Page 105 of Meant to be Mine

“True, but it’s not like it’ll get back to the school.” Her voice was firm but gentle. “It didn’t happen in your classroom or with a parent or even in the same time zone. You’re a grown woman who had a private moment that unfortunately wasn’t as private as you thought.”

“It was so unprofessional.”

“It was human.” She squeezed my hand. “You know, your father and I once got caught at⁠—”

“Please don’t finish that sentence,” I interrupted, holding up my hand. “Please. I’m begging you.”

She laughed, her eyes twinkling. “My point is, these things happen. You apologize if necessary, you move forward, and eventually it becomes a funny story you tell at the retirement home.”

“I will never find this funny.”

“You will. Trust me.” She stood and refilled her coffee cup. “It’s a shame, though.”

“What is?”

“That you put all this work into the Blackwell sidewalk sale and you’re going to miss it. You were so excited about it.”

She was right. I’d spent long days organizing that event with Drew. Handled a thousand tiny details that would make the whole thing run smoothly. And now I was going to hide in my childhood bedroom while it happened without me.

“I can’t go back there,” I said. “I can’t face Edith. Or anyone else who might have heard.”

“What if your father and I go with you?” Mom suggested. “We were already thinking about stopping by later anyway. Then you wouldn’t have to go alone.”

I considered it. The thought of walking back into that store made my stomach churn. But the thought of missing the event entirely felt worse. I was a grown woman. It’s not like he was a married man. I wasn’t brandishing a giant scarlet letter.

“Just think about it. We don’t have to decide right now.” She glanced at the clock. “The event doesn’t start for another hour.”

I picked up my coffee cup and finally took a sip. It was cold and bitter, but I forced it down anyway. My phone sat face-down on the table where I’d left it. He’d texted several times, but I couldn’t bring myself to reply. I had no idea what to say.

“Screw it,” I said suddenly, standing up. “Let’s go.”

Mom’s face lit up. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I’m not going to let this ruin everything. I worked too hard on that event to miss it because I’m embarrassed.”

“That’s my girl.” She stood too. “Go get ready. Your father and I will be ready in twenty minutes.”

I headed upstairs to my room, my heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and determination. I could do this. I didn’t even have to go inside the store. The plaza would be bustling with people, and Edith might not even see me.

I showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away some of the exhaustion. Then I stood in front of my closet, trying to decide what to wear to an event where I might run into the woman who’d caught me with Drew’s face between my legs.

Professional but casual. That was the vibe. I pulled out dark jeans and a flowy white blouse. I paired it with my favorite wedges. Minimal makeup because I didn’t trust myself not to cry again. Hair down and loose because I didn’t have the energy for anything more complicated.

When I came back downstairs, my parents were waiting by the door. Dad was in khakis and a polo shirt, looking relaxed and happy. Mom had changed into a sundress that made her look ten years younger. Her cast was up in a matching sling.

“Ready?” Dad asked.

“As I’ll ever be.”

What if she’d told people? What if everyone was staring at me, knowing what had happened? By the time we pulled up near the store, I was seriously reconsidering this decision.

“Deep breaths,” Mom said from the front seat, like she could read my mind.

The block had been completely transformed. White tents stretched as far as I could see. People were everywhere, browsing, shopping, taking pictures.

“Wow,” Dad said. “You helped put this together?”

“Yeah.” Pride swelled in my chest despite my anxiety. “It’s crazy seeing it come to life like this.”