Beautiful Illusions by Annie Jocoby

on me, and I hoped that he wouldn’t. But I have been with too many guys who are difficult to be around when things are going wrong in their lives. Once again, I questioned the wisdom of getting involved with somebody who apparently was still raw from an earlier hurt.
    I watched Ryan and Alexis, because they were within viewing distance. I tried to make out what they were saying. I heard Alexis yell “I’m sorry, but you’re not exactly taking my calls.” Ryan was talking in a low voice, so I couldn’t make out what he was saying. Alexis apparently was not above making a scene. “You know what I want. I want you. But if I can’t have you, I want the Cezanne.” Again with the Cezanne. How come I haven’t seen this painting? 
    I sat back down on the ground. The blanket was wrapped up and in my arms, and I didn’t feel like laying down the blanke t, so I just sat on the grass. People were everywhere, talking, wrapping up their stuff, walking towards the exit. Kids were blowing bubbles. Babies were crying. Dogs were running about on their leash. It was a festive atmosphere, and it was a great evening up until now.
    I felt sick to my stomach .
    I heard Alexis say “Well, maybe I should tell your new little girlfriend about this, what do you say about that?” At that, he looked back at me, worried. I instinctively looked away. I heard her say the word “Nick” and the word “Benjamin.” I narrowed my eyes. Isn’t his father’s name Benjamin? She knows about Nick? It seemed that Alexis was going to tell me things that Ryan was afraid to, because it seemed that there was no reasoning with this woman. She had ammunition, and she was going to use it.
    Now he was trying to placate her. I couldn’t make out anything that he was saying, but he was putting his hands on her shoulder in a conciliatory gesture. He definitely did not appear to be angry with her. Then I saw her start to cry, and he put his arms around her. “I miss you, I love you,” I heard her say more than once. How is he going to get out of this? Is he going to get out of this? I could imagine his dilemma. If he broke away from her and left her where she stood, she would raise hell and rat him out to me. But he can’t really stay there with her, either. Maybe I should make this easier for him. But how? This relationship was getting trickier and trickier to navigate. Remembering that I made the exact wrong move last time by bolting, I decided just to stay put for now.
    I also unmistakably heard the word “Mia,” uttered by Alexis. She is grieving her child, and so is he. They went through something unimaginable together. I could never begin to fathom what they are both going through. Now she was really sobbing. They had been talking for about 20 minutes, and the park was increasingly emptying.
    It wouldn’t be long until we were kicked out.
    I sighed. We were certainly off to a rocky start, although the highs with this guy had certainly been worth it. I was impressed, however, with how he was handling this situation. Here was a woman who was on a roller coaster of emotions, going from yelling to crying, and he was not losing his cool at all. It was quite a bit different from the first time, when I heard him yelling on the phone with her.
    I caught him looking back at me, his face clearly say ing “Help!” I stayed rooted where I was, though. I figured that he would come to me when he is ready to. It was not my place to interrupt.
    Now he was finally com ing towards me, Alexis in tow. Was she there all alone? “Uh, Iris, uh, I need to take Alexis home. I hope you don’t mind if she comes with us in the car.”
    I didn’t protest. I simply nodded my head.
    He looked grateful. “Thank you so much for understanding.” Glancing over at Alexis, Ryan said “Alexis apparently came here by cab.”
    Yeah, of course she came here by cab . She knew that you would have to drive her home. I looked at Alexis. She looked devious. I wondered how she knew