The awkward exchange made Erin’s skin prickle with goosebumps. She waited for Genevieve to continue.
“Thank you for coming,” said Genevieve. Without a coffee cup to cradle, her hands clasped and unclasped nervously on the table.
“No coffee today?” asked Erin.
Genevieve shook her head. “I’m off it.”
Erin had nothing to add to that.
“Erin, I know we haven’t talked since … well, you know how long we haven’t talked. But I have some things I want to say to you. I hope you’ll give me a chance to say them.”
Erin sat back and gave Genevieve her full attention. “Go ahead.”
“First, I want you to know that I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I’m not asking for your forgiveness. You don’t owe me that. But I want you to know I’m sorry.”
Erin nodded but said nothing.
“Second—I know it doesn’t matter—but things haven’t turned out quite like I pictured. I don’t know if you’ll find any satisfaction in that, but there it is.”
“If you were going to ruin our friendship over a man, I guess you would hope it turned out well,” said Erin, with a tone almost as bitter as the coffee in her cup.
“I deserved that,” said Genevieve, holding her hands up in a stop-don’t-shoot gesture. “Third—there’s something else.”
“Yes?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Erin nearly spat out a mouthful of coffee. “You’re what?”
“I’m pregnant, Erin.”
Erin felt like she’d dodged a bullet. After what she’d learned about Mark’s character, she was relieved he would never be the father of her children. Erin took a sip of her coffee to cover a small smile as she recalled her mother pointing out Genevieve getting “chubby.” Joyce would never stop crowing about her observation once she found out this news. “Why are you telling me?”
“I don’t know. It seemed right, somehow. Even if I did everything else wrong, I could at least be the first to tell you. I didn’t want you to hear it secondhand.” Genevieve rested her hand on her belly. “And that brings me to the last thing.”
“Which is?”
“Which is that Mark and I are going to get married.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Word gets around,” said Erin.
Genevieve gave her a long, speculative look. “Okay. Here’s the thing. I know Mark tried to get you to stop coming to church. But I don’t agree with him—it would be wrong to chase you away just to save us discomfort, when you didn’t even do anything wrong. And maybe you don’t have any interest in coming to church anymore—that’s your business—but I don’t want to be the one to drive you off.” She took a deep breath. “On top of that, our wedding is going to be at the church, and you are invited to come.”
“Wow,” said Erin, setting down her mug. “I’m invited to come to the wedding of my cheating ex-husband and my ex-best friend. This is one for the books.”
Genevieve winced. “Don’t take it that way.” She looked down at the table. “I’m probably not saying any of this right.”
Erin caught herself about to make a comforting remark, the kind you make in casual conversation to smooth over the rough patches. The impulse took her by surprise.
“I’m not saying I made good choices. But I’m going to have to live with them. And I don’t want my choices to affect you any more than they already have.” She looked up at Erin. “You’re destined for something better.”
Genevieve’s words sent a ripple of pity through Erin. Who would want to be married to Mark, anyway?
The realization shattered the last remaining chains she hadn’t even known she’d been wearing.
