Page 61 of Impossible

“It’s complicated."

“How so?” she asks.

Am I really going to open up to her about this? I remember Becca always telling me how great of a listener Peyton was. They really did have a great friendship. I decide to just go for it and be honest with her.

“I don’t know how to be his second choice in life. To know he will always look at me and see the woman he ended up with after he lost the real love of his life. It’s...hard. I know that makes me sound so...selfish.”

Gosh, I hate saying it out loud. It makes me sound like a stubborn child. Why can’t I just get over it?

“That’s not selfish at all. I can imagine that being a challenge. I never thought about what it would be like to date a widower. I suppose you can look at it that way. But you can also look at it that Liam got a chance to have two great loves in his life.” I turn to her, surprised to hear her speaking these words to me. I get she wanted to apologize. I didn’t think she would try to offer me advice. “You can’t change the fact that Liam fell in love with Becca and had a life before you two fell in love. But why can’t someone love two people equally but...differently in life? You wouldn’t tell a parent out there that they could only love their first child adequately, would you?”

She remains quiet while looking at me. I think she’s waiting for me to acknowledge her question.

“No, I wouldn’t ever think a parent couldn’t love all their kids equally in their own way.”

“Okay. Well, then, why can’t Liam love you in that way? There’s no point in worrying about what ifs. They won’t change the reality. The reality is that Becca is gone and Liam found someone else to love. You aren’t a replacement, you aren’t second to anyone. You are who Liam is choosing to be with despite losing a love. If anything, it shows how much he cares about you. Despite losing someone, he couldn’t help but fall in love with you.”

We are just arriving as she finishes. I park the car and try to wipe the tears falling down my cheeks. If what she is saying is true, why didn’t Liam fight? Why was it so easy for him to walk away?

“Thanks, Peyton.” I don’t really know what else to say right now.

“You guys will figure it out. I’ll see you inside.” She opens the door and I sit there for a moment to try to let these emotions pass.

---