Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN IN THE PINK SWEATER
Juliet asked to meet me.
I almost refused.
Then decided I wanted answers.
We met at a café near Bryant Park.
She arrived wearing the same pink sweater she'd worn on the train.
Without Donovan beside her, she looked younger.
Nervous.
Ashamed.
She sat down.
“Thank you for coming.”
I nodded.
She took a breath.
“I need to tell you something.”
I waited.
“Donovan told me your relationship was basically over.”
My stomach tightened.
“When?”
“About two months ago.”
I stared.
“He said you were staying together until after the wedding because canceling would embarrass your families.”
I laughed once.
A small, ugly sound.
Juliet looked down.
“He said you were moving to Boston because you wanted a fresh start.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
He had built two different stories.
One for me.
One for her.
And each story made the other woman seem unreasonable.
“Did you believe him?” I asked.
Juliet nodded.
“At first.”
“What changed?”
She swallowed.
“The train.”
I looked at her.
“When you walked in, you looked shocked.”
She wiped her eyes.
“He told me you knew about us.”
I went still.
“About what?”
Juliet stared at me.
Then whispered:
“We kissed.”
The café noise seemed to disappear.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
I looked down at my hands.
Juliet continued.
“Twice. After work. He said you were separating.”
I nodded slowly.
There it was.
The truth I had suspected.
Not because of the seat.
Because of the tenderness.
Juliet began crying.
“I know I should have asked you.”
I looked at her.
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“I was stupid.”
“You were inexperienced. He was your supervisor. But you still had choices.”
She accepted that.
I stood.
Juliet looked up.
“Can you forgive me?”
I considered.
“Not today.”
Her face fell.
I continued.
“But I hope you learn something from this.”
“What?”
I picked up my bag.
May you like
“Never mistake being chosen secretly for being valued.”
Then I walked away.
