He sighs like I’m being difficult. “I didn’t realize how much it meant to you. Even afterward, I thought it was just something you had to get out of your system. You know I don’t like flying…”
“It wasn’t about you!” I shout and then glance around at the other customers before dropping my voice. “For once, I wanted to do something for myself. Something I needed. Something Grandma Frannie inspired me to do. And you couldn’t be bothered to fill out some paperwork, or take two weeks off work.”
“Well you know how important my job is.”
“I know that you think it makesyoulook important.” I counter.
“Junie, let’s start over. We’re good together. We should get married. You know, I haven’t had a home-cooked meal since you left. I’m useless without you.” He smiles like he’s just said something charming. My stomach lurches.
“Married? David, we’re over.”
“Your sister thought it was a good idea.”
“Lisa? Why have you been talking to my sister?” I laugh and shake my head. “This is crazy. I’m not going to marry you. I’m not going to cook any more dinners for you. I thought that was clear when I flew to Bali and blocked your number.”
“Well, I could hardly talk to you about it when you weren’t answering my calls.”
“There’s nothing more to talk about, David. I loved you, but I’ve moved on. Here’s the rest of your crap.” I nudge the trash bagover with my foot. He wrinkles his nose like he smells something rancid.
“Is this about the giant? Be realistic, Junie. What can he offer you? A pocketful of sand? A necklace made of seashells? I’m due for a promotion any day now. We could move to the city, like we always said.”
My chest feels like it caved in. Just a few months ago, marrying David and moving to the city would’ve been a dream. Someone else’s dream. I can’t believe that I thought my life was over because this man didn’t love me like I’d hoped. It feels like the world has gotten bigger since then—at least mine has.
“Anything else you’ve left behind is going to Goodwill. I’m changing the locks. Good luck with your promotion, David.” I stand up, not even bothering to finish my coffee. I’ll take love and pockets full of sand over whatever this is any day.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’ll send you a postcard from paradise.” I toss the words over my shoulder without a backward glance.
*****
By the time we’re on the way to my parents’ house with a bottle of wine, I feel better. Stronger. Like I can handle anything.
“My family might be a little surprised, but they mean well, and they only want what’s best for me,” I assure Steven in the car. He smiles at me, but it feels off. “Is everything okay?”
“’Course.” He shakes his head. “Sweet as. It’s just a lot to take in.”
I laugh. “This is nothing. My friends and I used to feel so suffocated here in high school. I can’t believe I moved back here after college.”
“Why did you?”
I sigh and look out the windshield. We don’t have nearly enough road left to answer that question accurately.
“I guess because David did. He wanted to live near his family while we saved up for a big move to the city.”
“New York City?”
“Mmhmm.” I nod, turning onto the dirt road that leads to my parents’ property. In the distance, I can see the driveway filled with cars, including my sister’s.
“What did you want to do there?” Steven asks, stroking my thigh absentmindedly. I can feel his eyes on me, but I keep my gaze forward.
“Well, David wanted to do some screenwriting. We have a few friends who moved out to the city, so he thought having some connections might help.”
“That guy writes movies?” His eyebrows shoot up and I stifle a laugh.
“Not quite. But he definitely planned to start, once we moved there. I guess he needed the setting first before he could make the dream work.”
“So that’s why he wanted to move, but what were you going to do there?”
