The Bookish Love Affair #9 (Free Short Story)

The following Monday, Augusto was already sitting on the train when Florinda arrived, carrying the copy of Wuthering Heights in her hand. Augusto was pleased to see that she was carrying the book he had offered her.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning. Are you enjoying the story?” Augusto asked, pointing to the book.

Florinda caressed the cover with one hand and leaned towards him.

“I’m loving it,” she whispered.

Augusto smiled. The book was having the desired effect, he thought. He hadn’t given a woman a gift in many years, but it seemed he hadn’t lost his touch yet.

Daniela boarded the train slowly, as if she wanted to postpone the conversation she knew she was going to have with the two of them. She didn’t feel like talking about what had happened on Saturday. Florinda was going to be even more disappointed than she. She had already named herself godmother of a relationship that wasn’t going to happen.

“Good morning.”

The young woman’s heavy countenance let her state of mind show. Florinda realized immediately that Daniela was not well.

“What’s that face? What happened?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Something must have happened,” insisted Florinda.

Daniela looked at Florinda’s anxious face and felt sorry for her. The woman was so excited about that literary passion.

“He didn’t show up,” said Daniela.

Florinda and Augusto were silent for a moment, not knowing what to say. Florinda was angry with Pedro. How could he have been such a bastard? There was no excuse, she thought.

Augusto scratched his bald head and grabbed Daniela’s hand.

“I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

“Have you called him yet?” Florinda asked.

“No. I tore up the paper with his phone number and threw it in the trash!”

Florinda stifled a cry of exclamation.

“That’s too bad, because I’d like to tell him a few things. He behaved like a scoundrel! He comes here to our train, all smiles and sweet-talk, and then he doesn’t show up!”

“While I was waiting for him, my ex-boyfriend showed up.”

“Are you kidding?” Florinda couldn’t believe it.

“He said he was sorry and that he still loves me.”

“You didn’t forgive that bastard, did you?”

“Of course not. And I don’t want to have anything to do with Pedro anymore either. I’m glad he stopped traveling on the other train. Can we change the subject? I don’t feel like talking about them anymore.”

Florinda and Augusto nodded. Florinda felt like giving her some advice, but then thought better about it and decided to keep her mouth shut. She wasn’t exactly experienced when it came to love relationships. Ever since her ex-husband had left her, she had refused the courtship from a neighbor, a merchant from the street where she had her flower store, and even from one of her youngest daughter’s teachers. ‘Better alone than in bad company’ had become her motto.

“It’s not all bad news,” added Daniela, “in two weeks I will participate in that Literature talk that will take place at LX Factory and I would love if you could come. It’s at 6pm, so you should be able to come after work.”

“It will be my pleasure and I am sure Florinda will accompany me,” Augusto said, giving Florinda a captivating look.

“Of course, I will. It will be a pleasure.”

Daniela felt that there was something between the two of them that she had missed. There was a complicit look between Florinda and Augusto. Daniela wondered what had happened between the two of them on the day she had gone to the hospital with her grandmother.

“Is the event formal?” asked Florinda, worried about what outfit she should wear. She didn’t want to underdress, but she also didn’t want to attract too much attention. Her idea of intellectuals was that they were all very discreet and even gray, but she decided to keep her opinion for herself.

“No, this is an informal and relaxed event, open to all those who enjoy reading. Yesterday I received a confirmation e-mail from an employee of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. It seems that the professor who was organizing the event had an accident and now this woman named Maria is in charge of organizing the event. I hope the professor will be able to attend the talk. I have already read some of his articles and I love the passionate way he writes about Literature.”

“I’m sure you’ll be the star of event,” Augusto said, in a fatherly tone.

Daniela felt a tear wanting to escape her eyes. The distance from her parents and their lack of support regarding her career options was affecting her, no matter how hard she tried to disguise it. Having Florinda and Augusto present on the day of the talk was very important. Her grandmother was still recovering from surgery and would not be able to attend.

Daniela was still sad about Pedro not showing up on Saturday, but decided that she had to concentrate on her career and forget about him. Some of Portugal’s best literary critics and writers were going to be at the talk. Daniela had to prepare her speech thoroughly. She didn’t want to disappoint the professor who had invited her.

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This is the ninth chapter of my short story “The Bookish Love Affair” that I’m publishing here on the blog. It’s a sweet romantic comedy about two strangers on two different trains who share the love for books.