Page 60 of Five Years
“Why? It’s been five years.”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” Grace shrugged. “Whenever I ask, they avoid the topic.”
“Surely she wouldn’t choose today? When I’m here as well?”
“Technically she didn’t know you were here until this morning, so...”
“Oh, shit, she’s going to propose!” Leah’s voice went high-pitched and squeaky.
“Sshh!” Grace slapped a hand over her mouth.
“I can’t believe she would choose now.”
“Is this a bad time to tell you that I wrote a heartfelt message in the birthday card ‘you’ gave her?” Grace looked guilty—and it wasn’tI ate the last slice of cakeguilty. It wasI really fucked upguilty.
“Grace . . .” Leah growled.
“Listen, I just thought it would be nice. I couldn’t write a generic message—she means more to you than that. It felt wrong.”
“What did you write?” Leah fumed.
“I can’t remember exactly,” Grace cringed.
“I’m going to get the card now!” Leah practically ran—just as Ariana walked out, a card clutched in one hand and Hannah’s hand in the other. She looked shell-shocked. Ariana forced a smile, but the grin on Hannah’s face stretched from ear to ear.
“We have some news,” Hannah announced to the group.
The other twelve guests turned their heads. Grace appeared at Leah’s side, squeezing her hand in support. She already knew what was coming. Grace predicted accurately.
“We’re engaged!” Hannah screamed. “Again!”
Hannah’s laughter rang out across the room. It was infectious. Leah only felt joy when she heard it—not hatred—and that was surprising, even to her. Leah smiled on the outside, but inside, her heart ached. She watched Hannah, her face aglow with happiness, and felt a pang of guilt.
It’s been over for a long time. This is when you finally move on,said the reasonable voice in her head.
They both accepted hugs and well-wishes from their loved ones. In the distance, Ariana’s eyes were drawn to Leah. She stood a little further away from the chaos, her presence like a shadow looming. Leah’s breath caught as she met Ariana’s gaze.She expected to see happiness—but instead, reflected in her familiar hazel eyes, was only pain.
“Grace!” Hannah beamed, turning to her and Leah. “Can you believe it? We’re engaged!” The words hung in the air—sweet, and yet so bitter.
“I know! It’s amazing,” Grace replied.
Leah looked down at the homemade card, slightly crumpled in Ariana’s hand. She seemed to grip it tighter by the second. Leah stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Ariana in a gentle embrace.
“I’m so happy for you,” Leah whispered.
“Can we talk?” Ariana whispered back.
Leah shook her head. She pulled back and extended the same embrace to Hannah. Whatever her intention in choosing now to propose, the facts were simple: Ariana was no longer Leah’s—and that stripped away any right she had to be upset.
She had to know what Grace wrote in that damn birthday card.
As the night began to wind down, guests retired to bed one by one, leaving Leah and Grace on the balcony.
“Are you okay?” Grace asked, concern creeping into her voice.
“I’m okay, just a little tired.”
Leah didn’t want to ruin the moment for Ariana, or Hannah, or even Grace—who was undoubtedly happy for her sister despite the loyalty she held for Leah.
