Charlottesville, VA – Past

 

   Adam and Sissy had walked around the marketplace twice before he got up the nerve to ask her to have a meal with him. A few minutes later, they were seated at a table outside of the market’s only restaurant. Though the young woman had begun talking more freely, Adam could sense that she was still uneasy. Whether that uneasiness stemmed from being with him or was caused from something else, he wasn’t sure. He listened as she talked about a new litter of kittens born in the stables and then of an old willow tree with a wooden swing and handles made of rope. He watched the sun glisten on her light brown hair, kept loosely in a braid all the way down her back, and her eyes, nearly the same color as her hair, lit up when she told him how high the swing would go.

“Almost up to the clouds,” she said, then settled back with a soft smile on her lips.

Adam felt himself focusing a little too intensely on those delicate lips and cleared his throat. “Where did you say you’re from, again?”

Sissy’s eyes grew large, and she reached out to play with the hem of the lacy, white tablecloth. “Well, I didn’t say exactly, but it’s a big house; not very far from here.”

“I come to the market nearly every weekend. Observing people has become a sort of hobby of mine—I know I would remember if I had seen you before.”

The girl shifted in her chair and then reached for her water glass. Adam watched as she took a small sip; her eyes were constantly darting around, searching the crowd.

“I’ve never been here before,” she answered after a moment. “I needed to get . . . My cousin’s had a craving for cherries lately. I guess I didn’t bring enough money. I’m not usually the one that makes the purchases.” She gave him a wobbly smile and shrugged her shoulders. “Thank you, for what you did back there.”

Adam smiled. “It was no trouble and, I’ll add, more than worth the pleasure of your company.”

The waiter came then and Adam placed two orders of crab cakes, then with a wink at Sissy, two slices of cherry pie. She giggled and ducked her head shyly. Adam worked to draw the young woman out as they ate, pleased that by the time they finished their dessert, she had begun to relax. “There’s going to be a sort of fair here next week,” he said. “Do you think you might be able to come back? It might be fun to watch some of the games.”

He was half convinced she was going to say yes when something behind him caught her attention. She bolted upright, her face instantly draining of color. Adam turned, scanning the crowd to see what could have frightened her so intensely. There were people milling about; children skipping, a stray dog chasing a gray cat. His eyes met with one of his college professors and he smiled and waved.

“Are you all right? I don’t see any-” Adam turned around and found himself facing an empty chair. “Sissy?” He stood up quickly and glanced around. The young woman had disappeared. Adam started to call her again, but the sound of his professor’s voice stopped him.

“Adam, how are you today, young man?”

Adam forced a smile as he reached out to shake hands. “Hello, Professor Denton. I’m just fine.”

“Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or did I see you with a young woman just now?”

Adam noticed how the man’s eyes went to the table where two sets of empty dishes sat. “Well,” Adam chuckled lightly. “I was. She, uh, had to go.”

Professor Denton nodded slowly. “I see. What was her name? Is she a local girl?”

Adam’s gaze narrowed as the man took the seat that had just been vacated so hastily. He wasn’t in the mood to chat anymore. “Her name was Sissy. I’m not sure where she’s from. We just met this afternoon.”

Denton snapped his fingers to get the attention of the waitress. “I see,” he said again. Adam noted how the man’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I don’t know anyone by that name from around here . . . Most interesting.”