“Where did he take you?”
“The museum of carnival arts. Such a cool place, hidden in the 12th arrondissement. I don’t think too many people are familiar with it. It’s a museum of antique fairground paraphernalia, old carousels and tons of vintage stuff… puppets, games, statues.”
“Wow, knowing how you love all that vintage stuff, you must have loved it.”
“I did. Oscar knew that I would.”
“He’s such a sweetie, that Oscar. What are you waiting for to claim that prize?”
I laugh. “Well, he is a prize all right.” I think about the ring he bought for me and how I turned it down. I know I broke his heart.
“Actually… Oscar bought me a ring,” I confess. “It was beautiful… it was so me.”
She props herself up on her elbows and turns to me. “No way! What happened?”
“I said no.”
“What?!” she blurts out, wide-eyed.
“I don’t want to risk ruining our friendship,” I try to explain. “What we have right now is so good, just the way it is.”
“But don’t you want more? Don’t you want to be committed? Don’t you want little Kaylas and little Oscars running around? I’m telling you, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do.”
A loud sigh escapes me. “That’s what I keep hearing…”
She turns back to the table and lies down again. I resume the massage. “I’m just too messed up for a serious relationship,” I try to explain.
“Well, the messed up ones are the ones who need stable relationships the most, Kayla.”
Her words render me speechless, and I mull them over. Maybe Danielle is on to something.
* * *
“No,you can’t tag along, Mom,” I tell her. “I really don’t want to be like, ‘Hey girls, I’ve brought my mommy along.’”
“But your friends sound so fun,” Mom says as she sips her chamomile tea. “I really like Corrie.”
“You know how you have your own things. Your bridge club and your art class? How would you feel if I crashed them?”
She ponders this for a second. “Ok, I get it. We need our space.”
I smile. “You know I love you to death, Mom. But yes, we do.”
“So tell me about you and Oscar,” she ventures. “Anything new there?”
I know what she’s fishing for. She loves Oscar, and she hopes we’ll get married tomorrow and pop out a few grand babies. “Same old, Mom. Just as it was.”
She shakes her head. “I just don’t understand this friends-with-benefits arrangement you two have. Don’t you want him all to yourself? Don’t you worry about his other girlfriends?”
I laugh. “He doesn’t have other girlfriends.”
“He doesn’t?” she says, confused. “Do you have another boyfriend?”
I shake my head and stare down at my chai tea. “Nope.”
“So you two are essentially like a regular couple?”
“Well…” Well, wait. The woman makes an excellent point. I smile at the thought.
