We took off the heels, poured two glasses of rum, and turned on some music. We sat by the window, silently admiring the night view, each lost in our own thoughts.
“I never thought you’d start drinking too,” Holly chuckled, “You used to be a teetotaler, remember?”
“I didn’t drink before because I was too obedient,” I shrugged, “Now I realize that obedient people always get bullied.”
“But alcohol doesn’t mean rebellion.”
“A little alcohol makes me feel much better,” I said, looking out the window.
Who did I always listen to before? Who bullied me?
I smiled and downed the last sip of my drink.
“Laura,” Holly put down her glass, “Aren’t you planning to start a new life?”
I was taken aback.
“What are you talking about?”
“Starting a new life,” she repeated.
“Are my days now the same as before?”
“You know what I mean…” Holly gave me a meaningful look.
She got up and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. After rummaging through the fridge for a while, all she can found were those crabs…
Well, besides crabs, there seemed to be nothing else in the fridge.
She laughed, “This fridge needs to be emptied!”
“What?”
“Don’t eat this all the time!”
I fell silent. I understood what she meant.
However, removing someone from your heart isn’t as easy as clearing out a fridge. I can only hope for time to heal.
…
The next day at work, I received a call from Patrick, asking if I was free to watch a movie together in the evening.
Suddenly, I remembered what Holly had said the day before, “Patrick has been asking about you a lot lately. Do you think he wants to ask you out?”
My heart raced, and my hand holding the phone trembled involuntarily.
“Laura, what do you think?” he urged me.
Patrick’s voice was as gentle as it was three years ago. Even though we weren’t face to face, I could imagine him smiling; his smile was so warm.
Watching a movie with such a man should be very heartwarming… He was tall and strong, a police officer, yet, he was also sensitive, and I was sure he would know which seat would provide the best viewing experience.
“Laura, are you there?”
“Oh,” I snapped out of my mind, smiling, “I’m here.”
“Are you free tonight?”
I hesitated for a moment, then replied softly, “Yes.”
There was unmistakable excitement in Patrick’s voice. “Then tonight…”
“You can pick me up,” I said proactively, “I finish work at six tonight.”
After hanging up the phone, I rubbed my temples. I had a slight headache, but there was a sense of relief in my heart.
That evening, Patrick arrived downstairs on time.
As I expected, he had thought of everything. It was drizzling that day, a bit cold, so he had prepared hot chocolate in the car ahead of time. Worried that I might find it inconvenient to wear high heels, he even bought a pair of flat shoes.
After the movie, we went to have dinner. He ordered dishes I loved. There was never an awkward moment during meals; he told various interesting stories from the police station and some anecdotes from his investigation process.
He was a great date, considerate and warm, yet with boundaries.
Being with him was really comfortable.
But I still found myself absent-minded.
Walking side by side on the boardwalk, the sound of the waves in my ears, the air after the rain was particularly fresh.
Patrick gently held my hand. I was startled, wanting to break free, but I met his eyes.
“Laura,” he looked at me, “Do you have something on your mind?”
“Cameron… he’s already married,” he sighed, looking into the distance. “You know that.”
“Yes, I know,” I frowned, “But I haven’t done anything with him! I’ve always kept my distance from him. Even though I work at The Lynch Group now, I’m just working there; I haven’t…”
“Laura, calm down!” Patrick looked at me. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. But I just feel like you should start a new life.”
His words were similar to Holly’s.
I looked at him quietly.
“Laura…” He hesitated.
At last, he held my hand very solemnly, looked into my eyes, took a deep breath.
“Laura, I like you.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Let me take care of you, okay?”
I was stunned, and it felt like time stood still in that moment. Suddenly, I felt afraid and took two steps back.
Unexpectedly, I was tripped over and almost fell onto the rocks. Patrick quickly grabbed my waist and pulled me back. In that moment of eye contact, I could clearly hear my own heartbeat.
“You don’t have to answer me right away,” he gently tucked my messy hair behind my ear, “You can take your time to consider.”
“Patrick,” I lowered my eyelids, “Aren’t you bothered by it? My past with Cameron…”
“That’s all in the past,” he said softly, “Even though you were with Cameron before, but now he’s married. He has his own family, and you should let go too.”
“Laura, I know these past few days must have been difficult. It’s not easy to let go of someone, but I’m willing to be with you.”
My eyes welled up with tears.
I’m willing to be with you…
These words seemed more touching than I love you.
I leaned gently against Patrick. He hugged me, and his embrace gave me a sense of security, making me feel like I wasn’t alone in this world, that I had someone to rely on.
What a woman needs most is just a steady support, a home to shield from wind and rain.
Patrick drove me home, and I fell asleep in his car, feeling very safe all the way.
I told Holly about this, and she was ecstatic, “I’ve been saying that you should be with him! Laura, you’ll definitely find happiness with him.”
“Really?” I smiled.
“Of course,” she pinched my cheek, “Look at you now, everyone can tell you’re in love!”
I didn’t dare to hope for happiness, but I did want to have a serious relationship.
I started dating Patrick.
The more I got to know him, the more I realized he was a good man. He was different from Cameron; he never forced me into anything. He always listened to me, yet he also had his own opinions. When we disagreed on something, he always found a compromise.
He knew a lot, often teaching me like a teacher. I also learned a lot from him. Even many work-related troubles, I was willing to confide in him and listen to his advice.
I found myself gradually relying on him.
One month into our relationship.
It was a Friday, and I went to work as usual.
At six o’clock in the afternoon, my colleagues began packing up and enthusiastically discussing their weekend plans in the office.
“Ah-” Suddenly, someone screamed at the window, “Come and see, what’s that?”
Instantly, everyone ran to the window, and I followed them over.
I saw a huge pink heart-shaped helium balloon floating outside the window, with my name written on it.
I was stunned, hearing cheers from downstairs. Looking down, I saw the entrance of the company covered in bouquets of roses, red and white mixed together, forming a heart, and my name was inside the heart.
Patrick stood among those bouquets of roses, holding one in his hands, looking upstairs with a smile on his face.
“Laura, is that your boyfriend?”
“He’s so handsome! Is he that police officer?”
“Laura, I envy you!”
My colleagues were discussing.
And in that moment, I stared blankly at Patrick, overwhelmed by this sudden surprise, unable to say a word.
Someone patted my shoulder, and someone else dragged me downstairs.
It all felt like a dream to me.
I approached Patrick, and he smiled at me, his eyes shining.
“Laura,” he came over and took my hand, “Today is the one-month anniversary of our relationship. I feel like… we should celebrate, so…”
He scratched his head, his smile sheepish, as if he had forgotten his lines.
More and more people gathered around.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and my heart felt warm, so warm that I almost forgot who I was. I forgot I was Laura, forgot I was the daughter of a murderer, forgot the past dozen years of depending on the Lynch family for a living.
Patrick made me feel precious to him.
He held me in the palm of his hand.
“Laura… Laura!” he called softly, “Why are you crying? Don’t you like it? I’m sorry, I…”
“No!” I smiled at him, “I love it.”
“Really?”
The next moment, I threw myself into his arms.
I laughed, tears streaming down my face.
I was so lucky to have met such a good man, a man who cherished me like a treasure.
Patrick wiped away my tears. His hand was warm and gentle, wiping away all the darkness from my past.
But then, suddenly, a force separated us.