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“To be fair, he’s gotten better since the divorce. He’s been a good father to the boys, and that’s all I can really ask for. He’s there for them so much more now than he used to be because he doesn’t have someone else to dump the child rearing onto anymore.”
Paula chuckled and stroked the rim of her water glass.
“I’m not sure how serious you two are, but knowing Owen, he’s all gaga about you. If you choose to stick it out with him, just…don’t let him do that. Don’t let him retreat when he has to deal with things he doesn’t want to. Don’t let him warp your relationship from a partnership to a convenience for himself.”
I bit the inside of my lips, grateful for her candor.
“Do you think that he’ll change?” I asked. “I mean, you know him far better than I do.”
She thought about that for a moment, but we were interrupted by the waiter coming out to ask what we wanted.
“How about we make them sweat it out through an appetizer, then we’ll go find them?” Paula asked.
I agreed.
She ordered a plate of assorted apps, then two glasses of white wine before the waiter left and we were alone again.
I wondered briefly if she was going to answer my question, but before I had to think too much, she shook her head at me.
“Do I think he’ll change? Yes. He’s already changed a lot, honestly. I think his problem was me, not marriage. I’m not trying to dissuade you. I just don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did. You’re young, you should make all your own mistakes.”
I huffed a laugh, my lips turning up.
“Besides, all the things I hated, it sounds like you enjoy.”
I felt my cheeks warm at the thought.
“Yeah, well, I guess I understand that part of him.”
“Well, at least someone does.” She laughed.
Our drinks and apps arrived just then, and Paula legitimately clapped with excitement.
I smiled at her, wondering about the contradiction that she was. Childish, but also full of experience. I could see what Owen had liked about her, but also why things hadn’t worked out.
We enjoyed our food, but it only made me hungrier.
“Ok, let’s get the boys. If they haven’t killed each other yet, that is,” Paula said before draining the rest of her wine.
I did the same, emptying my glass as she asked for the bill.
I started to pull out my wallet from my purse, but Paula waved me away.
“Honey, I remember what it’s like being a broke college student. It’s not a problem.”
Even though I was grateful, I was also embarrassed that I probably couldn’t have afforded our drinks and the appetizer, either. Every penny went toward living expenses, so I didn’t have to take a loan out just to survive.
“Thank you,” was all I managed while she handed the waiter her credit card.
Within a couple minutes, we were walking out the front door of the restaurant arm in arm again.
“So, should we make bets on what condition we find them in?” she asked while we looked around the parking lot.
I just laughed, and shook my head.
“I honestly don’t think I even want to know,” I admitted, just at the same time we heard masculine laughs coming from the side of the parking lot.
We raised a brow at each other, then headed toward the voices.
