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“I know. He was good to you in the beginning,” Angie agrees, a ghost of a smile floating to her lips.
“What does any of this have to do with playing house?” I ask before I can stop myself.
The corner of her mouth quirks. “You were always married to London. Did you know that? Every. Single. Time.” She smiles at the memory, but the comment hits me like a ton of bricks. “If I’m honest, I always thought you two would end up together. Well, until his family moved to Colorado, anyway.”
She did?
I swallow hard, the weight of the revelation crashing down on me. “I did that? I don’t even remember it.” My cheeks flame and I adjust in my seat.
“Oh yeah. Sometimes, I wonder what he’d think if he knew that. Then again, he always seemed as infatuated with you.” She chuckles, taking another sip of her coffee. “Look, I know you haven’t asked for it, but here’s some sisterly advice—with a mix of marriage counselor in there. Don’t stay in a marriage that makes you unhappy. Life’s too short for that shit. If you need to move on, do it.”
“But I thought you’d want me to stay. To figure out a way to fix things. To …” My words peter out as I sit there dumbfounded.
She takes a deep breath and reaches out, placing her hand over mine. “Lily, sometimes, giving up and walking out is the only thing that will allow the right thing in. You’ve been trying to make this work for years and it’s commendable. But you gotta do what makes you happy, sis. Sometimes, a relationship runs its course.”
Her words bounce around in my head.
Sometimes giving up and walking out is the only thing that will allow the right thing in.
Is that what’s happening here?
I raise my eyes to her. “What happens if … the right thing is already knocking?”
Angie sits up straighter. “Have you met someone?”
I roll my teeth over my bottom lip and slam my eyes shut. “No. I mean, yes. Ugh, I’m so confused.”
When I open my eyes, hers are wide. “Lily, you have to talk to Seth. Staying in this place—it’s like purgatory. No wonder you’re so distant lately.”
I nod. “I know.”
She stands up and walks to my side of the table. Then, she tugs my hand so I stand up and collapse into her embrace. “I’m here for you Lily. Please, don’t be afraid to talk to me. I’ll help you in whatever way I can.”
Tears prickle in my eyes and take a step back. Never in a million years would I have expected this conversation. She's left me with more to think about than I could've ever anticipated.
“If you need someone to talk to—or a place to stay—just say the word.” Angie pats my upper arms, then smooths her palms over the back of my triceps.
Lost in thought, all I can do is nod.
“Look, I gotta run. I’ve got a session in fifteen minutes. But remember what I said, okay?” she whispers, taking a step back.
I nod, my body suddenly starting to shake. “I will.”
She smiles softly, then turns to the table and picks up her coffee. In one quick move, she downs the rest of the contents. Before she walks out, she says, “Call me in the next day or two. I want to know how it goes.”
I stare wide-eyed at her.
“Lily, promise me,” she fires back.
“Okay, okay,” I promise.
She nods resolutely. “Love ya, little sis.”
With that, she spins around and is out the door before I have time to process the way my life has just been upended.
First, by my own making. And now, through the conversation with my sister.
Can I do this?
