“Huh? Didn't I send you out for groceries? Why are your hands empty?”
Samuel tacked that on too.
It cut even deeper.
My mouth fell half open, and for a moment I couldn't get a word out.
“Beth, have a slice of lemon.”
Sarah seized the chance, grabbed a lemon slice, and pushed it into my mouth.
It was so sour it brought tears straight to my eyes.
I went and splashed water on my face, then took out my phone and texted my parents: 【Mom, Dad, I'm not marrying Samuel.】
【One day I'll buy a big house and bring you two to live with me for good.】
Dad called right away.
“Sweetheart.”
“Don't do anything rash! Maybe Sam has his reasons. It's fine if your mother and I don't move to the city. As long as we can be at your wedding, as long as you're happy, that's all that matters.”
Mom chimed in beside him: “That's right. We'd only be in the way there anyway.”
Hearing them swallow the slight and still make excuses for Samuel, wanting nothing but for me to have a happy marriage.
Then looking at Samuel and Sarah laughing and messing around right in front of me.
It broke my heart. I turned and walked out the front door, and said, “Mom, Dad.”
“I'm not being rash, and I'm not joking.”
“This marriage would never make me happy.”
Everyone knew I loved Samuel. Loved him past all reason.
But now I had no love left to give.
After a silence, they answered: “Sweetheart, you've been hurt, haven't you? If you don't want to marry him, then don't. Whatever you decide, we're behind you.”
I told them not to worry, hung up, and turned to go pack my clothes in the bedroom.
Only then did it hit me. My clothes were the same few outfits I wore on rotation, and for makeup I had one lipstick worn down to the bottom and a tube of sunscreen.
Not even half a suitcase to fill.
Samuel's side of the closet, by contrast, was packed with designer suits and shirts in every style.
All of it for his image.
I carried my bag out of the bedroom.
Samuel froze, then frowned. “Where are you going?”
“I've got a business trip for a few days.”
I answered.
The next second his frown smoothed out and he let out a breath. “I thought you were about to throw a childish fit and run away from home.”
He turned, pulled a few bottles of mango yogurt from the fridge, and pushed them at me. “You love yogurt. Take these for the road.”
I did love yogurt.
But never mango. I'm allergic to mango.
Mango was the one Sarah wanted for everything.
“Aw, what a shame. Guess I don't get to mooch a meal off Beth.”
Sarah spread her hands, then stuck out her tongue. “But don't worry, I'll take good care of Sam.”
I only smiled, said nothing, turned and left. On my way out I dropped the yogurt in the trash can downstairs.
Ten minutes later.
Samuel called out of nowhere.
“Beth, swing by the new place first and change the door code to my birthday.”
“Sarah's parents want to stay a while longer, so I'm going to have them move into the new house.”
“Since you're away on this trip, feel free to take a few extra days out there. No rush to come back, so Sarah's folks don't feel cramped or awkward.”
He was getting more and more thoughtful and attentive.
Just not toward me.
Then Sarah's coaxing voice drifted through: “Sam, give me a hug!”
I said nothing, let out a cold laugh, hung up, and blocked and deleted him on the spot.
Whoever wants to play the fool for him, let them.
This girl is focusing on her career now.
The next evening.
Samuel brought Sarah's whole family to the front of the new place and, grinning ear to ear, keyed in the code.
【Wrong password!】
