Page 24 of Finding Our Reality

“Thank you.”

We walk down to the park, enjoying the winter sunshine, and settle on the gourmet sandwich food truck. We each get a chicken salad sandwich and some pasta salad. We eat most of the meal in silence. At least it’s a comfortable silence today. Depending on our moods, our silences can either be comforting or completely annoying and disturbing.

She didn’t ask for no tomato on her sandwich. She picked it off and it’s laying on the side of her plate. “Why didn’t you say ‘no tomato’?”

“I guess some old habits die hard.”

A cool breeze blows, warning of the cold front about to come through. Her hair tangles in her mouth, and she giggles, trying to pull it away.

Kill me now.

“I like your hair. When did you decide to start curling it?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t curl it. It does this all by itself.”

I wipe my mouth with my napkin. “Your hair changed from straight to wavy? All on its own?”

She rubs her neck. “That happens with women sometimes. We get older, our hormones change.”

“Huh.” I didn’t know that. But I’m not a hairdresser. Or a woman. She licks some pasta dressing from her fork, drawing attention to her perfectly pink lips. The lips I used to kiss. The lips that used to wrap around me. Needing a distraction, I decide to ask a question that’s been gnawing at me since we started working together. “Tell me somethi—” I quickly rephrase my question. “Tell me about your career? How did you get started in this? I assume you didn’t pursue an architecture degree.”

“I didn’t. You know that’s never what I wanted.”

“Yeah, I know.”

She surprises me by relaxing her shoulders just a little bit. “I did one semester online with the University of Virginia. Then, I attended Michigan State University. I received two Bachelor’s. One in Criminal Justice and one in Journalism. Did my Master’s in Forensic Science with the University of Florida. Moved to Mobile and started my consulting business.”

Pain and anger grip my stomach, making me lose my appetite. “You moved to Michigan?”

Her stare is blank and void of emotion. “Yes, that’s where Hudson was attending college. We moved to Michigan, and I just did my first semester online with UVA before my enrollment at MSU started.”

“Two degrees. That’s impressive. How long did it take?”

“Just the normal four years. I had to complete everything before the move to Florida.”

“Shit, Lulu. Did you even have time for a life?”

“I did twenty-one hours per semester during my sophomore, junior, and senior years. Plus, I took summer classes.”

“That’s a lot of school.” I’m glad we’re sitting at a picnic table so she can’t see my leg shaking uncontrollably underneath the table. “Must have been hard, socially. Especially for a newlywed.”

Her eyes flare and her back arches forward. “I was there for an education. Not for a party. Hudson didn’t suffer. He had his own friends.”

“And Florida?”

“That’s where Hudson attended law school. I moved to Mobile before he finished. His father’s law firm was opening an office there to service the Alabama and Florida Panhandle. I moved there early to establish my business. His father helped set me up with some initial clients. My work spoke for itself. I was fortunate enough to be filling a void right when it was needed.” She piles her trash on her plate. “That’s how the business started.”

She’s absolutely perfect.

Except for the fact she married that tool, Hudson.

“Those are fascinating accomplishments. Achievement looks really good on you.” I clear my throat, rubbing my hand over my face. I’m afraid to say what I’m thinking, so I whisper my words instead. “That’s all I ever wanted for you.”

The color drains from her face. I didn’t mean to upset her. I guess no matter what I say or do, I will always upset her. It must be my destiny.

She nods. Just once. “And what about you? After the service? Marcum said you discharged early?”

I don’t have a chance to answer her questions. My cell phone rings, abruptly ending our conversation. I guess she can tell by my one-sided responses that it’s time to go. She grabs both of our plates and tosses them in the trash. “I’m sorry about that. I have to run out on a call. I need to head back.”

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