Page 10 of If By Chance

I shake my head, confused. “I don’t get it. You’re not telling me something bad, yet I think you are all at once.”

He sighs and raises his head to look at me. “My wife died eight years ago.” He laughs without humor and smacks his lips together. “Eight years tomorrow, to be exact.”

My mouth parts and a knot forms in the lowest part of my stomach. His wife died the day after their wedding.

Ouch.

“Oh,” I breathe, unsure of what to say, and chastise myself when my fingers twitch with the want to reach out and soothe him.

I was right.

There’s another lifetime behind those eyes.

Another story.

Another love story.

He said his son is eight, too.

All my problems suddenly feel minuscule.

And was the air on this beach always this thick?

I throw my hands up. “You win. Your misery wouldn’t have enough company in mine.”

He laughs loud and throws his head back, his shoulders relaxing against the bench.

“Eight years and you still wear your wedding ring.” It’s more of an observation than a question. I eye the gold band, and my heart breaks a little more for him. He’s a gorgeous man. I’m sure he has women throwing themselves at him all the time, yet he chooses the reminder of the woman he once loved to stay on his finger for everyone to see.

I remember how eager I was to get my engagement ring off. It was as heavy as a noose standing in that bedroom.

“Today is supposed to be the day I take it off. I worked myself up for it. Maybe tomorrow.” He sighs, broad shoulders lifting and falling with every breath. “She was the good in my days. She reminds me not to look for the ugly when I watch the sunset. I only had her for a short time, but she somehow imprinted herself on everything I do. I get greedy and wish I had her for longer, but how lucky am I to say I had her at all?”

I swallow the lump in my throat and quickly wipe the tears streaming down my cheeks.

That’s love.

Pure.

Unconditional.

Seeing the simple in the complicated.

Seeing the good in the bad.

We both turn away and without a word, watch as the sun sets far over the horizon.

“I’m sorry about your wife,” I breathe as the sky begins to turn darker and the air cooler.

“I’m sorry about your fiancé.” He runs both hands down his thighs, and I know he’s about to leave. “I better get back. My son is with family.”

“Thanks for sitting with me.” And I mean it. My shoulders feel lighter than they have all day.

“Are you kidding? Those donuts made it all worth it.” He smiles, and my tummy does a flip, but only because he can still smile after telling me his story.

We stand together, and I throw my thumb over my shoulder. “I better get going.”

He points in the opposite direction. “Me too. It was good talking to you.”

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