Page 108 of Happiness for Beginners

“Doesn’t sound like damage to me.”

“He sabotaged my healing process!”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean to, darling.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“It matters a little.”

“He was selfish,” I said. “He admitted as much. And he ruined everything. Twice!”

“Not everything. You gained some wilderness skills.”

“I don’t care about wilderness skills!”

“Well,” she said. “That’s progress.”

“He messed with my head.”

“And your heart, it sounds like.”

“That, too.”

“Good thing the heart is so resilient.”

“Mine’s not.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” she said, pausing to meet my eyes. “It is.”

I took a sip of wine.

“And how could you blame him?” she said, shaking her head. “He’s been so in love with you for so long.”

I swallowed. “He told you that?”

“He didn’t have to. It was plain to see. Every holiday meal. If you were in the kitchen mashing potatoes, he was in the kitchen washing dishes. If you had to run out to the market for something, he’d offer to go with. You’d say, ‘I don’t need your help to carry a bag of cranberries,’ but he’d insist on going, nonetheless. He switched the place cards every year to sit next to you.”

“I thought that was you.”

“No. But I was rooting for him. He was so charmingly, obviously lovesick.”

“It wasn’t obvious to me.”

“You weren’t paying attention.”

I reached up to rub my shoulder.

“And then!” GiGi went on. “For him to get you alone on a car ride! And you’re single now! It’s a wonder he didn’t eat you alive like the Big Bad Wolf.”

“GiGi!”

“It sounds like he was a perfect gentleman.”

“Not exactly perfect.”

“Poor thing,” she said. “Now you’ve ruined his life.”

“He ruined mine!” I said. “He got over me. On the trip. He’s moved on now—already. With someone else.”

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