By C. M. Machado

The computer show-sale at the bustling convention center was what Angelia needed. That morning’s argument with her husband, Brent, had left her in an emotional maelstrom. Tuning in to the center's cacophony was the perfect venue to drown her thoughts.

Angelia wandered toward a square display stand featuring a few opened laptop computers. She noticed an elderly gentleman to her right tinkering with one of them and decided to do the same.

She stood and twirled a strand of her long, wavy, dark brown hair as she sipped her coffee, lost in thought. Why was Brent being so reticent and distant lately? Could it be the extra responsibility at work? No matter what she did to please him, he continued to reject and alienate her.

A man's baritone voice coming from the other side of the counter broke her concentration.

“So. I see you like iced coffee, too.”

Angelia looked up, and her eyes locked with his. They were bright blue, expressive and penetrating. For a moment, she became lost in them and wondered why they looked so familiar.

“Didn’t mean to disturb you,” he said, his voice drawing her in. “I couldn’t help noticing you’re drinking the same thing I like.” His comment ended Angelia’s reverie, taking her a few seconds to answer.

“Iced coffee is your favorite drink?” she asked, still looking into his eyes.

He smiled, making his eyes shine even brighter. “I love coffee, and with today’s heat, my choice would be the same as yours.” He motioned to the tall plastic glass in her left hand and noticed her wedding band. “Maybe, I can invite you to have another one with me later,” he said, leaning on the counter.

Noting his tone, Angelia replied. “I couldn’t possibly accept an invitation from a stranger.”

“In that case,” he said, straightening and extending his hand. “I’m Michael, and if you tell me your name, we won’t be strangers anymore.”

His approach was so captivating; she smiled and shook his hand. “I’m Angelia.”

“What a beautiful name… and I suppose it’s Mrs. Angelia, right?”

“How do you know it’s not Miss Angelia?”

“Because…” he replied, leaning in toward her, his blue eyes gazing into her green ones. “What fool would leave such a beautiful fruit on the vine?”

Caught off guard, Angelia could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. She struggled to maintain her composure, but knew she was failing.

“Excuse me, young man, can you assist me over here?” They both turned their heads in the direction of the voice—the moment broken. Michael sighed and walked toward the elderly gentleman. Angelia noticed it was the same man toying with a laptop when she approached the stand.

She turned and leaned against the counter; the interruption giving her a chance to unscramble her thoughts. I’m a married woman. I can’t allow this to happen. So why am I feeling so unnerved?

She wanted to leave, but waited for Michael’s return. He walked toward her clearing his throat. “Now… where were we before being so rudely interrupted?

“I was getting ready to leave.”

“Aren’t you going to accept my invitation?”

“Is an invitation for coffee your usual pickup line?”

“No, but since we enjoy the same thing, I’d like to treat you to one. How about joining me for a cup tomorrow afternoon then?”

Seeing her quietness, he pleaded, “Please…”

Angelia knew that to avoid danger she had to avoid the situation. But her longing for company overruled her rational thoughts, and she accepted.

Lying in bed that night, Angelia replayed the scene in her head. She recalled the disorienting feeling Michael’s words had caused. A twinge of guilt surged while thinking about the impending encounter with another man. Why? She wasn’t hurting anybody, but would Brent think the same if he found out?

Angelia tossed and turned in bed all night; sleeplessness accentuating her confusion. She had breakfast with Brent the following morning, both eating without uttering a word. This had become the norm in the past two weeks, but today she was grateful for the silence.

Brent reached for her hand across the table startling her. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I wanna apologize for behaving like an ogre these past few weeks, especially yesterday. I was out of line. I’m sorry I offended you.”

The change in his demeanor intrigued her. Angelia's lips parted to speak, but Brent placed his index finger on them.

“We’ve been through tough times before and have overcome them. This shouldn’t be an exception. It shouldn’t distance us.”

He moved his finger from her lips and cupped his right hand on her cheek. Angelia turned in the direction of his gentle stroke. He smiled, and she noticed his penetrating and expressive blue eyes.

He rose from his chair, grabbed his suit jacket and bent over placing a soft kiss on her lips. “I’ll be home early, OK, baby?”

That afternoon, Angelia tried to justify her uneasiness as she neared the convention center. She kept repeating in her head as if it were a mantric invocation: it’s only for coffee; it's only for coffee… She wanted to see Michael, but didn’t want to do anything to hurt Brent.

Entering the noisy center, she went to Michael’s workstation, but someone else was there.

“Angelia!” She heard two male voices calling her name from different directions, as if in stereo. Turning to her left, she saw Michael, to her right, was Brent with a big smile on his face. She froze on the spot. Her addled brain wasn’t registering what to do next. A split-second decision caused her to react.

“Brent!” She started walking toward him attempting to compose herself. “Whatcha doing here, hon? She asked in a tremulous voice.

“I was on my way home from the office and saw the computer show advertisement on the center’s marquee. I decided to drop in and browse. Didn’t know I’d find you here, love,” he said, hugging her.

She returned the hug, and he noticed she was trembling. “What’s the matter, baby?” He asked, disengaging from her tight hug.

“The AC in this place is brutal, don’t you think? She asked, generating a perfunctory smile. “You probably can’t tell ‘cause you’re all suited up.

“That might explain it. Wanna get a cup of coffee to warm you up?”

“Nah. Let’s get outta here. I’ve done enough browsing for today,” she said, wrapping her arm around his and leading him to the center’s exit.

Angelia ventured a look back before exiting and saw Michael’s dejected expression. Her unspoken plea must have been evident for he lifted his right hand and waved. She would never forget his blue-eyed stare as she walked away.

Her thoughts had been rattling in her head since they’d left the convention center that afternoon. It was time to focus on patching things up with Brent. That evening, she prepared a candlelit romantic dinner and decided to revive what she had excelled in at one point in her life—the art of seduction.

She descended the staircase clothed in her most seductive negligee. Her heart raced when she heard Brent approaching the foot of the stairs.

He stood there raking her with his blue eyes. “Wow! You’re the best thing I’ve seen all day.”

He wrapped his right arm around her waist and murmured, “You’re beautiful.” Bringing her closer, he kissed her lips.

“Well then,” Angelia said in a sultry voice, “why don’t we go upstairs so you can see more of me?”

She took his hand and prompted him up the stairs. Just then, a fleeting image began to formulate and invade her thoughts, disturbing her. She thought of Michael—the stranger with the familiar eyes.

 

– END –