Maelie.
Whatever my own reservations about our relationship, Maelie had no doubt in her mind. In fact, she had practically moved in. Although we weren’t living together, she brought her dishware to my apartment, and one afternoon, she lugged over two cushioned, high-back chairs and a large painting of a horse, which she hung above my music system.
As Labor Day approached, Mrs. Olsen suggested that Maelie and I visit Maelie’s stepsister in Jacksonville, Florida. She insisted that her sister would love to see us, and we would enjoy their big house by the lake, where we could go boating. Mrs. Olsen often talked about her elder stepdaughter, Galina, who was fifteen years older than Maelie and had several children of her own. Mrs. Olsen said in her motherly voice, “It would be so good if you both went there.”
As I had no plans to visit Knoxville for Labor Day weekend, I agreed to go.
The evening before we left, I returned from work, planning to pack so we could leave early the next morning in Maelie’s car. Maelie came to my apartment and fixed a cup of hot tea for me. We sat on the couch she had brought over several weeks earlier, talking and listening to music. All of a sudden, she moved closer to me and laid her head on my shoulder, the closest she had gotten to me since we met. When she looked up, straight into my eyes, I could tell she wanted me to kiss her. In an instant, we wrapped our arms around each other and started kissing heavily. I felt no romantic feelings, but I figured if we were engaged, we should kiss sooner or later.
Suddenly, Maelie gasped, pushed me aside, and hurried from the apartment. As she slammed the door behind her, I didn’t know what to think. I just sat there, feeling I hadn’t said or done anything to upset her.
Even though the evening did not end well, I finished packing, under the impression we were still going to Florida. The next morning, I walked over to Mrs. Olsen’s apartment to see if Maelie was ready. Mrs. Olsen opened the door and asked me to come in, her voice low and broken as if she had been crying. With tears in her eyes, Mrs. Olsen said, “I am sorry to tell you that Maelie left for Florida this morning.” In a heavy voice, she added, “I’m so sorry, Kris. She did not talk much. After coming back from your apartment, she went straight to bed and ate very little.”
Not knowing what to say or whether I should ask any questions, I just sat at the kitchen table feeling confused. What is going on? I wondered. How could she do this to me?
“I don’t know what happened, Mrs. Olsen,” I said. “I was nice to her. We drank tea, listened to music, and kissed. That’s all. Then she just got upset.”
“I understand you didn’t do anything wrong,” Mrs. Olsen said. “It is how Maelie behaves sometimes.”
I thought, If that is how she behaves, then why are we engaged?
Mrs. Olsen did not know what else to tell me except that Maelie had been emotional and depressed before she left for Jacksonville alone. I returned to my apartment, feeling ashamed and not wanting to share this episode with my friends. They all knew I was supposed to go to Florida with Maelie, so I did not call anyone that day.
That same afternoon, Mrs. Olsen called and asked me to come to her apartment. “Maelie has reached Jacksonville,” she informed me, cheerfully. “She is sorry she left without you. She was not thinking straight and would like you to come down to Florida.”
Perhaps I looked astounded because Mrs. Olsen said, “I know, I know, Kris. I realize your feelings right now, but it would be so good for both of you if you flew to Jacksonville, and you both can drive back together. How does that sound?”
I was completely shocked that Mrs. Olsen and Maelie expected me to fly to Florida after what just happened. Mrs. Olsen wanted me to go more than anything. “Kris, Maelie loves you very much. She has high regard for you. It was not your fault. Maelie just gets depressed sometimes, and her behavior can be erratic.”
Not wanting to hurt either Maelie or Mrs. Olsen’s feelings, I flew down to Jacksonville the next day. Maelie picked me up at the airport, and we drove to her sister’s house. Galina and Charlton welcomed me into their home and showed me to a room where I could set my suitcase.
When Maelie and I were alone for a moment, she apologized for leaving my apartment so abruptly and for going to Florida without me. “It was not you, Kris. You did not do anything wrong,” she said. “It was just me. That is all I want to say right now. But oh! I am so happy you have come. Thank you!” She smiled her sweetest smile, kissed her finger, and pointed it at me.
Later that evening, after Galina and Charlton treated us to a delicious home-cooked dinner, they shared their good wishes for Maelie and me, saying how they hoped we would make a good couple. I simply sat on the couch for a long, uncomfortable moment, not saying anything. However, Maelie seemed happy to hear it. She grinned and looped her fingers through mine.
When the weekend was over, I was ready to get back to Franklin. On the drive back, I found that I didn’t know what to say. Maelie was not a big talker either, resulting in a long, mostly quiet trip. Besides, I worried that if I said one wrong word, she’d ditch me at a gas station a hundred miles from Tennessee. I had no idea what was going on in her head.
Ten
