Chapter 3
Chapter 3
It was a crisp autumn day, a perfect time to spend the afternoon in the park. Walter met Grace at his apartment and they headed straight for the park. “Have you talked to Catherine at all?” Walter asked with a bit of curiosity.
“Yes.” Grace nodded.
“Did she say anything about me?” he pressed her for more information.
“Um, she just said that she had a good time.” Grace shrugged and Walter sighed and they walked in silence for a bit. “Why are you so interested?” Grace asked him.
“I don't know. I'm just curious.” Walter replied. He then asked again, “Did she say anything else?” There was apprehension and nervousness when he talked about it.
Grace laughed to herself about his mannerisms. “No.” she said. “We just talked about normal stuff.”
“Good I'm glad.” Walter nodded for no reason then totally forgot all about it. They reached the park. It was a crowded place, but everyone had their own space to do as they pleased.
“I wish I had a dog.” Grace remarked as she spotted one running.
“I hope you don't want that one.”
“Why?” she didn't understand what he meant.
“Look.” Walter pointed at the dog. Then moments later they noticed the owner chasing after it. “You see what I mean.” Walter laughed.
“You’re saying I couldn't keep control of my dog?” Grace asked in a joking way. Walter explained, “If you got a dog like that he could easily overpower you.” They continued to observe the animal, moments later the owner finally gained control of his pet. He gave an awkward smile to Grace and Walter as he walked away.
They continued on walking observing all the people in the park. Musicians, dancers, guys playing two-hand touch football. They bought two pretzels and sat down on a bench by the lake and gazebo.
“It’s peaceful.” Grace said, eyes closed embracing the soft wind.
“And romantic.” he said awkwardly. Grace then shifted away from him a bit on the bench without saying a word. Walter laughed and ate his pretzel, they sat there as people came and went all around them.
“Dating is complicated.” Walter said as he threw away his wrapper in the garbage.
“How so?” Grace asked.
“It’s different than our parents time. Like in the 50s.”
“You want to date old women?” Grace joked laughing the whole time.
Walter ignored her joke because he was trying to be serious, “No, but women could learn from them. Back then, when they liked a guy they baked him a plate of cookies.”
“Did that ever happen in the 50's?” Grace didn't believe his statement.
Walter shrugged it off, “I saw it in a movie once.” he mumbled sitting back down.
Grace sighed, “I arrest my case. Movies are not real life you know.” But Walter ignored what she said.
He did this often when he was trying to make a point even though most of the time it only made sense to him. “You would really be getting a great deal,” he said. “A nice girl and a whole plate of cookies. You couldn't doubt that they wouldn't be made with love.”
“Too much sugar.” Grace added seeing some humor in what her crazy friend was saying. “You’re going to find someone great.” she reassured him.
He smiled at her, she always gave the greatest advice, “Yeah I know.... she’s out there somewhere.” he scanned the area of the park pretending to look around for “her”. They paused for a bit and watched some more people come and go around the park. Families were having picnics; people rowing boats in the lake. Couples embracing under the white gazebo. Peaceful indeed, Walter thought.
“Have you talked to Lilly recently?” Walter asked.
“I talked to her on Facebook last night actually.”
“How is she?” for some reason he was being shy about asking that.
“She’s doing well; she’s working at one of the local hospitals here.”
“She’s in town?!” Walter said surprised and slightly nervous. “Did she ask about me?” Grace sighed, about to deliver bad news, “She has a boyfriend so I doubt you’re on her mind right now, sorry.” she patted him on the shoulder trying to console him.
“Why do I care?” he said angry with himself. “Normal people would hate their ex for cheating on them.” Grace disagreed, “No you did the right thing, you forgave her. You would be more miserable if you still hated her after all this time.”
“Is she happy?” Walter asked.
“She seems to be.”
“Good, then I'm happy for her.” he smiled and got up acting like it didn't affect him.
“We should get going. You'll have to start getting ready for work.”
Grace checked the time on her phone and agreed, “Yeah, job number two.” she laughed. She enjoyed both her jobs very much. Editor, because it was her dream job and the coffee shop was just the relaxer after a good days work. “Maybe I should finally get a “real” job.” Walter shrugged.
Grace shook her head, “You’re a great writer, Walter. And every writer goes through writer's block. Just don't be so hard on yourself. You'll get a good idea soon.” Grace was trying to pump him up. Walter smiled and she smiled back. She felt triumphant because she knew he felt encouraged. “Thanks Grace. You always know how to make me feel better.”
“Hey, what are friends for?” It was dusk and most people were on their way out of the park.
“Rush hour.” Walter grumbled. It was the worst time of day in the city now.
“The only time in the city when I fear for my life.” Grace remarked. Suddenly, a man with a black ski mask on and a big purse in his hand went running past them. “What about now?” Walter asked her as they continued walking.
“Simple, I don't use a purse.” Grace replied patting the wallet in her pocket.
“I could never be with someone who's been mugged.”
“Why?” Grace laughed at Walter's random outburst. But at the same time she expected him to rant about another reason for not dating someone he happened to meet. He continued,
“What if they get mugged again and I'm with her? I'm too weak, I couldn't defend her.” For once Grace actually believed what Walter had just said. Once when they took a self-defense class, he broke his hand while hitting a punching bag. It was his fault though, he wasn't wearing gloves. Grace laughed to herself as she remembered, then they finally made it to the coffee shop. Grace and Walter walked in; she got ready as Walter sat down to read the newspaper.
“Straight to comics?” she asked noticing him flipping right to it. “The news is so sad these days. Pretty soon you'll see a comic strip with Snoopy on Prozac.”
The first customers came walking in and Grace suddenly became busy. After an hour or so Duncan came walking in. “Hey.” Grace and Walter both said. “Hey guys.” Duncan said back propping his guitar case on the wall. “Recording go well, today?” Grace asked him. Duncan also worked in a music studio as a producer. “Yeah.” he nodded getting his tea. “Not my kind of music but, oh well.”
Walter began to tell Duncan about their afternoon, “Grace and I just walked around the park. Saw some interesting things.” Grace laughed remembering, “Yeah, a runaway dog and a purse robber.”
Duncan smirked as he sipped his tea, “Sounds like an interesting day.”
“It was.” Walter said handing the newspaper over to Duncan. Grace focused on work the next few minutes, “Grace talked to Lilly last night on Facebook.” Walter began to tell the story to Duncan. “She's in the city working at the hospital and get this...she has a boyfriend.”
“She's can have those things.” Duncan replied sensing that his friend was a little upset about the news.
Walter held up his hands, “Oh believe me I am totally and wonderfully happy, overjoyed for her success.” But Duncan knew that Walter was faking, “I’m calling your bluff, my friend.”
“Oh come on, believe me when I say that I couldn't be happier.” Walter smirked.
“Yeah sure, Walter.” Duncan said still knowing that he was faking. He then went back to reading the paper and the coffee shop went quiet for a bit. After a few hours it was closing time and Walter and Duncan helped Grace clean up. “It was really busy tonight.” Duncan commented.
“Yeah sort of.” Grace agreed.
“I could never be with someone who's gets kidnapped too.” Walter randomly said.
“Are you referring to the purse napper?” Grace asked.
“Yes I am.” Walter nodded.
“Well I doubt that it would happen.” Grace said trying to stop what Walter was trying to say.
“How can you say that?” he said agitated. “Look around you.” He began to point at all the people that were walking around them and all the people in the various buildings and alleyways.
“We’re in the city, Grace...” he explained, “People get kidnapped here like every ten minutes.” Grace did happen to agree about people getting kidnapped.
“What's your point though?” she asked. Walter replied quickly,
“My point is.” he acted like he was some sort of professor. “I’m too poor, I couldn't pay the ransom.” Duncan and Grace both sighed and rolled their eyes at him.
“You’re impossible sometimes!” Grace said annoyed.
“You should stop while you’re ahead.” Duncan commented. Walter was getting angry and a little defensive.
“What do you mean? You never get mad when Grace rants.”
“Grace’s rants are solid and make sense. Your rants are wild and over the top.” Duncan and Grace laughed but Walter just shook his head, he was clearly mad. “Come on we’re just joking.” Duncan said patting him on the back. “Yeah whatever.” Walter just shrugged it off.
Grace then went her way home and Duncan and Walter went their way. “I’m the most nervous I've been now in months. I feel like I'm a wanted criminal.” Walter said as they entered their apartment. “You’re meaning if you see Lilly in the city, right?” Duncan asked, already knowing what Walter would say. “Yeah it's because of that.” he confessed.
“Don't worry, Walter, this city is packed with people.”
“I just need to take precautions now. I can't get sick, stabbed, or mortally injured in any kind of way. Lilly would end up being my nurse. She would poison me or take away my IV.” Walter thought, getting himself scared and thinking of the worst ways to die in the hospital.
“Or the classic smothered with the pillow.” Duncan added.
Walter gulped, “Brutal way to go.” he was sweating now. That kind of nervous cold sweat. “Well we'll be at the art gallery tomorrow night. I doubt she'll be there.” Duncan said making his way to his room.
“Yeah unless she fancies staring at works of junk with spots and splashes and seeing if it means the end of the world.” Walter said as he went into his room to get some sleep. He had a rough night, tossing and turning, constant dreams and memories of Lilly.
Some were good and others were terrible nightmares. He hoped they would go away during the day but she was all he could think about. He knew that now, even in the midst of millions of people, she was out there too. Did he ever cross her mind? Did she ever struggle like he did? All these things he wanted to know but at the same time he still never wanted to come across her. By evening, he looked forward to going to the art gallery. He knew that spending time with his best friends would distract him.