“That’s called love. It sounds like you’ve already made a decision.”
“No, I haven’t. I don’t even know how I feel about this. Idoknow how I feel about him.”
“And…?”
“And yeah, I love him. Still, I’m confused. I really need to figure out what the whole other thing means to me before I just give in to what he wants, which is a short engagement.”
“How short?”
“He wants me to go with him to Florida in February for spring training, as his wife.”
“Wow. Thatisshort. And you said yes?”
“Yes.”
“But that was before you knew about this… thing.”
“Yes.”
“What is it? Some kind of visible growth that’s genetic?”
She chuckled. “No. Well, not a growth. I don’t know about the genetic part. Maybe it’s the side effect of some kind of scientific experiment?”
“Say what?”
“Nevermind. I can’t go into that. Not yet.”
“Okay. So back to the proposal. How do you feel about the engagement now?”
“I don’t know,” Merry wailed. “I don’t know how I feel aboutanything!”
“Boy, you’re flip-flopping all over the place.”
“I know. It’s like… Well, not like I’ve lost myself or anything. More like I’d neverfoundmyself. Now I have, but can I trust it?”
“I was wondering how this was going to play out. I mean, youjustbusted out on your own. We talked about going clubbing, kicking up our heels, and then you go and meet this gorgeous hunk and fall in loveimmediately. Aren’t you apt to feel gypped out of the whole singles scene? If not now, how about ten years from now? Twenty years? The rest of your life?”
“I don’t know. From what I’ve heard from you and the girls I work with, it’s not that glamorous. Oh, I know. They complain about their husbands, but they wouldn’t want to go back to being single for anything.”
“We’re not talking about them. We’re talking about you. How doyoufeel? Take it slow. Think about each situation. Spit out words that describe as many things that you’re feeling as youcan. Maybe we’ll see something emerge. Start with how you feel about being with Jason now, then move on to how you feel about being with Jason forever.”
Merry sat silent.Crap. Was it that easy?
“Okay… I’ll try it.” She took a deep breath. “I feel lucky, loved, appreciated, incredibly special…”
“Anything else? Anything negative?”
“No. I think those are the words I’d use for how I feel about being with Jason now. I mean, I was worried about his fame and how that could drive me nuts, but he’s pretty much put those fears to rest.”
“Yeah, I guess if he proposed, he means it. Okay, so now think about being with Jason for the rest of your life. How does that make you feel?”
“Um… lucky. Incredibly special. Like I couldn’t have done any better in life. A little scared, but I think that’s normal.”
“Hmm…” Roz said. “I’m suddenly envious and want to ask you if he has any brothers?”
Merry chuckled. “He does, but he’s already married.”
“Damn.”
