“Ryan will be there,” I said.
“I know.”
“With her.”
Elaine was quiet for a moment. Then she said, “Don’t let him push you out of places where you belong.”
I wanted to be brave.
Instead, I hired Daniel.
On the drive, I apologized for traffic, the air conditioning, my daughter’s fingerprints on his window, and anything else my anxious mind could find.
Daniel didn’t comment. He just answered the kids’ questions.
Yes, he had acted in commercials.
No, he wasn’t famous.
Yes, he had once played a pirate at a dental convention.
“With a sword?” my daughter asked.
“With a toothbrush,” Daniel said.
For the first time all day, the car filled with laughter.
Then we reached Elaine’s street.
Ryan’s truck was already there.
Beside it was Lucille’s white convertible.
My stomach twisted.
Daniel noticed, but he didn’t give me a speech. He only asked, “Ready?”
I wasn’t.
But I nodded anyway.
PART 2
Elaine’s backyard looked exactly like it did every year.
The pool sparkled under the sun. Red, white, and blue streamers hung along the fence. Kids ran barefoot through the grass while adults carried plates of ribs, watermelon, cupcakes, and lemonade.
For one second, I thought I might survive it.
Then I saw Ryan.
He was standing by the grill with one hand on Lucille’s waist. She wore a red swimsuit under a sheer white cover-up, her hair falling in perfect waves. She looked untouched by heat, motherhood, and heartbreak.
Ryan saw Daniel first.
Then he saw me.
His smile changed.
Elaine hurried over and hugged me. “Maggie, sweetheart. You look beautiful.”
I tugged at my dress. “It’s old.”
Before she could answer, Ryan’s voice cut across the patio.
“Well. This is interesting.”
People started pretending not to stare.
Ryan walked toward us with Lucille beside him.
“Maggie,” he said, looking Daniel up and down. “Who’s this?”
Daniel stepped forward calmly.
“Daniel. Maggie’s boyfriend.”
The word boyfriend seemed to freeze the backyard.
Ryan stared for a second.
Then he laughed.
“Him? Your boyfriend?”
My face burned.
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