Part 3The Wayward Husband

The Bloom Room.

It was ten o’clock at night, but the shop was brightly lit. Through the large glass window, I watched the girl inside. She was wearing a simple linen dress, her features delicate and pretty without a touch of makeup, possessing a sort of fragile, pitiable beauty.

So this was the type Larry really liked.

But when he was chasing me, he’d sworn he loved my bright, vibrant energy, that I was like a little sun that had warmed his heart.

I shook my head with a bitter smile. A person’s heart can change, so why not their taste?

She was cooing at a small puppy, talking to herself. She seemed to be smiling, but her voice was thick with unshed tears. “Coco, Daddy said he’s not coming tonight. Tomorrow is Grandma’s birthday, but he doesn’t want to take Mommy to see her.”

“He’s hiding something from me, Coco. But Mommy is a coward. I’m too scared to pull back the curtain and see what’s there.”

A few teardrops fell silently onto the puppy’s fur.

Just like my completely shattered heart.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. “If you don’t pull it back, how will you ever know what’s hiding behind it?”

The girl scrambled to wipe her face and offered a shy, flustered smile. “I’m so sorry, you had to see that. Welcome.”

I fought back the ache in my own chest and feigned curiosity. “Is something wrong? Are you having a tough time?”

Maybe it was the pitter-patter of the rain outside that sparked her desire to confide, or maybe the simple fact that I was another woman made her trust me. After a moment’s hesitation, her story came tumbling out.

“My boyfriend and I have been together for six months,” she began, her expression troubled. “He’s so good to me—caring, attentive, and he’s not afraid to spend money on me. My mom doesn’t approve. She says a man his age—he’s eight years older—is either married or divorced. But last month, when my lease was up, he bought this flower shop for me outright. He said it was an engagement gift.”

I thought my heart couldn't break any further. But seeing the sweet, unconscious smile that spread across her face as she spoke, it felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart, twisting it relentlessly. It was hard to breathe, but I forced myself to ask, “That sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?”

Lost in her own sorrow, she didn’t notice my distress. “Later, my parents said they wanted him to come over for dinner. But he refused, flat out. He always says he’s worried people will judge him for our age gap, so he never introduces me to anyone he knows. And the worst part is, tomorrow is his grandmother’s eightieth birthday, and he won’t let me go. No matter how upset I get, he just says he’ll pass along my well-wishes for me.”

Her voice cracked. “Am I that much of an embarrassment to him? Or maybe… maybe I’m just his… mistress.”

She choked on the last word, the shame clear on her face.

So, just like me, she was another fool being played by Larry.

I stared at the raw vulnerability on her face, and all the sharp, cutting words I had prepared suddenly felt hollow. In the end, I simply wrote down the address for the birthday dinner, left it on the counter, and turned to leave.

The rain was coming down harder now.

Suddenly, a familiar figure dashed past me. He was in such a hurry he didn’t even see me huddled in the shadows.

“Claire, I’m so sorry I’m late!” I heard him call out. “Look, I had our picture made into a little desktop frame. Do you like it?”

The girl’s voice, now filled with surprised delight, rang out. “It’s beautiful! When did you have this done?”

“The other day, when I went to get my… my ID photo taken, I had the shop make it specially…”

Rain streamed down my face, mingling with my tears.

My car arrived. It was time for me to go.