Page 156 of Never Forever

“Look.” He turned to face me, grabbing my thigh to pull me closer. “No matter what happens, no matter what anyone says, I love you. I never stopped loving you and I never will. Okay?”

I nodded. “Okay, Matt.”

He kissed me like he was sealing a declaration. Like we were forming a new country with new laws. The boundary was us. I believed him. I wanted to and so I did. The world had been rearranged with that ultrasound.

I needed him.

Matt Sullivan.

In some ways it was freeing to just let go of the past.

“Matt, I-”

There was a little knock on the window and we both turned to see Weidman standing there in a stocking cap. I rolled down the window.

“Hey, it’s freezing out here tonight. Do you think we should rent some space heaters?” she asked.

“I told you!” I cried, and Matt hung his head.

“Fine, let’s go get some,” he said.

“I don’t wantto disappoint anyone,” Verity said nervously.

The cast was backstage putting on makeup and the band was warming up. Madame Za was out front taking tickets. While Verity was in full on meltdown mode backstage. “I honestly can’t take disappointing anyone anymore.”

“Who have you disappointed?” I asked as I applied her makeup.

“I have been married for less than a year,” she said. “And I’m getting a divorce. I’m disappointing everyone.”

“Is it your fault? Did you cheat? Did you marry him knowing you didn’t love him?”

“No.”

“Then maybe it’s you who has been disappointed. Maybe you’re the one who got hurt.”

Matt walked by carrying extra corn to put on the flats. He winked at me and I blushed.

“You’re in love,” Verity said. It wasn’t a question.

I didn’t bother to deny it. I hadn’t said it to Matt yet, but I’d felt it.

“Good luck,” she said and hopped out of her chair.

The seats were filling up out front and the heaters were turned on. I went out with Madame Za to hand out blankets and help people to their seats.

“Oh my,” she said, taking one look at me. She looked down at my belly and then back at me, her eyes wide.

“Come on,” I cried. “There’s no way you can know that.”

“You would be surprised what I know,” she said, touching her toque on which she’d pinned her broaches and a long peacock feather. She wore scarves over a long black wool cape. She looked like a Maine Witch.

“How far along are you?” she asked in a low voice. I smiled and waved at some old friends I recognized on the other side of the seats.

“Not far and no one knows,” I said. “So hush!”

She stepped in front of me, her dramatically lined eyes wide as they stared hard into mine.

“Too many secrets have been kept around you and it has cost you too much. I’m glad you’ve finally overcome all that.”

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