“She told us she would,” I replied. “She told us she was only leaving for a short while. Then six months turned into a year. Mom and Dad got divorced, and still, she didn’t come back. Finally, we realized she wasn’t ever coming back.”
“Did…” Natalie stopped short.
“What?”
“Nothing,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s really none of my business.”
“It’s okay,” I assured her. “You can ask me anything.”
“Did your father want a divorce, too?”
“No,” I replied. “He was in love with her until the day he died.”
Natalie shook her head, and I could see how deeply she empathized with a man she’d never met. “Sorry,” I said, after a moment. “I didn’t mean to get the mood down.”
“You didn’t,” she assured me. “I’m glad you feel like you can talk to me.”
“Do you feel like you can talk to me?” I asked.
“I do,” she nodded.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“Then can you answer something for me?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you run away from me that night on your birthday?” I asked.
Natalie raised her eyebrows. “You led me right into a trap, didn’t you?”
I laughed. “Does that mean you’re not going to answer the question?”
Natalie looked down for a moment and seemed to be marshaling her courage somehow. “I told you I was a little too drunk.”
“You did,” I nodded. “But I have a feeling that’s only part of the truth.”
“Well…”
“But I would also understand if you told me that I just came on too strong,” I said. “I have been known to be a straight shooter.”
Natalie smiled. “No, it wasn’t that you came on too strong,” she said. “Well, maybe that’s not the whole reason.”
I waited patiently for her to answer.
“The thing is…”
“Yes?”
“You have to promise me something,” Natalie said, as she took a deep breath.
“Okay?”
“Promise me that you won’t judge me?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Now you’re making me curious.”