and I assume as an exercise physiologist since it’s the rehab gym), she seems to be surviving since it pays well, and she looks incredible.
I bite back a smile because these are good things. Not only that, she looked happy and healthy. These revelations make me wonder if she took the advice I gave her years ago. To put herself first. I hope so.
Without warning, a thought pops into my head.Is sheon Instagram?In a rush, I grab my phone as if it’s going to walk away from me, and I open the app. I hit the search button and type in ‘Maria Connelly.’
Nothing.
Clearing it out, I type in her maiden name ‘Maria Bryant.’ The results stare back at me.Of course!There’s a thousand Maria Bryants. With a moan of frustration, I toss my phone into the console.
