Page 6 of Gone With the Wine

Ah yes, Jake. Her ex-boyfriend who has suddenly reappeared in her life again. I have so many questions.

We walk into the foyer. With the oak floor, original oak doors and trim, the big oak staircase with the carved newel post, and flowered wallpaper in dark shades of burgundy and navy, it feels gloomy in here. “This place needs some work.”

“I know.” Rosa sighs. “I’ve done a little. Come into the parlor. I managed to clean up in here.”

I follow her into the room. Rosahasfixed up this room, and it’s bright and inviting with late summer sunshine pouring through the window. I plop myself onto the couch. “I’m so tired. If I’m not making any sense, that’s why.”

“That’s why you should have told me you were coming! I could have had a room ready for you. Are you hungry? Thirsty?”

“Maybe? I don’t even know what day it is.”

She laughs. “It’s Wednesday and it’s nearly noon. I’ll make us a salad in a few minutes. Where’s all your stuff?”

“I left it in the car. I’ll get it in a bit.” I adjust a cushion behind my head and stretch out lengthwise on the couch. “Aaaaaah. It feels so good to lay down.”

“Do you want a nap? I can make up the bed right now.”

“I probably will need a nap, but not now. Let’s catch up. So yeah, Jake’s filled me in on some things. What I want to know is…what is happening between you two?”

“Well, uh.” She runs a hand over her dark hair and looks away, her cheeks getting pink. “We’ve, uh, kind of discovered that the, ah, chemistry between us never really went away.”

I eye Rosa curiously. She’s usually so composed, it’s funny to see her all flustered and stammering. This tells me a lot about what’s happening with her and Jake.

She and Jake were high school sweethearts, but he left abruptly after high school and that was the end of that. Dealing with Rosa’s broken heart back then left me a little pissed at him, to be honest. When I heard from Allegra that Jake is working here and not only that, living here in the house, I was startled. He broke Rosa’s heart years ago and my first worry was that he’ll do it again. I told Rosa that on the phone, but she quickly changed the subject.

“That was a long time ago,” I say slowly. “And there’s still chemistry?”

She nods. “Yes. And?—”

“You graduated high school and he fucked off to parts unknown almost immediately,” I remind her. “I’m surprised you’re even talking to him, to be honest.”

“It’s complicated.”

“No shit.”

She lifts her chin and straightens her shoulders. “There’s another thing. The reason it’s complicated is that…we’re married.”

My jaw drops and I sit bolt upright. “What?”

Rosa licks her lips as her eyes flicker. “It’s a long story.”

I swing my legs over the side of the couch and lean forward. “You can’t be serious. When did you get married?” I nearly shout.

She sucks in a breath. “Ten years ago.”

I fall back into the couch cushions, gaping at her. I literally have no words. I am dumbstruck. Speechless. After a moment of thick silence, I frown and shake my head. “How can that be?”

“I was supposed to be on that high school graduation trip. Jake and I detoured to Vegas, and, well, it was impulsive, but we were in love.”

“Sweet buttery Jesus on a breadstick. A Vegas wedding. I cannot believe this.” I lean forward again. “Why did none of us know about this?”

Her lips thin and she drops her gaze. “Uncle Geno got involved. He convinced me that it was a mistake and I owed it to the family to have the marriage annulled. Then he told Jake that I didn’t want to be married anymore.”

My eyes snap wide open.

“We both signed annulment papers and Jake left.”

“Ohhhh.” Relief sweeps over me. “So you’re not really married?”

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