11
We were having dinner at Emil’s. Allison favored its intimate setting and the luxury of aged
It was a trick of the candlelight I believe, but Kevin’s face has fallen and I cannot prohibit the
waiters. We sat close in a secluded booth. Her face was lit by a selection of votives assembled
worry it rouses. The glass stem fluctuates in size, now trim now robust, and I wonder how the
on the worn table that was lightly covered by a linen cloth. The flame’s spasms lit one aspect of
burgundy does not leap from the bowl and astonish the linen. I should straighten, but I am al-
her face then another, and in the soft candlelight I was assured in my decision to tell her I loved
ready so; I should soften then, but too little and he will not notice and too much may encourage
her. She held her glass and smiled, waiting for my toast. I had rehearsed saying so for weeks
him and I do not want to encourage him because I know what that word is and I know what that
now. To the days getting to know one another, I began, and the ease of doing so. I think you’re
word can do and it would be better to keep that word hidden within you Kevin, nurtured but
wonderful Allison and I love… but never aloud, and when that final word left the warmth of my
chained, until you are sure, to the extent that you can be sure about such a dubious thing, that you
imagination, that place where ideas are muted because all of their import cannot be determined
know what it is and what it can do, and you have not thought to chain it up because you do not
by it singly, the languid ideas I had coddled wavered on doubtful legs, in the revelation of its say
know what it can do. I will not leap into love with a man who does not know what it is. With
ing I felt another way, a way that was as valid as my romantic predisposition, but critical to a ma-
such a man the wounds would be severe, even though unforeseen, and his ignorance would
ture understanding of what I was about to say, and the contours of that word sharpened in the
sincere, his apologies convincing, his oblivion to the correctness of our dissolution devastating,
cold saying, and though I still believed in the first throb that propelled me toward Allison, I also
and it would be my fault, for ending it, for entering into it. I cannot return the sentiment, but nei-
saw an aspect of that throb that would not be so receptive, that would, in the end, meet my em
ther can I nod and pat his head, and I had such hopes for this evening, for soft discussions and
brace with lacerations; I had said it and upon saying it I would have to meet with it, and I though
light laughter, the simmering pleasure of finding unison, the tingle of shared experience, the awe
it would no longer Allison upon whom I leaned for support, but this other thing and this other
of discovering this is that other thing and letting the fear wash over us privately, wonderfully,
thing was elusive, and while I could see Allison’s consternation pouting now upon her smile and
before walking into it together, but later Kevin, because if you say it now I must hold your hand
determine why that was and what I could do about it, this other thing would take its shape and
like that of a child instead of as a man, courageous and full of grace; oh, let me have time to de-
have its way in the totality of our selves; this other thing would live in both Allison’s peculiar
cide, six weeks is too soon, three months would be better, look at my eyes. Kevin, please. See
smiles and in my reaction to them, both in my indulgent monologues and the varied responses
they are not bidding you on, notice the trepidation, they are not quivering from girlish delight,
they evoked in her, and in the instant between forming my lips one way and then another, I had
but as a woman admonishing. I do not know your role in this other thing because it is too soon
considered that love has nothing to do with the warm bed and perhaps it has nothing to do with
and it has been too long between that word and the next, you have let it hang between us like our
Allison; instead it exists in the loss of our selves and it will not wait for us to have its way
first kiss and the light is too bright upon it now. Relent Kevin, relent; look at my eyes and relent.
and I will not be the same and Allison will not be the same…and he said I love our time together.
Allison rose slightly in her booth and they touched their glasses. I love it too, she said.
They drank their wine and thrilled at the possibility that this could be that other thing and they looked at their menus and wondered.