Page 93 of Night and Day
Chapter 37
Izzy wandered downthe busy inner city street, his eyes mindlessly browsing the decorated shop windows, many of them already closed but sporting beautifully lit Christmas displays. Gentle snowflakes had started falling, illuminated by the street lamps. As he reached what looked like the Main Street, their light was overpowered by the hanging Christmas lights, zigzagging overhead. A storybook scene, as magical as anything he’d ever witnessed, but his legs felt heavy, heart unwilling. Mia had gone back to that guy. That’s where she was working. Part of the furniture, because she knew the CE. The young guy had said it with a wink, a universal signal of a deeper meaning behind the words, meaning that sickened him to his core.
She needed a job, she needed money. But she was so clever. She could have found work anywhere, he was sure of that. So why in that company?
Since leaving the office, Izzy had walked towards the city centre, more to keep warm than anything else. He could feel the deep exhaustion of the flights catching up with him, along with hunger. He had to stop somewhere. Forcing himself to focus on the colourful lights and signs, he scanned the windows, trying to find anything that was open and looked like it served food.
That’s when he saw it. Iguana. With a Mexican theme, the restaurant looked nothing like its namesake in Hamilton, but it was his only connection to her, a lifeline thrown by the universe. Izzy opened the door, wrestling his suitcase and guitar to a corner table. The restaurant was almost empty, with a couple of older guys nursing beers at the bar. An orchestral version of White Christmas pumped through the speakers. A young waitress approached him with a wavering smile. Something about her face reminded him of Mia. In fact, every female he’d walked past since arriving here had given him the same feeling, as if he’d seen them before.
“Sorry,” Izzy said as he caught himself staring. “Could you please bring me a beer and a sandwich. Or anything else, really. I don’t know your menu.”
She gave him an odd look, opened the menu lying on the table right in front of him, and talked through the options with impeccable English. Izzy pointed at a random dish and thanked her, his eyes lingering on the brick arches of the old building. A historical milieu wasted on a Tex-Mex restaurant.
Izzy placed his phone on the table, his finger hovering over the tracking app. Did he need to know where she was? She clearly didn’t keep the phone on her. She’d left it behind and gone to lunch.
What could he do? In all his dreams, all the scenarios he’d run in his mind, he’d never considered this. Mia was his. He’d claimed her. He’d fought his demons to travel all the way here. For this. Izzy ran a hand over his face, disguising the pain he was undoubtedly broadcasting.
This couldn’t be the end. He couldn’t just fly back. No. He’d fight. He’d find her and confront her. Even if he couldn’t change anything, he had to see Mia. If he’d wanted to slip away and quietly retreat from her life, he could have stayed in his basement. The alien land with its hostile weather, historical buildings and quiet blondes did nothing to put him at ease, but he’d keep going. If he had another panic attack, so be it. To his relief, he’d noticed the strangers around here didn’t make eye contact.
The food arrived, a burrito of sorts covered in cheese, and a tall, frothy beer.
Tired of the Christmas-themed elevator music, Izzy dug up his headphones and opened the Spotify playlist he’d made for Mia. As the list of songs appeared on the screen, an unfamiliar title caught his eye – an artist and song he’d never heard of. Had Mia added it? Izzy tapped the play button, and a soft female voice filled his ears, drowning the noise from around him, pulling him into a wistful melody.
Izzy swallowed against the lump in his throat, a plan taking shape. He’d go back to the office. If Mia wasn’t there, he’d lean on that scrawny guy at the door to get her local phone number, address, and anything else he possibly knew. He’d find her.
