Page 19 of A First Sight

SIXTEEN

MAGGIE

Havingto constantly smile when I didn’t want to was exhausting.

“…of course, I told him if he thought I was going to stand for that, he had another thing coming.”

I didn’t remember which story Dale was telling, but it didn’t matter because they were all essentially the same, and my response was supposed to be the same. Total agreement that expressed itself in nods and smiles. I had a lot of practice.

“Did he listen?” Dale’s dad gave a sharp look.

“Well, yeah.” Dale stabbed another piece of meatloaf. “He wouldn’t have done very well if he hadn’t, right? I mean, just because he had a broken leg doesn’t mean he canexpecteveryone else to move aside, right?”

And now I remembered all too well what he was talking about.

“Too soft,” Mr. Leighton said. “The whole damn generation is too soft.”

“You tell someone how it is, they start crying, and you’re the bad guy,” Dale added.

“It’s those damn millennials and all their touchy-feeling bullshit,” his dad said. “You should be damn thankful that I raised you right.”

“At least you know he’ll raise his kids right,” Dale’s mom, Hilda, interjected.

“There better not be kids,” Mr. Leighton gave me a sharp look as if I would be the only one responsible for a pregnancy.

“No!” I softened my voice. “No, sir. We haven’t even been talking about kids.”

I was no longer sure I ever wanted kids with Dale.

“That’s good,” Hilda said. “I know it’s old-fashioned, but I always thought marriage should come first.”

Mr. Leighton gave me another sharp look. “As long as he doesn’t marry her just because she says she’s pregnant with his kid. The oldest trick in the book.”

It didn’t take a psychology degree to figure out where Dale had gotten his “charm” from. Like father, like son. How could I have been so blind these last years?

“In fact,” Mr. Leighton said. “You don’t need to be thinking about marriage any time soon. Stay a free agent as long as you can. You don’t have some biological clock ticking. You can have a son anytime.”

As I continued to listen to the surreal conversation between Dale and his parents, I realized this would be my future as long as I remained with Dale.

But I could leave him. It would be difficult and scary, but maybe, justmaybe, I could do it.

SEVENTEEN

DRAKE

When I toldUncle Ben I was leaving the office to go out for lunch today, he was pleased. However, he would disapprove if he knew where I was going. There were plenty of good places to eat near David Geffen Hall, but that wasn’t the reason I headed to Lincoln Center.

I hadn’t stopped thinking about her since Friday evening’s performance. I wanted to know if she was okay. So I came here.

A few minutes later, I saw her come outside. It surprised me to see she was alone. And a little relieved. Something about Dale Leighton rubbed me the wrong way.

Out of instinct, I followed her. I kept my eyes on her bright hair and moved through the crowd. A few minutes later, she turned into Melissa’s Gourmet.

I supposed I was going to get lunch after all.

I moved to stand in line, which put me right behind Maggie. Being this close to her had my heart pounding. I caught the faint scent of strawberries.

When she stepped up to the counter, I couldn’t tear my attention from her, even for a single moment. She ordered quickly. Maybe she was familiar with this place.

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