AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I turned around to see his gorgeous ex-wife shimmering in the moonlight in an expensive looking cashmere overcoat like some model. I wasn’t sure if I minded that she followed me out here. Was she looking for a catfight? Did Jonah’s flirting bother her? Was she abhorred by the gluttony she witnessed while she ate her perfectly portioned vegan Thanksgiving wrap? Was she mad that Jonah chose to eat our meal even though she brought him a wrap too?
I didn’t know how to respond to her. Instead, I rubbed my arms through my thin sweatshirt.
“I apologize, you must be cold,” she noticed, “but I wanted to talk to you alone tonight and this is probably our only chance.”
I dropped my arms and stood still, intrigued by what she had to say. “What would you like to talk about?” If she was going to try and get me to give up sugar, I was out of there. Sugar was seeing me through until I made it to therapy.
Eliza stepped closer.
I wrung my hands.
“Please do not be nervous around me,” she pled. “I am very happy that I finally have the pleasure of meeting you.”
“Really?” I couldn’t help but ask.
She chuckled. Even her laugh was alluring. I could see why Jonah was attracted to this woman.
“Yes,” she responded. “I wanted to know the woman who stole Jonah’s heart.”
I choked and turned to cough into the night. “It was a long time ago. Nothing is going on between us,” I stuttered. My breath played in the cold air between us.
She touched my arm. “You are taking that the wrong way. I am happy for Jonah. He deserves to be happy. And I know I did not make him happy.” The regret in her tone was apparent.
“Are you sure?” I knew Jonah wouldn’t have married her if she didn’t make him happy. If he didn’t love her.
She squeezed my arm. “I am sure. He is a different man than when I first met him and I wish I could say it was for the better, but I know I siphoned the life out of him.”
He probably hated the way she didn’t use contractions. It was driving me batty. But it didn’t take away from what she was admitting to me. I felt sorry for her. I could tell she still loved him. It was something we had in common.
I tilted my head, confused as to why she was sharing this with me. I was so perplexed I had forgotten I was freezing.
“You are wondering why I am telling you this,” she said.
Great. She was a mind reader too. I nodded without thinking. I swore her voice had magical properties. She would be a great salesperson.
“You see, when I met Jonah, he matched my profile for the perfect life partner. He is equally successful and as intelligent as me. Our families have similar backgrounds, and he,” she paused, “I believe he mistook my ambition for adventurousness. I think he wanted to see that. He was missing you.”
My jaw dropped.
“Do not act so surprised. Of course we talked about you. I do not believe this nonsense that you should not talk about previous relationships. Those relationships make you who you are. And you profoundly shaped Jonah. He spoke fondly of the woman who was not afraid to take hikes in the middle of the night or make up songs to help him with his shelf exams. Honestly,” she looked down at her feet, “I was jealous of you. I still am, but I made my choice, as difficult as it was.” She raised her head slowly. “As terrible as it sounds, my first love is my career.”
My eyes bugged out before I could stop them.
“I know. I know.” She didn’t seem upset that my facial expressions were judging her. “It sounds awful. It probably is, but as much as I love Whitney and Jonah, I am who I am. And who I am was slowly killing my husband and possibly my child.” She choked as if she hated to admit that.
“You don’t need to tell me this,” I said.
She stepped closer and took my hand. She obviously had personal boundary issues. “Oh, but I do, because Jonah has every intention of making you part of his life, which means you will be part of my life and Whitney’s. And I want you to know that I welcome you. After everything I have put Jonah through, he deserves to be happy. I do not believe I have ever seen him as happy as I did tonight.”
“I think it was the turkey and the pie.”
She laughed deeply. “I think you might be right. He is a good husband. He was,” she corrected. “He indulged my dietary preferences. He indulged all my preferences.” She sounded ashamed.
“You still wish he was your husband.” It wasn’t a question. And part of me didn’t like that one bit.
