Cherry’s mom loved Tom. She loved all her sons-in-law. She thought they were all very long-suffering to put up with her daughters.
“He’s not here now,” Cherry said.
“But he came back? He came home?” Her mom was getting tearful.
“No. Just to pack his things.”
“Oh, Cherry...” She touched Cherry’s cheek. “This is a good thing. You have to talk to him.”
“It’s not like that, Mom. We don’t even see each other—he comes while I’m at work. There’s no talking.”
“Looks like there’s a bunch of note-writing...” Honny said, picking up a Post-it-plastered DVD.
Cherry took it from her. “We’re trying to sort everything out. It’s messy.”
Her mom was still trying to touch Cherry’s cheek. “That’s your husband.”
Cherry flinched. “Ex-husband.”
“Not yet,” her mom argued, petting her cheek. “And not in the eyes of God. Take this opportunity to talk to Tom. You can still heal, Cherry. Forgiveness is powerful. And it’s ongoing.”
“Marriages aren’t built on forgiveness,” Honny muttered, looking irritated.
“Sometimes they are!” Their mom was daring them both to argue. She felt very righteous about her own marriage. She was the queen of forgiveness; Cherry’s dad had given her ample opportunities. “I’m sure that Carl forgivesyousometimes.” Carl was Honny’s husband.
“Leave Carl out of this,” Honny said.
“Leave me out of it, too,” Cherry said.
“Cherry”—Honny waved her hand around the room—“this is disturbing. It looks like a forensics team has come through here.”
“Because it’scomplicated,” Cherry said. “Untangling two lives is complicated.”
“You’re letting Tom make it complicated, I can tell. You’re letting him beTomabout it.”
“HeisTom.”
“Yeah, but he’s not your problem anymore, Cherry! Why are you letting him be your problem?”
“He is herhusband,” their mother said. “He willalwaysbe her problem.”
Honny shook her head. “For Pete’s sake, Mom, you’re even more disturbing than Cherry.”
Cherry set down the DVD. (It wasRise of Skywalker.There were twelve Post-it notes on it—twelve reasons why the other person shouldhaveto take it.) “I’m not letting Tom be my problem. And I’m not taking him back.”
Honny looked doubtful. Their mom looked devastated.
“I’m actually seeing someone else,” Cherry said, raising her chin.
Their mouths dropped open in unison, like in a cartoon.
“You’rewhat?” Honny said. “How could you keep that a secret? Did you tell everyone but me?”
“No! I’m telling you now! I’m telling you both! I’m dating someone. I’mnotgetting back together with Tom—who doesn’t want to get back together, by the way. He’s moving to Los Angeles.”
“Oh, Cherry...” There were tears in her mom’s eyes. “You’re a married woman.”
Honny was frowning. “Youarea married woman.” (Cherry’s sisters were anti-Tom, but they were also very legalistic about marital vows.) (This waswhythey were anti-Tom.)
