Day After, Lingering Decisions

The following morning began with a quiet sense of purpose as I eased back into my routine. After my shower, I made my first outing. I headed to the library, spending an hour and a half lost in the quiet stacks, browsing new releases, but nothing caught my eye. It was a peaceful escape, a gentle re-entry into my own world. Afterward, I made my way to a nearby cafe for a coffee with Vince.

I found Vince already there, seated at a table, sipping a black coffee. He looked up as I approached, offering a gentle smile. "Hey," he greeted softly.

"Hey, Vince," I replied, taking the seat opposite him. "Thanks for meeting with me."

"Of course," he said, pushing a menu my way. "How are you feeling this morning? Settling back in?"

"Yeah, slowly but surely," I admitted, ordering a latte. "It was good to get away. I really needed that space."

He nodded, his gaze sincere. "I understand. Bob and Kay made it clear you needed this. So, how was the trip? Anything exciting happen?" His tone was quiet, open, but present.

I sipped my latte, carefully choosing my words. "It was good. Lots of quiet beach time, reading, enjoying the local food. Very relaxing." I kept my answers vague, focusing on the basics, sidestepping any mention of Randy or the intense days and nights.

"Sounds perfect," Vince replied, a small, genuine smile. "I'm glad you got to recharge."

Our conversation continued for a bit longer, light and surface-level. There was no mention of Randy, no probing questions about my trip beyond the generalities, just a quiet, almost comfortable understanding that hovered between us. It was a pleasant enough start to the day.

After our coffee, I headed over to my brother Bob's house. The familiar chaos of his home, often overwhelming, felt surprisingly grounding today. His child, full of boundless energy, immediately dragged me into a game, offering a welcome distraction from the complex thoughts still swirling in my head.

Later, once the child was settled for a nap, Bob and I found ourselves on his porch, each with a cold beer in hand. The afternoon sun was warm, and a comfortable silence settled between us for a few moments.

"So," Bob began, swirling the ice in his glass, "how did things go with Vince this morning?" He gestured vaguely, a clear reference to the conversation about Randy from the previous night.

I sighed and sipped my beer. "Last night wasn't great, and frankly, I don't appreciate you telling people things that I should be saying and deciding when it should be said. You were completely out of bounds, Bob. This morning with Vince was a little better, I guess."

Bob nodded slowly. "Yeah, he called me last night afterwards, sounded pretty rough. Vince said you told him you and Randy were busy every day."

"We were, but you already knew that," I admitted.

Bob's eyebrows shot up, and a surprised whistle escaped him. "What are you going to do now?"

"We broke up last night but you already knew that," I stated, the words feeling heavy. "He said he wants a lifetime with me, but he can't be with someone who's unsure. He wants me to decide soon."

Bob leaned back, his gaze thoughtful. "And Randy? What's his take on all this?"

"I told him I want to give us a second chance," I explained. "We talked about getting to know each other better. Dates, walks, all that stuff."

"And he's okay with that? With the uncertainty?" Bob asked, taking another sip.

"He said he's willing to take the risk," I replied. "He asked if I was."

"And you said yes, obviously," Bob finished, a knowing look in his eyes. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "Look, Deppgrl. You've been through a lot. Dealing with your divorce from Xavier after finding him, and everything involved with his trial and sentencing, you really needed to clear your head. Randy showing up seems to have shaken things up in a way that maybe you needed."

"I may have needed Randy to shake things up, but I didn't need you getting involved the way you did," I said, leaning my head back against the porch railing. "It's just messy and complicated now."

"Life is messy," he shrugged, offering a comforting, brotherly smile. "But you'll figure it out."

After a few more hours of relaxed conversation and playing with Bob's child when they woke up, I headed home. The quiet of my own house enveloped me, and the weight of overdue work settled in. Life had been a whirlwind lately, and I was far behind. I fired up my laptop, diving into emails and projects, trying to catch up on what felt like weeks of lost time. I worked for a few solid hours, the familiar rhythm of my job providing a brief respite from my personal dilemmas.

As evening approached, a new thought sparked. I picked up my phone and called Randy. "Hey," I said when he answered. "I was wondering if you and the kids wanted to meet me at Aditi’s restaurant for dinner tonight?"

"That sounds great, Deppgrl, truly," Randy replied, his voice raspy. "But the kids are with their mom this week. And honestly, I'm a bit under the weather myself. Think I caught something on the flight back. Just a bit sniffly and tired."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," I responded. "Get some rest. We'll do it another time."

"Definitely," he said, and we ended the call.

A little while later, just as I was considering what to scrounge up for my own dinner, there was a knock at my door. I opened it to find Vince standing there, bearing two bottles of my favorite rose wine. His presence was completely unannounced, a pleasant but surprising sight.

"Vince?" I asked, a mix of curiosity and mild alarm in my voice. "What's this surprise visit about?"

He offered a shy smile, holding up the bottles. "I was hoping to take you out to dinner. Figured a nice evening might be good for both of us."

"Oh," I said, a slight pause as I processed his words. "Where did you have in mind?"

"Your favorite Italian place," he offered, his smile widening hopefully.

A tiny wave of something akin to disappointment washed over me. I'd been craving Aditi's food, something low-key. But I quickly pushed the thought aside. He wasn't a mind-reader, and Italian was a perfectly lovely gesture. "Okay," I said, forcing a brighter tone. "Give me twenty minutes to change and fix myself up."

"Take your time," he replied, settling onto my sofa.

I went upstairs, pulling out a form-fitting red dress that had a plunging neckline and was short enough that I'd have to be careful not to pick anything up off the floor. After a quick shower, I did my hair and makeup quickly. When I came back down, Vince stood, his gaze appreciative, his eyes sweeping over the dress in all the right places. He then leaned in and kissed me, a soft, warm touch on my lips. A few minutes later, we were settled in the back of a ride-share car, heading towards the restaurant. The silence stretched between us, more awkward than comfortable, punctuated only by the hum of the engine.

"Long day?" Vince asked, breaking the quiet as he glanced at me.

"A bit," I admitted, looking out the window at the passing city lights. "But good to be back in the swing of things, I guess."

He nodded, and the quiet settled once more as the car continued its journey.

At the restaurant, we started by ordering a few appetizers; fried calamari with a marinara sauce, a fresh caprese salad with buffalo mozzarella, and a platter of assorted cured meats and olives. As we nibbled and chatted about small, everyday things, avoiding the heavier topics that still simmered beneath the surface, Vince uncorked one of the rose wine bottles he'd brought. We then ordered our favorite entrees – a creamy carbonara for me, and a hearty lasagna for him.

Mid-meal, the restaurant owner and executive chef, a man in his mid-70s with a warm, jovial demeanor, approached our table, a wide smile on his face. He carried not just the extra plate of bruschetta, but also a steaming plate of arancini, and a generous bowl of perfectly roasted artichoke hearts, along with a carafe of the house white wine he knew I loved.

"Deppgrl! So good to see you back!" he boomed, embracing me in a quick, paternal hug. "And thank you, thank you so much for ordering from my restaurant during that... difficult time. With all the police presence at your house during the second half of your ex-husband's trial, it actually brought in so much clientele! The officers and their families and friends order from us all the time now."

I chuckled, a genuine laugh. "I'm glad I could help, then! And you know I can never resist your bruschetta, thank you, and these look amazing!" I gestured to the arancini balls.

He beamed. Before he walked away, he clapped Vince on the shoulder. "You treat her right, young man. She's a good one."

Vince nodded, a slight flush on his cheeks. "I will," he promised, his eyes meeting mine.

As we continued our meal, Vince's expression turned serious. "Deppgrl," he began, his voice softer, "Kay said something to me the other day. About therapy for everything you've been through." He watched my face carefully, seeing the flicker of anger in my eyes. "They told me not to mention it, but I told them I would. I think it could help."

I took a deep breath, pushing down my initial irritation. "I'll think about it, Vince," I said, my voice carefully neutral but my blood was still boiling.

After we ate and drank what we could, the remaining food, including a slice of tiramisu we hadn't touched, a crispy cannoli, a creamy panna cotta, and some fresh zeppole, was carefully wrapped up to go. We said our goodbyes and headed back to the waiting ride-share car. The drive back to my place was quiet, filled with the soft hum of the city.

At my house, Vince helped me carry the bags of leftovers inside, walking straight to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and carefully arranged the containers, making sure everything fit.

As he closed the fridge, I turned to him, the question already forming on my lips. "Do you want to spend the night, Vince?"

He looked at me, a soft smile spreading across his face, and without a word, he leaned in and kissed me gently. The answer was clear in the warmth of his lips. He picked me up and carried me to my room.