Page 135 of My Heart's Doctor

“Devon?” she asked, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

“That’s my wife’s name, not the princess’s. I’m calling her because she’ll surely remember it.” I turned my attention back to Devon, my savior, who was looking at me, waiting to know why I had called her. “What did you say the princess’s name was?”

She approached slowly with a smug smile on her face. She was surely mocking me because, although she had told me minutes before, I couldn’t remember that horrifically difficult name. When she was beside me, she looked at the saleswoman and, with all her elegance and calm, said:

“The costume is for Rapunzel.”

In these matters, I felt as if there was a disturbing abyss separating me from her and Aurora.

“Yes, we have it. Please come this way,” the saleswoman indicated, looking at me as if I were a criminal for having forgotten such a strange name.

“Why is she looking at me like that?” I whispered, nodding toward the girl who was helping us, and Devon looked at me as if I were challenging her.

“How would you feel if I forgot the name of one of your favorite superheroes?” she asked, as we followed the saleswoman. “Because I assume you have one.”

“Of course. It’s Iron Man,” I replied proudly, as we were now entering territory well known to me.

“And what would happen if I told you I didn’t know him?”

“You can’t not know him,” I stated, though I understood her point; a princess was one thing and Iron Man was quite another.

“There you have it, that astonishment you feel at the idea that someone doesn’t know your favorite superhero is what happens to us when you don’t remember the names of the princesses,” she stated confidently.

Point for Devon, but I still intended to explain the differences between Iron Man and... and... Ramanuel or something like that, but I was interrupted.

“All the costumes are here. This isRapunzel’s,” she said, emphasizing the name and pointing to the costume, and I couldn’t help giving her a serious look.

A little while later, we were leaving the toy store with several packages and the peace of mind of having bought all the gifts that Aurora had asked for.

“It got very late,” Devon said.

“Not that late. Perhaps we could go for a drink somewhere,” I suggested, because I intended to spend some time alone with her, even though I knew she might have appointments very early the next day. “What time is your appointment tomorrow?”

“It starts at ten in the morning.”

“You don’t have to get up too early, we can go for a drink,” I affirmed.

Devon looked at me and nodded, turned on the car radio and we began to listen to “Separate” by the band PVRIS. We listened in silence, but between us silences were comfortable. Suddenly she stretched out her arm and turned off the radio.

“Why did you turn off the song? Don’t you like it?” I asked, surprised by her attitude.

“It’s a beautiful song, but I prefer not to listen to music.”

“You seem a bit strange or worried today,” I commented, because, although she hadn’t said anything, it seemed to me that she was quieter than usual and I wanted to find out what was bothering her. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m just a little tired, but don’t mind me and let’s go have that drink.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am,” she replied, looking at me with a smile.

At that moment I realized that I had been very inconsiderate with her because I was well aware that her work was exhausting.

“I’m sorry, my love, sometimes I forget that your work is grueling. Let’s go back home.”

Once again she surprised me with her generosity.

“No; I’m the one who should apologize for not enjoying these wonderful moments with you. Let’s go for that drink and enjoy the night even if I have to go to work tomorrow without sleep,” she said with great determination and turned the radio back on.