Meet Me at Taylor Park (7 page)

She looked at him, impressed by his chivalry. She got in, and he closed the door. He got in the driver’s seat and they pulled out of the driveway.

She stared at his profile as he was driving. He had sharply defined features, she noted.

“Are you hungry? I’m craving spaghetti,” she said.

“How about The Old Spaghetti Factory?”

“OK.”

She noted that he had this big dopey grin on his face, which he was trying to suppress.

*

When they arrived in front of the restaurant, he opened the door for her and she entered.

The smell of fresh pasta and tomato sauce floated through the air. It made her even hungrier.

A waitress came over. “For two?”

“Yes,” Brandon said.

The waitress led them to a little booth in the corner.

As they got settled in, Katie said, “I bet you were disappointed that we’re not at a table with chairs.”

He looked at her from across the table. “Why’s that?”

“Because now you can’t pull out the chair for me.”

“I thought girls liked that,” he said, half-serious.

“No, we do,” she assured him. “I’m just joking.”

He chuckled. “If I’m overdoing it, don’t be afraid to tell me.”

“No, it’s just fine.”

She smiled.

She looked around and noticed that the restaurant was unusually dark. A single candle was the only light at their table.

The waitress brought over two glasses of water and two menus.

Without looking at the menu, Katie said, “I’ll have the seafood linguine with lots of oregano. And a glass of apple juice.”

Brandon looked her curiously. “Is that your favorite?”

She nodded.

He turned to the waitress and said, “Lasagna, please.”

The waitress left and Brandon stared at Katie.

“So you like fashion design, huh? Is that the family business?”

“No, my mom’s a teacher.” She played with the straw in her water.

“You must be the rebellious type.” He grinned.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. Her long brown hair spilled all over her shoulders.

“Just the dreaming type.”

“Lots of famous people are the dreaming types. Then, they do something about it, like you are. And then one day, they make it.”

“You really think I can make it?”

“You care enough to enter a contest, and make all those sketches. You’ll make it.”

In the candlelit semidarkness, Katie stared at Brandon. She thought he was just another guy when she first met him, but somehow, he looked cuter now.

He took a sip of his water. “I bet you’ve even made dresses already, haven’t you?”

She nodded. “Four.”

He laughed. “That’s the kind of passion that puts me to shame.”

She was surprised. “You don’t have any hobbies or passions?”

“My mom and dad both work on Bay Street in Toronto. My dad wants me to follow in his footsteps and do investment banking. Any impractical pursuits are discouraged.”

She found herself drawn to him more. “I know how you feel.”

He nodded sympathetically.

He reached for her hand across the table, slowly and nervously. His hand was so cold that she almost jerked it away, but she let him touch it.

For a while, they didn’t talk, but the silence was comfortable. They looked out the window. What little fall sunlight had been there was now gone. It was dark and windy. Brandon looked up shyly at her, and she did the same.

In a little while, the server returned with two dishes and a glass of apple juice. Brandon withdrew his hand.

Katie could smell the oregano going through her nostrils. She dug into her linguine with gusto.

They ate in silence, but every once in a while, Katie would catch Brandon sneaking a glance her way.

He finished chewing and wiped his mouth. “How’s the oregano?”

“The best I’ve ever had.”

He laughed, and shook his head.

She stopped eating. “What?” A grin crept onto her face.

“I’ve never met a girl that liked spices so much.”

“I’m spicy,” she said, giving him an amused look.

That got him laughing again, so hard that he almost coughed up his lasagna.

She tried to stifle a chuckle.

When the bill arrived, Brandon snatched it up immediately. “I insist.”

“I thought I was treating you.” Katie reached for the bill.

“Nah, there’s something about the guy paying that makes more sense to me. Maybe when you’re a rich and famous fashion designer with your own line, I can mooch off you and you can pay for every meal.”

She giggled.

He reached into his wallet and took out a bill. “Of course, I’ll be ordering lobster, king crab, caviar and champagne every night. And not the cheap kind either.” He winked at her.

Katie laughed again. She was beginning to feel giddy inside.

Brandon drove Katie home and stopped in front of her house, turning off the engine. He took a look at her house. It was very small.

She noticed him staring, and he tried to avert his gaze.

She pointed at her house. “It’s a very cozy house.”

“I didn’t mean to stare.”

“That’s alright.”

A draft came in from outside and she shivered.

He noticed and said, “Let me turn on the heat.”

She held up one hand. “No, it’s OK. I have to go anyway.”

She put one hand on the door handle and started to open the door. She paused, and turned around.

Brandon was leaning into her.

She moved into him like she was going to kiss him. Instead, she hugged him and whispered in his ears, “Thanks for the help. And the food. And the ride.”

“You’re welcome.” He put a finger on her warm cheek and stroked it. He leaned in and she pulled back.

He pulled back too.

Katie played with her hair, twirling a strand around one finger like spaghetti. “Listen, I think you’re really nice and all, but I’m leaving for New York in the Fall, after we graduate. I don’t really want to start anything now. We could both get really hurt.”

He nodded. “I understand.” But his brows were furrowed, making him look worried. He leaned in until his mouth was at her cheek. She could feel his breathe on the side of her face. She could smell him too. He smelled like fresh mint.

Brandon kissed her gently on the cheek. Then, he pulled back. “Have a good night. Good luck with the fashion competition.”

She got out of the car and turned around.

He waved, and then drove off.

The cold wind began to batter her hair. She looked around. It was dark, cold and even foggy. She put her hood over her head, and gazed longingly after Brandon’s silver car.

*

The next day was Saturday. The deadline for the International Junior Fashion Designer Contest was at 12 pm.

Katie woke up at 11:55 am and cursed.

She arrived at Metrotown Mall with her submissions for the competition clutched tightly in her hands.

She glanced at her watch. It was 12:10 pm.

Katie hurried to the contest’s regional office. A dour old lady with her hair in a grey bun and a sober expression was shutting the metal gate down.

“Wait,” Katie cried. “One more submission.” She pushed through a crowd of shoppers, who gave her dirty looks.

She waved her papers in front of the lady, who nametag read Lorna.

“Please, Lorna. I know I’m late, but it’s only by 10 minutes.”

The lady stopped what she was doing and glared at Katie. “Sorry, miss. You know the rules. The contest regulations clearly state that you have until twelve noon today to submit.” She looked at her watch. “It’s now 12:10 pm. I have to close the office and go to lunch.”

Katie was relentless. “Can I submit it when you get back?”

Lorna shook her head. “I’m technically off for the whole day now.”

“Please, my whole life and future depend on this. I need that internship.” Katie clutched her samples so hard that they were crushed by her grip.

The old lady shrugged. “You should have submitted it earlier.”

“But I stayed up all night revising my samples.”

“Not my problem.”

Katie was red in the face. She was desperate. “Please Lorna. You have to help me out here. This is my whole life. Without this, I have no future.” She was now yelling so loudly that passersby stopped to gawk.

Lorna gave her a sympathetic look, but then her expression was back to sour. “What about me? Do you think it was my dream job to work in this crowded mall accepting applications from teens?”

The lady shut the gates, giving off a resonant booming sound. Katie was left standing there, the papers in her hands all crumpled.

She struggled to calm her breathing and stop the tears from coming, but she failed. The tears came like water bursting from a damaged dam.

She yelled, “Lorna! Lorna! Please, Lorna!”

When the lady didn’t return, she went up to the gates and pounded on it. She pounded until her hands were red and raw, but she continued to pound.

In a little while, she felt two hands tap her on the shoulders. She turned around and saw two burly security guards.

One of them said, “Miss, you’re disturbing the peace.”

Ignoring them, she turned around and continued to pound on the gates. She felt two hands on her shoulders again, but this time, they were rougher. The two guards grabbed her and dragged her out of the mall.

As she was hauled out, she saw a giant crowd of shoppers gathered around her. They were staring, pointing and whispering.

She glared at the crowd. “What are you looking at? You didn’t just have your hopes and dreams destroyed by a ruthless clerk.”

Some shoppers continued to walk, while others looked away.

The security guards pushed her out the door. One of them said, “If you can’t control yourself, then you can’t come back in.”

Katie wiped her eyes. She looked around and there was no one outside, just cars passing on the road. She looked behind her and saw the gates of the contest office completely closed.

There was a big closed sign taped on it.

She dropped the papers in her hands and they fluttered in the air. Then, she felt her whole body give out from under her. She collapsed onto the asphalt pavement, looking up at the sunny sky.

A single red leaf swirled in the sky, and then fell onto her face. She made no effort to remove it.

Then, something strange happened. Katie felt the leaf being lifted from her face. Curious, she looked up and saw Brandon’s concerned face peering down at her.

He knelt down. “What happened?”

She pointed behind her. “They wouldn’t accept my application. I was late.” She felt the tears coming again.

He sighed. “Come on. Let’s get you up.”

Using two strong arms, he lifted her up into sitting position. The weak afternoon sun shone on him, highlighting his light brown hair and green eyes.

In that moment, she saw him in a different light.

He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s OK. You’ll find some other way to make it.”

She leaned into him, reveling in the heat of his body.

She cried onto his shoulders, sobbing so hard that she could not breathe.

He didn’t say anything. He just held her close.

They heard the sound of traffic. In the distance, a dog barked. Then, a car honked. Then, it was silent, and all they heard was the sound of each other’s breathing.

After a while, he let go of her, but his face still hovered near hers.

Their eyes locked. Katie felt her heart jump.

Brandon moved his face in, and kissed her on the lips. It happened so fast that she did not have a chance to react. She remembered that his kiss was soft and sweet, a hint of chocolate.
 

Then, the kiss was over. It jolted Katie from her sorrow.

He helped her up. “Come on. I’ll take you somewhere and you’ll forget all about the contest.”

He gathered all her scattered papers, and then handed it to her.

She wiped her face, and nodded. Then, she managed to smile. She knew it was a genuine smile.

*

Brandon took Katie home to change, and by the time they arrived at Taylor Park, it was dark. Katie could only admire its beauty. The park had a swing set, a slide, and even an odd metal climbing apparatus in the shape of a dome.

But the main attraction itself was a hill. There was a mound in the middle and a walking path surrounding the hill.

Brandon took her by the hand and together, they walked in a circle on the path, sidestepping the crispy leaves.

He looked at her and said, “I always come here when I’m feeling sad or when I need inspiration. It always cheers me up.”