A Decent Proposal by Teresa Southwick

“To this day I have no idea who ratted us out.”
    â€œI have my suspicion although it was never confirmed. It’s my theory that there’s some kind of parental code of silence,” Syd said. “And you’re one of them. Look at you. A mom now and Charlie’s a dad. Two beautiful kids—a boy and girl.”
    â€œRight? Todd and Bailey are the best things Charlie and I ever did.”
    Syd knew for a fact that she didn’t begrudge this woman her life or have any animosity about the past. But envy was something else. Violet was once her best friend and now she had a husband, children. She had everything Syd wanted. It was everything Syd’s dad wanted for her so that he could move forward with his own life.
    But the everything she wanted had always been vague until recently, Syd realized. Somehow Burke had made it come into focus.
    â€œYou and Charlie have a beautiful family, Vi,” she said softly.
    â€œSyd, I’m sorry. We never meant for it to happen and you have to know that neither of us would deliberately hurt you. You’re our friend. At least you were,” Violet added.
    â€œI know.” Clearly Violet had heard the wistfulness in Syd’s voice but it had nothing to do with what happened all those years ago. She reached out and touched the other woman’s arm, squeezing reassuringly. “It’s obvious that he didn’t love me or he wouldn’t have fallen so hard for you.”
    â€œYou have to know I didn’t do anything. I never came on to him and he didn’t to me, either. It’s just that we all hung out together. Charlie and I felt the attraction. We both tried to fight the feelings but couldn’t. We should have talked to you but eloping seemed like a good idea at the time. I just feel awful about what happened and the way we handled it. And so does Charlie.”
    â€œWhat do you say we put it behind us?”
    â€œAre you sure?” There was hope in the other woman’s eyes. “I think that would be wonderful, but can you forgive and forget?”
    â€œNo doubt about it. I already have.”
    â€œThat’s really a load off my mind.” Violet’s smile was genuine and relaxed now. “I’m so glad.”
    â€œMe, too.” She studied her friend—maybe not best friends forever, but definitely friends again. “And I have to say that you look fantastic. You were always beautiful, but the whole maternal, wifely thing is working for you. What’s your secret? You’re positively glowing.”
    â€œFunny you should phrase it like that.” She paused dramatically. “I’m going to have another baby.”
    â€œOh, my. Congratulations.” Syd honestly meant it, even though that pesky envy poked her again. “That’s wonderful. Is Charlie happy about it?”
    â€œEcstatic.”
    Lucky Violet, she thought.
    Every life was filled with peaks and valleys, but this news seemed to make her own valley even deeper. It was off the map of reason, but when Burke had said unequivocally that his future did not have a place in it for more children, Syd had been disappointed on a level that made no sense.
    Now the news of her friend’s pregnancy made her disappointment even more acute.
    There was an explanation for this reaction, but she didn’t even want to think about it. She took his revelation as a warning to avoid trouble ahead. If the incident with Violet and Charlie had taught her anything it was that knowing the bad was better than getting blindsided.
    * * *
    After work Sydney walked into Bar None, Blackwater Lake’s local drinking establishment. It was rugged and rustic, with dark beams overhead and a wood plank floor. Illumination came from lantern-shaped lights scattered throughout the place in booths and on tables. In the center of the room was the big, rectangular oak bar with brass foot rail. This was a weeknight so not many of the swivel stools