Page 73 of Two Friends in Marriage
Howie nods.“I’m sure your father was also very surprised by your engagement…” He trails off, presumably realizing this wasn’t the case.
It’s like they can’t comprehend barely having a relationship with your adult child.It’s beyond their imagination.
I swallow.“I’m glad Evan has a…a loving family.I used to long for one.”
Howie’s eyes are misted with tears.I wonder if I shouldn’t have said that, but then he pushes the platter of sweets toward me.
And when Lynne stands up a few minutes later, she gives me a hug.
I’m pretty sure that if my mom were alive, she wouldn’t be much like Lynne.The young mother of my memories has a different personality, and though some of it might be thanks to a faulty memory, to the way we edit events in our mind after they happen, I believe there’s a kernel of truth in my memories.
I don’t think they’d be alike, but I think they’d get along, and as she pulls back, I feel I have a better sense of what it’s like to have a mother as an adult.
After scarfing down dinner—it’s a good thing I don’t have to cook, because I’m really not in the mood—I call Claudia to talk about Evan’s parents, as well as how much I miss my husband.
“Are you going to tell Evan how you feel about him?”she asks.
I regard my friend’s face on the screen of my phone.“I don’t know.”
Claudia, bless her, doesn’t try to give me advice.I couldn’t handle it right now.There are only so many feelings and difficult conversations I can manage in one day.
“But I do think you should go on a honeymoon,” she says, “or another trip.You haven’t been anywhere this year, and you deserve a holiday.With me, if not with Evan.”
“You’ve already come to Toronto.I could go out west, or we could meet in the middle—”
“Winnipeg?I’ve never been.”
“I don’t know much about Winnipeg, but I’ll look into it.”
“Already on it,” she says.“We could go to the mint?”
“Sure.Why not.”As long as I get to spend time with her.“Although…”
“What is it?”
“If I visit you in B.C., I could also visit Peyton.She sent me a card and wishes she’d been allowed to go to my wedding.”
We’ve texted a few times since then.She sent me a meme that she thought I’d find funny.I didn’t understand it, but I appreciated it nonetheless.I also discovered that snail mail is some kind of cool, old-fashioned thing in her group of friends.Like how some people in my generation got into records?I don’t know.
“Okay,” Claudia says.“Think about it and let me know.If we’re going to Winnipeg, we should probably do it soon.Before it gets too cold.”
“Good point.”
I’m looking forward to seeing her again.It’ll be fun.And now seems like a good time to tell her something that I’ve never told her before.
I tighten my grip on my phone and take a deep breath.“I love you.”
I know she’ll understand how I mean it.Not at all romantic, but maybe it’s practice for when I do say it in a romantic way.Still, it’s nerve-racking to put the words out there.
But for the first time in my adult life, they’re returned.
“I love you, too.”
Chapter 24
Evan
Aftermyfinalmeeting,I head to Montréal-Trudeau Airport.I don’t like airports and flying—it stresses me out—but today, I’m mostly filled with excitement.It’s a short flight, I don’t have to go through customs, and soon, I’ll get to see my wife again.
