Chapter 13 - THE WEDDING INVITATION THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The invitation arrived on a Tuesday.
Cream-colored paper.
Gold lettering.
A familiar name.
Everett Cross.
I stared.
Then read the second name.
Not Camille.
A woman I'd never heard of.
Kelsey called ten minutes later.
“Did you get it?”
I laughed.
“Yes.”
She groaned.
“Why would he invite you?”
I looked at the invitation.
“I have no idea.”
There was a handwritten note inside.
Madison, I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. I don't expect you to attend. I just wanted you to know I've finally learned what it means to be honest with someone. I'm sorry for what I did to you. — Everett.
I read it twice.
Then placed it on the table.
Nathaniel found me looking at it that evening.
“Everything okay?”
I handed him the invitation.
He read it.
Then looked up.
“How do you feel?”
I thought for a moment.
“Strange.”
He nodded.
“Understandable.”
I smiled faintly.
“I don't want him back.”
“I know.”
“And I don't hate him.”
Nathaniel took my hand.
“That's okay too.”
I didn't attend Everett's wedding.
I sent a brief card.
I wish you both a peaceful future.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
That night, Nathaniel and I cooked dinner.
We laughed.
Talked.
Watched a terrible movie.
And when he fell asleep beside me on the sofa, I realized something.
Everett's wedding wasn't the ending of my story.
May you like
It was simply proof that our lives had moved in different directions.
And I was happy with mine.
