Kinda Blindsided by Karen Uttien

The pedestrian crossing ticked slowly as the little man flashed red.

Emma sat alfresco in her favourite café watching from across the road.

She knew it was her by the perfect silhouette. Tall. Slender. Dark hair pulled back into a low bun. Chunky gold earrings catching the morning sun and the approval of fellow pedestrians.

Pouring the rest of the tea into her cup, Emma flicked open the newspaper to the Social Pages. She still loved to see the who’s who and doing what with whom. It didn’t seem so long ago she had graced these very pages. Several times. And once a full shot of just her – the long silver gown filling half the page as she clutched the award, her face radiating youthful bliss.

The award was a little tarnished now. She’d polished it for years and kept it on her dressing table as a reminder when things weren’t quite aligning. At work. Or at home. A reminder she was once the best in all the land.

Travis had been very proud. Although not proud enough to cut short his business trip to be her plus one on the night. He did call though. And paid for her to go to the new fancy French restaurant with her girlfriends.

The quick tick of the little green man sounded in the background.

Emma smoothed the paper and leaned in closer. Examining the pretty young things. Acknowledging it was their time to shine.

A shadow cast over the table, emitting warmth of a body standing a little too close.

‘Excuse me.’ The voice was soft and sexy.

Emma looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun.

As suspected, the new graduate at Travis’s office was much prettier in real life. Emma had seen her in the firm’s February newsletter emailed to employees and their families.

Emma sat back to get a better view.

‘Emma, isn’t it?’

Emma waited. Her heart upping a beat. Her hands beginning to warm.

‘Travis told me I’d find you here. He told me we should talk … woman to woman.’

Oh, good grief. Woman to woman.

‘I’m not sure what this is about but –’

‘He doesn’t love you anymore!’ The harshness seemed to startle them both. The young girl readjusted her stance and took a deep breath. ‘Why can’t you just let him go?’ she said, an unfortunate quiver exposing puerile despair.

‘Okay,’ Emma said, slowly folding the paper and putting it to one side. ‘If we’re going to talk, we may as well be civilised.’ She patted the chair beside her. ‘What would you like to drink? No. Let me guess … oat milk latte?’ The young girl’s frown lifted, then quickly slipped back to business.

Emma ordered the latte and another pot of tea for herself.

‘Right. Now let’s see if I can jolt my memory … Alice … No. Alison?’

Alison uncrossed her arms. ‘He’s told you about me?’ she said, unable to hide the silent delight etched in the corners of her glossy lips.

‘No. No. I just have a fabulous memory for names. Part of my training. Anyway, enough about me.’ Emma’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. ‘I read the article when you first started at the firm,’ she said, tilting her head. ‘Quite brilliant, I must say.’

Alison thanked her.

‘I expect you sailed through your probation.’

Alision nodded. Smiling. Clearly pleased with the assumption.

‘Are you enjoying it?’

Alison said she was and went on to tell Emma about the promotion. Said that Travis told her she had been earmarked for the Africa trip. Africa was where it all happened, he said. After that she’d be able to pick and choose. She’d be travelling all over the world doing what she loved most.

Emma listened. It was lovely to hear such fresh ambition.

Then, as smarts and emotions collided, the issue emerged. The purpose of their meeting.

Alison said she wasn’t going to take the promotion. Said there was plenty of opportunity right here. Said she’d rather stay and build a life. Have a family. Something she wouldn’t be able to do if she was travelling all the time.

When Alison finally stopped for a breath, Emma took the opportunity to tell her all about Travis. By the time she’d finished, the poor young girl had been through several wash cycles. Emma found a packet of tissues at the bottom of her bag and slid them across the table.

Alison pulled herself together. Her face apple cheeked. Eyes shining bright once again.

As she got up to leave, Alison thanked Emma. Said she wished she could talk to her mum like that and would she mind if they swapped numbers. Emma said it was probably best they didn’t. Alision nodded and said she understood.

After watching her young would-be rival walk off into the distance, Emma reopened the newspaper.

‘Now, where was I?’ she asked herself. ‘Oh yes!’ She felt that jolt of simple joy that came with age.

She’d almost finished the crossword when Travis dragged the chair out from beside her, scraping the legs along the concrete. Emma could feel his big beautiful blue eyes piercing the side of her head.

She turned to look at him. ‘I liked her,’ she admitted, slipping the pen back into her bag and folding the paper.

Travis waited. Jaw clenched. Looking dishevelled and particularly on edge.

‘A little too young, but yes, I really liked her.’

‘Yeah, okay,’ Travis replied impatiently, not taking his eyes off her.

Emma held his stare and wondered if he’d ever change. ‘I do it for them, you know,’ she said, meaning it.

‘So, what did you say to her?’

‘The usual.’

‘And?’

‘She’s going to Africa.’

Travis looked skyward – sliding his hand through his hair. Relief and guilt washing over him. As it had when they were kids. When Emma bore the brunt of their mother’s tirade for yet another Travis folly.

Karen Uttien

Image: Male and Femail signs in black on white from Pixabay.com