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“Honestly, honey, I don’t,” he confirmed. “You were so upset after how things went at Thanksgiving that I didn’t think you’d be upset at all about this. I really think you’d have a lot more fun if you called up Waverly and the two of you spent some time together over the break.”
If there was one thing that I couldn’t refute, it was the fact that I’d definitely have a lot more fun with Waverly than I’d ever have with Tom’s family. Waverly and I had been best friends since seventh grade, and she’d been there for me through some of the most trying times in my life. This would just be another one of those times.
But no matter how much Waverly loved me and wouldn’t allow me to spend the holiday alone, it didn’t change what the real problem was here.
“It’s Christmas,” I reminded him. “People are supposed to be with their families on Christmas, Tom. Why do I even have to say this?”
Tom sighed, clearly ready to be done with this conversation. He proved that when he ignored what I’d just said and started to move away. “I’d talk to you about this, Dakota, but since you didn’t pack my bags, I’ve got to go and do it now. I’m going to have to rush. I just hope I make it to the airport on time.”
I didn’t even respond.
There was no point.
Tom didn’t care, so why should I?
I turned back around, moved to the stove once again, and turned it on.
Maybe on the outside, I might have seemed like I wasn’t affected by the fact that my husband didn’t want to spend the holiday with me, but the opposite was the truth.
It was killing me.
We weren’t exactly newlyweds, but we hadn’t been together for ten or fifteen years yet, either. It seemed very early for us to be having these kinds of problems.
Not much time had passed when Tom reappeared in the kitchen. I’d just finished cooking my dinner—a dinner I knew I was going to eat alone—and I didn’t make any attempt to speak to him.
“I’m leaving,” he said.
I gave him a nod. “Enjoy your time.”
It was short, and there was no way he could miss the bitterness in my tone.
“I don’t want to leave with things like this between us,” Tom remarked.
I offered a fake smile. “Unfortunately, unless you’re prepared to miss your flight and reschedule it, there’s no other option. I’m not going to act like I’m not hurt simply to appease your feelings. I shouldn’t have to hide how I feel about this, so you can feel better about the fact that you’re leaving me here alone and not standing up to your family for me.”
The silence stretched between us, and I hated to admit that in that time, I actually started to think that maybe he was going to have a change of heart. That brief bout of hope was dashed seconds later when he spoke quietly. “We’ll talk when I get back.”
I didn’t want to believe it.
Something inside me desperately wanted to trust in the vows we’d taken. Why did it feel wrong for me to want to be confident that the man I loved was going to do right by me?
Maybe it was because, deep down, I knew he wouldn’t.
Maybe it was because I already knew where this was headed.
Or perhaps it was because we’d already gotten there, and I just needed this one last thing to seal the deal.
I didn’t respond to Tom. I simply plunged my fork into the bowl in front of me and focused on my food. Tom moved to my side, kissed my temple, and walked away.
The moment I heard the door close, I burst into tears.
“Do you want my honest opinion?”
I tipped my head to the side and shot a disbelieving look at Waverly. “When have I ever not wanted your honest opinion?”
Waverly shrugged. “I just want to be sure. I mean, this is different. I’m not helping you choose an outfit. I’m about to give you some life advice that could mean a big change for you if you decide to take it.”
Never.
