through this time of loss,
no matter what.
Twenty-Seven
Once I regained somewhat
of a normal life back home I began to feel like a human being
again. There were times throughout my days I would think of what
I’d done, and had to continue to reassure myself that what I did
was for the best. I finally let the guilt go, and realized that it
wasn’t my fault what happened to me. Of course there were many
appointments to my shrink, and hours of me crying over the past,
but I came to a place where I knew it would all be okay.
When I finally felt like
returning to work, everything was just the same as I’d left it. My
desk and office were still neatly organized, and my co-workers were
more than understanding of my absence. I felt at ease with it all,
and jumped back in with both feet.
There were tons of
projects waiting for me, and so I sat down and buried myself in
them. I was so focused that when my office phone rang I damn near
jumped from my chair.
“Margaret Wells.” I
answered.
“Hi Maggie, this is Emily
Bradford, Tyler’s sister in law…”
Thoughts streamed through
my head at why she would be calling me, did something happen to
Tyler? “Hello Emily is everything okay?” I said
nervously.
“No, Jake and Tyler’s dad
died of a massive heart attack yesterday. The funeral is this
Sunday; I just thought Tyler might like the support of you being
there.”
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry
to hear that! Of course, let me make some arrangements to be
there.” I gave her my email, and personal phone number to send the
details of where the memorial would be held.
“Um I didn’t tell Tyler
that I was letting you know about this, so if you could keep it all
on the down low I’d appreciate it.”
“Sure no problem. How is
he?” I asked.
“Not good. Ever since you
left he’s been down in the dumps, Jake has tried to talk to him but
Tyler is hard headed.”
“I understand. Well let me
get off here and I will see you on Sunday.”
When I hung up the phone I
was saddened by what they were all going through. To lose someone
you loved was devastating. Or at least I’d been told.
I pecked around on my
computer and found a flight that would get me to Texas in time for
the memorial, and then I called a local florist close to the church
to secure an arrangement to be sent over. I took the rest of the
day off to go home and pack a bag for the trip. When I arrived home
I noticed that my door was already unlocked. Surely I didn’t forget
to lock up when I left that morning…
“Hey Maggie.” I looked up
and Richard was sitting on the sofa waiting for me.
“Richard, what are you
doing here?” I huffed.
“I wanted to stop by and
see how you were; I heard what happened in Texas…”
“That’s old news, and I’m
perfectly fine. Now what do you really want?”
He let out a sigh and
began. “I’m sorry for what I did to you, I fucked up and I regret
it.”
“I forgave you Richard,
end of story.”
“No it’s not the end of
the story Maggie, I still love you. I think we can make this
work.”
“Ha! Really? How am I
supposed to work around your pregnant girlfriend?”
“The baby is not mine. She
admitted that she had a relationship with someone else at the
office, and the timing was off for me to be the father. I still
want to marry you Maggie; I think we could have a great future
together.”
“I’m not sure I can do
that. Things have…changed.”
“Then tell me what I can
do to make you happy? I will do anything.” He sighed.
Was it crazy that I was
actually considering his proposal? That I might let this man back
into my life after what he did? I just wasn’t sure.
“Look, I’m leaving for a
few days Richard; I can’t make a decision right now.”
“I understand, but please
consider it.”
“Okay, I’ll think on
it.”
Richard stood to leave and
turned to face me when he reached the door. “You’ve changed
Maggie…and for the better I have to say.”
He was right I
no matter what.
Twenty-Seven
Once I regained somewhat
of a normal life back home I began to feel like a human being
again. There were times throughout my days I would think of what
I’d done, and had to continue to reassure myself that what I did
was for the best. I finally let the guilt go, and realized that it
wasn’t my fault what happened to me. Of course there were many
appointments to my shrink, and hours of me crying over the past,
but I came to a place where I knew it would all be okay.
When I finally felt like
returning to work, everything was just the same as I’d left it. My
desk and office were still neatly organized, and my co-workers were
more than understanding of my absence. I felt at ease with it all,
and jumped back in with both feet.
There were tons of
projects waiting for me, and so I sat down and buried myself in
them. I was so focused that when my office phone rang I damn near
jumped from my chair.
“Margaret Wells.” I
answered.
“Hi Maggie, this is Emily
Bradford, Tyler’s sister in law…”
Thoughts streamed through
my head at why she would be calling me, did something happen to
Tyler? “Hello Emily is everything okay?” I said
nervously.
“No, Jake and Tyler’s dad
died of a massive heart attack yesterday. The funeral is this
Sunday; I just thought Tyler might like the support of you being
there.”
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry
to hear that! Of course, let me make some arrangements to be
there.” I gave her my email, and personal phone number to send the
details of where the memorial would be held.
“Um I didn’t tell Tyler
that I was letting you know about this, so if you could keep it all
on the down low I’d appreciate it.”
“Sure no problem. How is
he?” I asked.
“Not good. Ever since you
left he’s been down in the dumps, Jake has tried to talk to him but
Tyler is hard headed.”
“I understand. Well let me
get off here and I will see you on Sunday.”
When I hung up the phone I
was saddened by what they were all going through. To lose someone
you loved was devastating. Or at least I’d been told.
I pecked around on my
computer and found a flight that would get me to Texas in time for
the memorial, and then I called a local florist close to the church
to secure an arrangement to be sent over. I took the rest of the
day off to go home and pack a bag for the trip. When I arrived home
I noticed that my door was already unlocked. Surely I didn’t forget
to lock up when I left that morning…
“Hey Maggie.” I looked up
and Richard was sitting on the sofa waiting for me.
“Richard, what are you
doing here?” I huffed.
“I wanted to stop by and
see how you were; I heard what happened in Texas…”
“That’s old news, and I’m
perfectly fine. Now what do you really want?”
He let out a sigh and
began. “I’m sorry for what I did to you, I fucked up and I regret
it.”
“I forgave you Richard,
end of story.”
“No it’s not the end of
the story Maggie, I still love you. I think we can make this
work.”
“Ha! Really? How am I
supposed to work around your pregnant girlfriend?”
“The baby is not mine. She
admitted that she had a relationship with someone else at the
office, and the timing was off for me to be the father. I still
want to marry you Maggie; I think we could have a great future
together.”
“I’m not sure I can do
that. Things have…changed.”
“Then tell me what I can
do to make you happy? I will do anything.” He sighed.
Was it crazy that I was
actually considering his proposal? That I might let this man back
into my life after what he did? I just wasn’t sure.
“Look, I’m leaving for a
few days Richard; I can’t make a decision right now.”
“I understand, but please
consider it.”
“Okay, I’ll think on
it.”
Richard stood to leave and
turned to face me when he reached the door. “You’ve changed
Maggie…and for the better I have to say.”
He was right I
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