"Loaded." she admitted with an adorable little laugh. "I was late for my weekly appointment with the girls because of some work I wanted to finish today."
"I understand." he made as she expected, and she was all the happier and more in love for it.
"And you, my darling? Why were you late? That's not usual for you. I was a little worried all the same."
"I'm fine," he reassured her, kissing her silky hair. "It's just that I had a late appointment of late, one I'd completely forgotten about. My assistant had been gone for a good hour, and I was about to do the same when this appointment showed up on my doorstep. I could have won, of course, but since he'd come on his own and was an important customer..." He was satisfied, I thought.
"He was satisfied, I hope."
"He was. We must have virtually visited at least fifty houses before he found what he was looking for. We're going to visit on Monday. He'll buy, I'm confident."
And he was. He was really good, the young woman observed as she snuggled a little closer to her love.
"That's my man."
But as Nathan flipped Crystal onto her back to renew their act of love, the rift widened a little more.
" Forget, huh..." quirked Crystal as she gazed up at their beige-colored bedroom ceiling adorned with classic molding.
This person, too, has forgotten everything that made up his life, and me along with it. And if he never recovers, he'll forget forever. While she, Crystal, would live with the memory of him, as vivid and painful as ever, albeit less so with time, until she died.
Realizing that her thoughts were almost a betrayal of the one she loved so much, Crystal closed her eyes and let herself be submerged in that ocean of wonderful pleasure that only her fiancé could ever make her feel, because with this person, it was different. It was painful in every way.
A week had passed since that Friday when Crystal had heard about this person for nearly seven years. And now that she thought about it, in the seven years she'd continued to frequent this bar with its well-established reputation, she'd never once met him. That they should cross paths, albeit rarely, in this very famous establishment, she wanted to believe, for surely they both wanted to see each other as little as possible, even in a public place, but never, not once, since their break-up, was becoming strange, not to say worrying even.
That Friday, it was Crystal and Nathan who came to relax in the bar, the subdued light and comforting atmosphere helping the couple to unwind and enjoy their time together. Nathan was aware of the significance of the place to his fiancée and of the friendship she had with the owner, as well as its origin. At first, he was jealous of it, as she might have been, it was totally understandable, but with time, he got used to it, and the quality of the place soon won his attachment. Leandro had also become Nathan's friend. They got on so well that they even went on outings together, spending weekends as guys.
That evening, Crystal and her lover were sitting on a long, soft seat at a table set up against the wall, embracing each other, sipping their drinks and talking about anything and everything.
Leandro joined them.
"So, lovers, what's new?" he asked by way of welcome but not taking a seat.
Nathan got up to give him a warm hug before returning to his fiancée.
"Hi, buddy. It's a pity you're overworked, otherwise we could have spent a nice evening together."
"Business is business, you know that. Which is just as well, because I can't even imagine disturbing your intoxicating tête-à-tête. It will make me feel even more sad about my single status."
The real estate agent laughed.
"It's up to you to be with someone, but you're a little too picky."
"And I don't regret it."
Nathan wasn't exaggerating when he said that Leandro's celibacy was a choice and not a constraint, for while he wasn't handsome like Nathan, he was as attractive as he was with his glossy black hair, styled back and lean face, and gave off a kind of aura that attracted all women. Besides, Crystal had a hard time with her rivals when she'd first started dating her love. And even now. She'd noticed the admiring and envious glances of the people in the bar, and she felt so proud to be the one this exceptional being loved and had chosen as his future wife.
She would make sure he never regretted it.
Nathan continued in the joking tone that only close friends could afford.
"But if it ever occurs to you to neglect your beautiful woman Nathan, I'll be happy to take her from you. And I'll have no trouble saying to celibacy for her."
And he concluded this falsely solemn declaration with a mischievous wink at Crystal, who burst out laughing as Nathan falsely threatened his friend with a finger. It was also true that Crystal was particularly beautiful this evening, with her starry black hair pulled back into a sophisticated chignon at the top of her head, revealing the purity of her face, her short Tropezian dress in a bright electric color that highlighted her dreamy figure, and finally pumps that elongated her even more, while the two men were in suits with colorful tailored shirts.
But the warm atmosphere in which the trio basked faded when Leandro turned to a new arrival who sat down at a table and immediately ordered a drink before running his hands over his exhausted face.
"I think there's a new problem," Leandro remarked, almost to himself, as he continued to study the young woman.
"Really!" inquired Crystal, unable to suppress her concern.
"It's not physical since the doctor reassured us on that point, it's mental, and ultimately quite understandable, imagine losing memories completely with the uncertainty of perhaps never being able to get them back..."
"Yes, it's awful." the young woman nodded, perfectly aware of the lightness of the word to describe what this person was now in.
Nathan was waiting for explanations, and Crystal provided them. She made no secret of her concern or of the fact that the news was a week old.
"Why didn't you say anything, darling?" he asked when Crystal had expected him to. And of course she was frank with him, answering by looking him straight in the eye to show that she had nothing to hide and, above all, that she was telling the truth. Once again, Crystal was flabbergasted to discover how a deep belief in something, even if false, could be interpreted as true.
"Because I had the impression that it didn't really matter, despite my concern, a concern I would have felt towards anyone, even someone who had counted in my past."
Nathan saw the look on her face and was pleased, as well as reassured. Then he smiled and kissed her forehead.
"That's so like you."
"Thank you, darling. And I also thank you for your understanding. I stopped hating this being a long time ago, so I don't wish him any harm."
"I know, that's why I love you so much."
This time, it was Crystal's turn to kiss her fiancé, but instead of on the forehead, it was on the mouth.
"Then I'll leave you lovebirds to it, and go and join Leonie."