I had to let her go. After all, she wasn’t really ever mine to begin with.
With Memorial Day weekend coming up, I decided to plan a getaway with the kids to Lake Arrowhead. We needed a change of scenery, and I needed the distraction. I rented a house on the lake and invited Evan, my sister Sarah and her new boyfriend. Sarah was always my sounding board. She’d been there through the messy end of my marriage with Kelly, offering tough love and support in equal measure. When I first told her about Natalie, back in December, she wasn’t surprised.
“You’ve seemed happier lately,” she said, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Does it have anything to do with the woman you couldn’t stop peaking glances at the school gale?”
When I admitted it was, her eyes lit up. But when I told her Natalie was married, the excitement faded.
“Is this really something you want to be mixed up with?” Sarah asked, her voice softer.
I shrugged, feeling a pang of regret. “I didn’t go looking for trouble. It wasn’t something I paid much attention to at first. Guess I should’ve.”
“You never know what could happen,” she said, ever the optimist. “Sometimes, people find their way back to each other.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell her I didn’t believe that. Natalie made her choice, and I wasn’t the type to chase someone who didn’t want to be caught.
On Friday afternoon, I pulled into the school parking lot to pick up the boys and Ivy. Sarah would bring Madison. The sun was beating down, and the chatter of parents waiting for their kids filled the air. As I got out of the car, I spotted Meredith stepping out of Natalie’s Range Rover.
Our eyes met, and she hesitated before walking toward me.
“Will,” she said softly, her voice almost apologetic. “I’m so sorry. I just… I think you were great for her.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond. “I knew this could happen,” I said finally. “But it was worth it. Even if it didn’t last.” I hesitated, then added, “Give her my best.”
Meredith nodded. Her expression was a mix of sympathy and regret. For a moment, I thought she might say more, but she just smiled faintly and turned back toward the school gates.
The drive to Lake Arrowhead was filled with laughter and music. The kids created a playlist for the trip, a chaotic mix of pop hits, old rock songs, and the occasional Disney tune. I letthem take turns DJing, even when Ivy insisted on playing “Let It Go” for the third time.
The winding roads leading up to the lake were lined with towering pines. Their scent filled the car. Ivy pressed her face to the window as the lake came into view with its surface shimmering in the late afternoon sun.
When we arrived at the rental house, Sarah was already there with her boyfriend Todd, and Madison. She greeted us with hugs and snacks while Todd offered a friendly handshake. Madison was sprawled out on the couch, scrolling through her phone, but she gave a half-smile when we walked in. The kids, energized by the long car ride, ran off to explore the house. Their excited voices echoed through the halls.
“Nice place,” Sarah said, glancing around. “You went all out.”
“Figured we deserved it,” I replied.
Evan showed up just before we started dinner, Bear trotting ahead of him up the walk. The kids were instantly excited to have a dog around for the weekend.
We spent the evening settling in. We grilled burgers on the deck with the lake stretching out before us, and the kids took turns roasting marshmallows over the fire pit.
As the sun set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, I felt a small sense of peace. For the first time in days, the ache in my chest didn’t feel so sharp. That night, after the kids had sprawled out in the living room for a movie with Sarah and Todd, Evan and I sat on the deck with glasses of wine.
“So,” he began, giving me a pointed look, “how are you really doing?”
I hesitated, swirling the wine in my glass. “I’m trying,” I said finally. “But it’s hard. Natalie…she was different.”
Evan nodded, his expression thoughtful. “She meant a lot to you.”
“She did,” I admitted. “But she’s married, and she made her choice.”
Evan didn’t respond right away. His gaze was fixed on the lake. “You know,” he said finally, “sometimes people end things because they think it’s the right thing to do. Doesn’t mean they don’t love you.”
I let his words sink in, but I didn’t respond. I didn’t want to hold onto false hope. Natalie was gone, and I needed to accept that.
We spent the next morning hiking one of the trails near the lake. Ivy was perched on my shoulders for most of it. The boys raced ahead, stopping every so often to point out a squirrel or interesting rock.
In the afternoon, we went out on the boat and spent hours on the water. Madison seemed more relaxed than I’d seen her in weeks. She even smiled, a real smile, when she took a turn tubing with Ivy. Chase managed to steer the boat without crashing. Carter wake boarded like he had been doing it every weekend.
Watching them, I felt a pang of gratitude. No matter how complicated life became, these moments made it worth it.
