Page 43 of Ever After

“I didn’t think there was anything to tell. I don’t want to get back with him. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.”

“We agreed to always be truthful with each other, no matter how hard the truth will hurt. We agreed to tell each other everything. I will not stand in the way. You deserve better, but if he is what you want, tell me now.”

I’m such a coward. We agreed on that right before he left back home, and that was the same night Aiden had set up the candlelit dinner. Nausea hits me. Am I even any better than Aiden?

“I promise you, I don’t want him back. He wants to work things out. That must be what these flowers are for.”

“Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”

I start from the beginning and tell him everything.

After telling Jay everything, he seems fine. He said he trusted me but would like me to still follow through with what we agreed on earlier. I pull out my phone and text Aiden. I need to find out who sent the flowers.

Me: Did you send me flowers?

Aiden: Yes, did you like them? They reminded me of the wildflowers we found up in the mountains that you fell in love with. Remember, you pulled some out by the root to replant them in our yard, but by the time we got home, they died. You were so upset. I said I would go buy you some at the store to plant them, but I never did. I thought you could plant these since they are still alive and in water.

I stare at my phone in disbelief. I can’t believe he remembers that. When we got home, I found them dead. Aiden never got them for me like he said he would. It made me a little sad that he never followed through, but I moved on. I never got them for myself either. To make it more special, I wanted them to come from him.

As I dry myself off, I catch my reflection in the mirror. I stop and stare at myself. A tear falls down my cheek. Not because of the loss of the memories I once had from a person who was once so special to me, but because I don’t even recognize myself anymore. Love is like flowers. You have to nurture the flowers to make them blossom. Just like a marriage, you have to nurture it to make it grow. The second you stop nurturing it, it dies…just like my marriage.

“Hi honey, how have you been?”I stand up from the table and wrap my arms around my mom. I inhale her scent of grapefruit and bergamot. She always has on the best perfumes. The second we sit back down, my mom grabs her mimosa that I ordered for her and takes a sip. We’re having brunch at a place called Mimosa House.

“I’m okay. I hope you don’t mind but I ordered you the mimosa while I was waiting.”

“Not at all.”

My mom looks over the menu. I got here a little early, so I already know what I want. I always order the same thing, anyway. Avocado toast with a poached egg on top. I don’t even know why I looked at the menu.

I glance around at all the people talking and laughing and enjoying themselves. There is a cute couple diagonal from me. The boyfriend keeps reaching over and grabbing his girlfriend’s hand. The girlfriend gets this shy look on her face every time he does it. They must be newly dating. I miss that affection. The newly dating phase where everything is so fun and romantic. Jay crosses my mind.

“What are you thinking about?” my mom asks.

“I was looking over at the couple over there.” I tilt my head back a little to show where. “They look so cute together.” My mom turns a little and looks over her shoulder. She turns back to me with a sad look.

“What’s that face for?”

“Are you really, okay? I’m worried about you?”

I sit up a little taller in my seat and grab my mimosa. “Aiden is trying to make things work. He keeps doing things we used to do to bring up memories of our marriage. Or, at least I think that’s what he’s doing.”

“Do you want to work things out with him?”

I shake my head. “But it brings up a lot of memories we had and how much fun we used to have. Back when things were easier. I don’t know when or how things got like this between us. People say the seven-year itch is hard, and many marriages don’t make it. I never thought we would be one of them. I always thought it was a myth. After seven years, it seems married people would have everything down by then.” I spot the waitress coming over and stay quiet.

“Are you ladies ready to order?”

We order our food and another round of mimosas, and the waitress walks away, leaving us to continue our chat.

“Anyway, I never thought I would be in this position,” I admit.

“I don’t think anyone does. What’s going on with that new friend of yours?”

“Jay.”

“Yes. You sounded like you liked him when I picked you up from the airport.” I haven’t told my mom anything after that. She doesn’t know he came down here after I acted like a fool at the bars with Lia.

“He wants to make things work between us, but I don’t know what to do. I do like him, but I feel weird. I’m still married, and also, jumping into a relationship this quick—” The waitress comes back and sets down our mimosas.

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