Eric and Kate laugh in unison. “Ohhh, naaassty…”
“Well, stupid hick-town whore had her eyes on my husband.”
“Husband?” Eric gasps, his eyes widening. “Charlie, are you telling porksies?”
“Eric, it’s porkies,” Kate corrects him.
“No, I’m not telling porkies which, by the way, have you suddenly turned into a British gay man? We got married,” I tell him.
“Shut the front door… but not the back. Back Door Betty is back in style. Wait, my God, are you kidding me? When? How?” Eric spurts a million questions before turning to Kate. “And why didn’t you tell me if you knew?”
“Because it’s not my business to tell. I’m no big-mouth Betty.”
“Guys, seriously, who cares?” I say, trying to ease the conversation away from Kate not divulging any information to Eric. “Point is… hick-town hoe needs to hoe on out and stop eyeing my husband.”
I feel his arms wrap around my waist, the graze of his lips against my neck. “Who had their eyes on your man?”
Kate and Eric stare at us with stupid shit-eating grins on their faces. They hold onto each other just watching both of us. It’s borderline creepy.
“Erin, the wedding whore,” I tell him, not ashamed by my colorful choice of words. “Also known as Elijah’s cousin.”
“Oh, her… yeah, I’ve met her.”
“When you say met, do you mean fucked?”
“Charlie!” Eric covers his mouth in shock before turning to face Lex with a serious expression. “Well, did you?”
“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.”
I squeeze him tight, very happy with his answer.
Eric is quick to pipe up. “I bet her ferret is like a wizard’s sleeve. I’m sure I heard it whistle when she walked.”
We all break into laughter, even Lex who’s no longer immune to Eric’s verbal diarrhea.
It’s close to midnight when the music finally stops, and Adriana and Elijah prepare to say their goodbyes. I pull Lex aside. It’s now or never.
“Lex… I need to do this now.”
“Do what?” he asks, concerned.
“I need to tell you… show you… I need to finally let this go.”
He doesn’t ask another question, nodding his head before Adriana and Elijah make their rounds and say goodbye. After lots of hugs, a few tears, and well wishes, we both slip out of the hall and hop into my car Rocky had driven to the reception hall.
It’s late, but I need to set this free. I want to wake up tomorrow and start a fresh new life with him. I tell him I will drive even though he argues with me being pregnant and tired, but I know where I’m going. I can never forget.
Twenty minutes later, we stand at the gates. Lex looks at me confused, but he doesn’t ask questions.
I walk toward the small gap in the fence and move the fence slightly so we can squeeze through. Most people would be terrified being here, but it’s one of the only places where I feel at peace, the solitude that I constantly crave. I haven’t been back here since last year, the guilt sweeping in as the realization becomes apparent.
Somehow, I had let time pass by, but perhaps, in hindsight, it was a good thing. I needed to heal and also process Lex coming back into my life.
Outside, in the freezing air, it’s pitch black with only the slight hint of the moon. I follow the path—every step, every turn is memorized. In the corner near the sleepy willow tree, I continue walking until I see it just before me.
It sits there, the stone looking slightly worn. I place my hand on it and kneel on the ground, wiping away the snow covering the name.
Althea Olivia Mason