Heart, Bags, and Luggage

Chapter 1: Part 2

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They met when Zara was still in college. Dave would take her to all the exquisite places, meet influential people he called “business partners”, and attend VIP parties. Zara fell in love with all that he was and stood for, until she learned from a careless booze conversation at one of the VIP parties, that Dave had a family back in Ocavia, South of Winston. When she confronted him about it, he claimed he was divorced and promised that it was not a problem.

They had been dating for over a year, Zara was graduating from college, and her mum was on her neck about getting married, so she thought to bring up the conversation on her graduation night at Beek’s Cuisine, where Dave had made a reservation for them to celebrate. She had hoped he was going to propose that night, but when they had had the third-course meal, and it didn’t seem like a ring in a box was coming forth, she asked, “What’s next Dave?”

He was confused by the question since they had been talking of a business deal he was hoping to close “What? You mean after I close the deal? Well, I’m thinking…”

“No, I mean…” she took a deep breath, “I mean, what’s next for us?”

“Um, I don’t quite get you” Dave answered.

“My God, do I have to spell it out for you?” she adjusted in her chair, then looked at Dave when he said nothing. He showed her both of his palms on the table, suggesting that he needed her to say more.

"Ha", it was more of a silent question than an exclamation, but when she looked into his eyes, she saw that he was serious.

“Um, ok” she adjusted more and ran her hand through her short ebony hair “Well Dave, we’ve been dating for a while now, a year plus actually. I just want to know if…if there’s a future here, if there’s more or…” she paused to study his expression, there was nothing but a shiny bald black man, all suited up, with one hand on the table, and the other on his thigh, looking intensely at her, and waiting to hear her last word.

“What I’m asking Dave is…is there more to what we’ve got going on or is this it?” Zara finished.

It was a few seconds passed when Dave leaned over the table with both hands folding each other, he said “You want more?”

“Yes,” Zara shrugged.

“Why?”’

“What? What do you mean ‘why’? it’s been over a year, isn’t that time long enough to know someone and decide you want to spend the rest of your life with them?”

Dave bent his head over his folded hands on the table and laughed.

“Why are you laughing?” Zara asked subtly without concealing the anger in her voice.

“Sweetheart, that’s not reason enough to get married, and believe me, ‘cause I know. This, what we’ve got going, is much better than marriage. Been there, done it, don’t let what you see in movies fool you, it doesn’t usually end with ‘they lived happily ever after". With that he drank all the wine that remained in his glass and poured himself some more.

Zara took some time to process what he said before she spoke “What you’re saying is, we ain't getting married?”

She was looking at him, daring him to be bold enough to say yes, but instead, Dave said “Sweetheart, this is your graduation dinner, we’re celebrating, let’s celebrate, we can talk about this some other time, for tonight…” he stretched forth his right hand to touch her, and smiled sweetly at her “it’s all about you, your incredible brain and the fine face it comes with. Ok?” Dave asked

“Yeah, sure” Zara smiled.

“Great!”

When dinner was over, he drove her home. She invited him in, but he declined, claiming he had somewhere else to be.

“I have to meet with a friend who has worked this type of deal before” referring to the business deal he discussed at dinner, “but how about I come over tomorrow and we’ll spend the whole day together?”

“That sounds fun” Zara nodded.

“A’ight, I’ll see you tomorrow” he kissed her goodnight and drove off.

Early the next morning, Zara got a text from Dave, saying he wasn’t going to be able to meet with her as he had been called up for some business and had to travel out of Winston for a few days, but promise to make it up to her when he returned. All through that day, Zara kept calling his phone, but he wasn’t picking up, she left voicemails asking him to call her when he could so she knows he was fine, but never got any response, and soon his phone stopped ringing.

Zara was worried, she checked the news for any report of an accident on the road or a plane crash, there was none. She decided to reach out to Naomi, one of those that hung with Dave at the exquisite parties. Naomi was a business consultant and free-spirited so it was easy for Zara to click with her.

“Hey, Naomi” Zara said over the phone when she picked up.

“Hey girl, what’s up? I hear congratulations are in order. You know, you can come work for me now, the pay is good”.

“Oh thanks” Zara scoffed “That isn’t why I called though”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, um, I was wondering if you’ve been in touch with Dave today? He sent me a text saying he was traveling out of Winston for a few days for some business, but I haven’t been able to reach him since morning. I’ve sent texts, voicemails, nothing”.

“Oh honey, was that what he told you?”

“Um, what do you mean ‘what he told me’?”

“Look, um, I’m at work now, so how about we meet at six?”

“Ok, but…is he ok?” Zara asked concerned.

“He’s more than ok. See you at six”

To be continued…

Hey, how do you like my story so far? I haven’t quite decided on a name for it yet, but I’m open to suggestions, also, let me know what you think of Zara and Dave