DEP Poetry
Nostalgic Reunion at Addison’s Brewery
Rediscovering Love After a Decade
Natalia sat over there.
Darren moved his eyes.
No, not there,
but they sat over there
behind the woman,
who just crossed her legs,
in the dark skirt,
discussing God only knows
over wine or a dark beer
with a date on the deck
at Addison’s Brewery.
Couples chatted softly
and the more they sipped
the fermented grapes,
they giggled with engaging glances.
Memories sparked the energy
for Darren’s lips to curve upright.
Natalia dragged him for a drink
after their first fight.
Natalia’s snark and her dark humor
of his sense stranded his anger
in a bin of recycled regrets.
She pulled him from the precipice
of calling it quits, only for her to
take a flight to Georgia after midnight.
Natalia’s place was the south,
not Seattle.
Natalia swore he’d understand
someday, but that day hadn’t come.
Ten years ago, Natalia laughed
at silly jokes or pointed at couples
she knew wouldn’t make it past a year.
The dimly lit oak deck had pine tables.
Clay Walker played through the speakers.
God. Darren hated country music.
Not did, but he still does.
The lyrics crossed Darren’s heart,
and he hoped he’d die losing sleep
over the sadness of a girl missing
in action with a letter on the nightstand.
Darren had it in him to believe,
Natalia had oats to sow, and men’s hearts
to reap in the harvest of an autumn departure.
A tear reached Darren’s lips as a grin sparkled
in his eyes.
He finished his beer but had not read a page
in a book that he brought. He was trying
to distract himself from the memories
that were flooding back.
Darren stood halfway when he heard
a familiar voice.
“Need company?” Natalia said.
Darren turned in the direction of the question
and moved his eyes around.
Natalia stood, playing with her hands,
wearing a beige skirt and a Hurley t-shirt. “I’d like to talk.”
Natalia tucked her long, dark bangs behind her ear.
Her freckles camouflaged her deep green eyes.
Darren’s lips moved, but he only pushed warm
breath across his teeth.
He returned to his seat and rested his hands on the table.
“Where have you been?” Darren said.
Natalia looked down and away. “I thought I’d never be good enough,” she said with a tear in her voice.
“Good one,” Darren said.
Natalia motioned his doubt away with her hands. “I’m serious.”
“Why?”
“Your folks…” Natalia paused.
Darren shrugged. “What about them?”
“Oh, come on,” she said. “We come from different sides of the tracks.”
“But your father is a wealthy lawyer, right?”
“About that.” Natalia lowered her eyes and sighed. “He died before I was born.”
“What are we doing?” Darren raked his fingers through his hair. “It’s been ten years.”
“Now, let’s hear your story,” Natalia said, resting her head on her hands, elbows propped on the oak table.
“I haven’t been honest either,” Darren said.
“I know.” Natalia smoked a cigarette.
Darren arched a brow. “How?”
“I work at your grandfather’s firm.”
“For how long?”
“Three years,” Natalia said. “But I just decided to move back to Seattle.”
“Growing up, we were poor,” Darren said, “but that all turned around when Dad got sober.”
“It’s funny.” She laughed.
“What?”
“They had no idea that we dated, and yet they tried to set us up.”
“Mom, too?”
“And your dad.”
“I guess it’s true,” Darren said.
“If you love someone, you’ll let them go, and if they return, you know it was meant to be.”
“I’m sorry for assuming the worst.”
“I’m sorry for thinking the worst of myself.”
“But now,” Darren said, “we can think the best of us.”
(© 2024 AC)
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