Page 34 of Breakaway Heart
I had not enjoyed my birthday for the past four years, but how could Leon possibly know what this day meant to me now?
I threw back the shot in front of me and signalled for another.
“It’s not just my birthday, Leon,” I put my head down on the bar and spoke to him in groans out of the side of my mouth. “This was also my wedding day.”
Leon looked down at my ringless finger and gave me a rueful smile.
“I see. So it’s also your anniversary, but not a happy one?”
“Correct.” I groaned harder, sinking my head further into the bar.
When I lifted my head back up, Leon was frantically signalling behind me at someone to stop.
I turned to see a confused group of mariachi singers standing behind me, wearing large black sombreros with white pom-pom balls hanging all around the rim. One of the players smiled and hopefully shook a brightly painted maraca at me. The others glared uncomfortably at him, and he hung his head in disappointment when I only scowled back at him.
“I’m so sorry about this,” Leon said regretfully. “I thought it would be a good idea. I mean, who doesn’t feel happy when a mariachi band plays?”
It was the last thing I wanted. I didn’twantto feel happy. It was the anniversary of my failure to make my proper adult relationship work. I can’t even claim to have been slightedand cheated. It was all my own work, and every birthday was another reminder of it. I groaned again.
“Just let them play Leon. It can’t make it any worse.”
Leon nodded to the group, and the band’s smiles returned as they cheerfully struck up, while I put my head back down on the bar, the sound of accordion, guitars, maracas, and vibrant singing surrounding me.
As soon as Leon had left my side for a moment, and everyone seemed distracted by the band, cake, and cocktails, I finally slipped away and headed back to my room.
“Happy birthday, Queen!”
“Thanks, Han. It’s been one, that’s for sure.”
“So, you doing anything fun today?”
“Well, I guess Randy skipped town without a word. And the hotel manager seems to have made it his personal mission to make me have a good time. They threw a surprise party for me, can you believe that?”
“Oh God. I mean, I don’t love that for you.”
“It’s still going on downstairs. I feel so lame for not making the effort, but I just… I just can’t, y’know? This day hurts so much.”
“When you getting back, Saturday?”
“I was, but I’m leaving tomorrow. I really can’t do this.”
“Okay, girls’ night out. On me.”
“No strippers, Han.”
“Hmm, no more than one stripper and we got a deal.”
The next morning, Leon came out to see me as I pushed my luggage into the car waiting outside.
“I’m truly sorry, Miss Lucy.” He said, genuinely apologetic.
“It’s not you, Leon. Thank you for trying, really.”
He looked at me with such sadness that I felt terrible for not being more appreciative.
“Just one last thing,” He said. “A late Birthday present.”
He held out his hand, and in it was a small tin heart with flames surrounding it.
