“No.” Jack jumped to his feet, shaking his head. “Sara wouldn’t do something like that. I know her.”
“I realize it’s a lot to process, but she did.”
Jack took a moment to digest her words. “Why would she do something like that?”
“Simple. She was in love with you. I think she despised the fact that you had fallen in love with me instead of her, so when she saw the ring, she panicked.”
A pained look marred his face. “And your mother confirmed this?”
“Yes, she did. That’s the reason I exploded on her. To hear her tell it, she saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life.”
Jack sat down and exhaled a long breath. “She’s not wrong, you know,” he said quietly.
“What?” His words shocked her. “How can you say that?”
“Don’t get me wrong. What she did was inexcusable, deplorable even.” He scratched his head. “But what would have happened if I’d proposed? What would you have said? What would we have done?”
“I-I don’t know. That was so long ago.” She thought for a moment, then went on. “Knowing me and how in love I was, I would likely have said yes.”
An involuntary twitch cracked the edges of his mouth. “Which is why I’m glad it never happened.”
“I don’t understand,” said Ellie, feeling hollow. “Didn’t you love me?”
“Of course I loved you. I still—” He turned away. “Look,” he said after composing himself. “All I’m saying is given everything that happened after that night, who’s to say we would have made it? What if we’d ended up hating each other?”
“I don’t believe that,” said Ellie. “I could never hate you.”
“Maybe not, but there’s no denying our marriage would have been difficult, especially at the start. I mean, what if you’d quit school or I’d died in the war? There are so many ways it could have ended poorly. I’m not saying I’m glad your mother and Sara conspired against us but look at what we’ve been able to accomplish. It’s just like we talked about.”
“Only it isn’t.” Ellie got up and leaned against the counter, feeling a roiling sensation in her stomach. “When I fell in love with you, I saw us working together to accomplish our goals.”
“So did I, but I guess that wasn’t written in the stars, was it?”
“But that doesn’t mean it can’t be,” she said optimistically. “Once, you said that we were the authors of our own destinies, free to choose our own paths.” But before she got carried away, Ellie remembered Sara. “What will you do about Sara now that you know the truth?”
Jack leaned in his chair and let out a long sigh. “I don’t know,” he answered, appearing conflicted. “On the one hand, everyone makes mistakes, but on the other… I don’t see how I can be with her, not after this. Besides,” he said, staring into her eyes, “when it comes right down to it, it’s you I want, and I’d give up a thousand Saras for you.”
Whether it was Jack’s words or the whiskey, Ellie suddenly felt light-headed.
“Are you okay?” He rushed to her side.
No.“I think I had a little too much to drink.”
Jack poured her a glass of water and told her to sip on it.
“Thank you.” When she had composed herself, she said, “Do you think I could stay here tonight? I can’t stand the thought of staying another night in that house while she’s there.”
“My house is your house,” he said, and went to prepare the room for her.
When Jack returned, Ellie retreated upstairs, giving him time to process what she had told him. He sat on the porch and drank a couple of beers, then lumbered to his room, where he lay in bed, listening to the rain. Armed with the knowledge of Sara’s betrayal, he felt relieved, having no regrets for kissing Ellie the night before. And as he closed his eyes, he realized there was nothing stopping him from kissing her again.
* * *
Long after midnight, Ellie was jolted awake by a clap of thunder that rattled the whole house. Unable to sleep, she slipped out of bed and made her way to Jack’s room, where she found him standing by the window.
“Can’t sleep either?”
Jack turned at the sound of her voice. “I don’t sleep well when it storms,” he said, looking troubled. “What’s your excuse?”
