Page 45 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
She shrugged.“Why should it be hard?David and I are happy.You’ve apparently moved on with Sam.I assume you have no nefarious plans to mess with my relationship or anything?”
“No,” I answered honestly.“None.”
“Exactly.You’re past that.And it all happened years ago, anyway.”
I looked to Sam and he nodded encouragingly.
“Great.”
“You don’t want me to apologize or something?”I asked, cocking my head.
“I don’t know.”She wrinkled her lips.“Would you mean it?”
The question required serious consideration.Deep down inside, I harbored no real hate for the woman.If anything, a lingering sense of embarrassment coated those memories.Years ago, I’d tried to break her and her new husband up.That he’d once been my long-time boyfriend didn’t really matter.Not really.Without a doubt, it’d been a heinous thing to do.Yet here she was allowing me into her home.
Highly doubtful if the situations were reversed I’d ever be that nice.
“We weren’t friends at the time and I didn’t owe you anything,” I said, choosing my words with care.“But I do regret trying to upset your and David’s happiness, if that counts?”
“Okay.I can live with that.”
“Yay,” said Liz quietly.
Except then I thought about it some more.This was my chance to get rid of this situation entirely.Over in the corner, I could feel how Sam had tensed.How he watched me carefully.While I wasn’t going to prostate myself to make him happy, it seemed stupid not to swallow my pride just a little and admit to past mistakes.I’d come back in search of family.Some sense of belonging.Maybe this might be part of it here.
Decision made.“No, look…it was a shit thing to do.I highly doubt we’re ever going to be best buddies or anything.But I was out of line and I’m sorry.”
Ev paused, surprised.“Thank you, Martha.I forgive you.”
Done.I took a sip of wine.
“This is so beautiful.”Lena wiped a fake tear from her eye with much drama.“You two are consciously coupling and I feel like there should be violins or something.Rose petals drifting down from the ceiling.”
Ev threw a cushion at her and the woman’s wine sloshed over the rim of her glass.I couldn’t help but smile.It was a good hit.And across from me, even I could admit that Lizzy’s self-satisfied expression was probably well earned.So I didn’t throw anything at her.I might not even give her the wardrobe equivalent of cow dung for Christmas.Maybe.Perhaps having female friends that were more than just casual acquaintances wouldn’t be the worst thing ever.
“So you two are friends now?”asked Anne, sounding slightly astounded.
“Sure,” said Ev.“Why not?And now how about we talk about why Anne is only drinking water.That’s what I want to discuss next.”
“Oooh.”Lena chuckled.“I totally missed that.Oh my God.”
“I might just go wait in the kitchen,” said Sam, slipping away.But not before giving me a look full of pride.Easing back further in the seat, I watched him go with a smile.
“No-no-no!”
“Yes-yes-yes,” I shouted back because mature.“One tiny weeny little cube of carrot, then you get a spoonful of spaghetti.That was the deal.”
Gibby laughed and shook his head, delighted with our game.Meanwhile, Ben just sat opposite, smiling.Probably because he wasn’t the one having to convince the kid to eat something healthy.As battles of wills went, meal times rocked.For Gib, not for me.I usually lost.Though I’d found that by confiscating the dish and spoon early on, less food got thrown around.A good thing for everyone involved, but mostly me.
“You’ve been behaving so well all morning.”I shook my head.“This is sad.You’re giving Aunty Martha sad face.I hope you’re proud of yourself, young man.”
Gibby clapped his hands.“Yes!”
“Of course you are.”
“He gets that from you.”Ben smiled around his cup of coffee.“Little horns come out of his head sometimes, too.It’s all from you, sister.”
“Dream on.He’s your child, through and through.”
