other for all this time?”
“I don’t feel right about following them inside,” Becky said, starting her car up again. “You can confront him on your own.”
“Thanks, you’re a real friend.”
“I’m just not in the mood for a scene, and you’re acting so strange right now, I’m going to take the initiative to protect your dad.” Violet laughed and shook her head.
“Drama queen,” she said.
“Me? You better point that finger at yourself, my friend,” Becky said. While they drove away, Pam and John got out of his truck and walked into the diner together.
“This is so strange,” he said.
“Why? Don’t you like it here?”
“No, nothing like that. I haven’t been to lunch with a woman since my divorce.”
“Oh,” Pam said, sympathetically. “It’s hard the first few times. I know. Just pretend it’s what it is; a business luncheon. We are going to discuss my kitchen. You can even take it off as a business expense on your income tax.”
“Wait, I thought you were paying,” he said laughing.
“No, I’m on a fixed income,” but Pam laughed. “It’s strange for me too, being here for lunch with you. Can I tell you why?”
“Sure. I’m all ears.”
“I was supposed to get married on Saturday but my fiancé that was stood me up.” The hostess came by with menus and led them to a booth. John was glad for the interruption; he had more time to think of what to say to such a startling revelation. Even though Violet just told him about it, he didn’t think Pam would mention it so soon. They slid in across from each other and John hesitated. He decided to be honest.
“I don’t know what to say to you. It is so awful, so disrespectful. You seem okay in spite of it.”
“Oh, I’m fine, I truly am. I made the decision yesterday while I was on the beach before you came over, in fact, that I would forgive him. I don’t love him, and he apparently didn’t love me, and I’m actually grateful we aren’t stuck in a marriage neither of us wanted.” Pam looked out the window at the sunny sky, traffic heavy on the cracked asphalt road, the light glinting off the gravel and broken glass in the parking lot. The view depressed her; it was made of childhood memories and past disappointments. She turned her head and seeing handsome, rugged John looking so protective of her, worried about her stole the power her memories had to make her unhappy. It was a turning point in her life.
“Tell me about you,” she asked. “I feel like there is something brewing in your life, too.” He nodded at her.
“You’re very observant,” he said. “My ex-wife is getting married on Saturday. My daughter just told me, but I’ve known it was coming. You might know about him; Mark Carrier. He’s acting mayor in Jamesville now. Cassandra met him shooting craps in Atlantic City. Leave it to her to meet the worst shmuck. Out of all the addicted gamblers she could have met, she hooks up with the one who is under suspicion of fraud.”
“I think I remember something about a helicopter ride someone offered him that he shouldn’t have accepted.”
“Yep, that’s him. So now, I need to let it go. She gone, it’s not my business or my problem.”
“Don’t kid yourself, John. If I may speak frankly, you are always going to worry about your ex. What’s her name?”
“Cassandra.”
“You were married to her, you loved her even if she left you, you have kids with her; you mentioned a daughter. You’ll always have a place in your heart for her. The sooner you accept it, the easier it will be for you to recover. How long has it been?”
“Two years. Should be way over it by now.”
“Ha! Who said that? Someone who has never been through it, probably. You’re still grieving. Give it a while. You weren’t invited to the wedding, were you?”
“No, no thank God.”
“I’d be begging for an invitation if it were me.” Shocked, John shook his head.
“No way. I’d end up starting a fight with
“I don’t feel right about following them inside,” Becky said, starting her car up again. “You can confront him on your own.”
“Thanks, you’re a real friend.”
“I’m just not in the mood for a scene, and you’re acting so strange right now, I’m going to take the initiative to protect your dad.” Violet laughed and shook her head.
“Drama queen,” she said.
“Me? You better point that finger at yourself, my friend,” Becky said. While they drove away, Pam and John got out of his truck and walked into the diner together.
“This is so strange,” he said.
“Why? Don’t you like it here?”
“No, nothing like that. I haven’t been to lunch with a woman since my divorce.”
“Oh,” Pam said, sympathetically. “It’s hard the first few times. I know. Just pretend it’s what it is; a business luncheon. We are going to discuss my kitchen. You can even take it off as a business expense on your income tax.”
“Wait, I thought you were paying,” he said laughing.
“No, I’m on a fixed income,” but Pam laughed. “It’s strange for me too, being here for lunch with you. Can I tell you why?”
“Sure. I’m all ears.”
“I was supposed to get married on Saturday but my fiancé that was stood me up.” The hostess came by with menus and led them to a booth. John was glad for the interruption; he had more time to think of what to say to such a startling revelation. Even though Violet just told him about it, he didn’t think Pam would mention it so soon. They slid in across from each other and John hesitated. He decided to be honest.
“I don’t know what to say to you. It is so awful, so disrespectful. You seem okay in spite of it.”
“Oh, I’m fine, I truly am. I made the decision yesterday while I was on the beach before you came over, in fact, that I would forgive him. I don’t love him, and he apparently didn’t love me, and I’m actually grateful we aren’t stuck in a marriage neither of us wanted.” Pam looked out the window at the sunny sky, traffic heavy on the cracked asphalt road, the light glinting off the gravel and broken glass in the parking lot. The view depressed her; it was made of childhood memories and past disappointments. She turned her head and seeing handsome, rugged John looking so protective of her, worried about her stole the power her memories had to make her unhappy. It was a turning point in her life.
“Tell me about you,” she asked. “I feel like there is something brewing in your life, too.” He nodded at her.
“You’re very observant,” he said. “My ex-wife is getting married on Saturday. My daughter just told me, but I’ve known it was coming. You might know about him; Mark Carrier. He’s acting mayor in Jamesville now. Cassandra met him shooting craps in Atlantic City. Leave it to her to meet the worst shmuck. Out of all the addicted gamblers she could have met, she hooks up with the one who is under suspicion of fraud.”
“I think I remember something about a helicopter ride someone offered him that he shouldn’t have accepted.”
“Yep, that’s him. So now, I need to let it go. She gone, it’s not my business or my problem.”
“Don’t kid yourself, John. If I may speak frankly, you are always going to worry about your ex. What’s her name?”
“Cassandra.”
“You were married to her, you loved her even if she left you, you have kids with her; you mentioned a daughter. You’ll always have a place in your heart for her. The sooner you accept it, the easier it will be for you to recover. How long has it been?”
“Two years. Should be way over it by now.”
“Ha! Who said that? Someone who has never been through it, probably. You’re still grieving. Give it a while. You weren’t invited to the wedding, were you?”
“No, no thank God.”
“I’d be begging for an invitation if it were me.” Shocked, John shook his head.
“No way. I’d end up starting a fight with
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