Grace
Grace Harper was beginning to feel that she was tied to her desk, held in place by a heavy metal chain and she couldn’t find the fucking key. It was Friday night, but she was pretty sure that the most excitement she was going to find was her pajamas and Asian takeout. Her latest project, a coffee table book featuring actual pictures of coffee tables, was probably the most boring work that she had edited to date. In the five years that she worked as a copy editor for Shuster and Hobbs, this project had proven to be the most challenging, not in content but in her ability to stay awake as she scoured page after page for mistakes. Who the hell came up with the idea for a coffee table book about coffee tables anyway? The real question was, who would buy such a book? Not her problem—she just had to finish the last twenty pages and she would be able to head home for the day, not that she was looking forward to facing an empty house again.
Grace married Archer Bain just over a year ago and she thought that they were happy, but she was wrong. She realized just how wrong she was when she found the letter that Archer left on their nightside table when he left over two weeks ago on yet another business trip. He told her that he didn’t think he’d be back this time after his business was concluded. He went on about not being able to live a lie anymore and needing time to think. Grace had spent two days in bed crying and desperately trying to reach him, but he had turned off his phone. His office said that he wasn’t to be disturbed and that he was out of town on business. Grace knew that if Archer wanted to ignore her, push her out of his life and leave with no further explanation, she wouldn’t be able to stop him. She just wished that their marriage amounted to more than a note left on a bedside table. She hoped that she was worth more than that. On day three, she picked herself up, showered, and went to work, as if nothing had happened. She never told another soul that her husband left her, not her parents, not even her best friend. A part of her held out hope that he’d have a change of heart and come home but each passing day proved that was just her heart holding onto something that might never happen.
Archer and she were college sweethearts and after graduation, it felt like the next natural step was to plan a big wedding, get married, move in together, and eventually have babies. She shuddered at the thought of having a baby—neither of them was ready for that step in the process, she didn’t know if she ever would be. Plus, it would be easier to make a baby if they were under the same roof, speaking to each other, or even in the same town for that matter.
The first six months were bliss, a true honeymoon phase, where they were practically inseparable. But then Archer took a new position in the accounting firm that he worked for. The position came with more money, more responsibilities, and more time away from home. In just one short year as husband and wife, they had lost their magic, their mojo, and Grace wasn’t sure they would be able to get it back. Archer must have realized it too and that was why he walked away. At least he wasn’t a coward. He took their crappy situation and found a way to work towards his happiness and she couldn’t fault him for it. She hated that she wasn’t a part of his solution to be happy and it hurt like hell that he so easily walked away from her but at least he had the balls to do it.
Grace sighed and started packing up her things to head to her little brownstone, wanting to just crawl into bed. She’d bring work home with her and finish up from there but staying in an almost empty office wasn’t her idea of a fun Friday night. She walked the four short blocks home and noted the slight chill in the city air. She loved this time of year, the end of summer but not quite fall—it always reminded her of fresh beginnings. She used to love the start of a new school year, new friends, teachers—the whole nine yards. Now, days rolled into months and years, and everything felt stale.
She opened her front door and stepped over the day's mail that was honestly about four days’ worth. Grace was on deadline, so trivial things like picking up the mail and sorting it could wait. She unloaded her bags onto the kitchen table and found the menu for their favorite sushi place and a pang of sadness ran through her. This was the first order she would place for only herself, just her daily reminder that her husband left her and that she was going to have to find a new way forward with her new single, pathetic life.
Grace ordered her food and found the half-empty bottle of wine that she opened the night before. She poured herself a big glass and took out the final pages, to finish editing. Her phone chimed and she pulled it from her purse, hoping that it was a text from Archer. Every time her phone sounded, she held her breath, hoping to find a message from her husband but that was never the case.
Hi, how have you been?The message read. Grace stared at the white screen trying to figure out who the text was from. The number was showing up as unavailable. Not seeing Archer’s number on the screen made her stomach drop. She threw her phone onto the table and picked up the page she was working on. It chimed again. Grace thought about ignoring it but whoever this person was, he or she wasn’t going to just leave her alone.
You there?The person asked. She was going to have to tell him or her to get lost and hopefully, they’d take the hint.
I’m very busy. Who is this?She texted back. Grace hadn’t realized she was holding her breath waiting for an answer until she let out her pent-up breath with the phone’s chime, indicating a new text.
Let’s just say that I’m an old friend and leave it at that.Well, that wasn’t what she wanted to see. Grace didn’t have time for games, and she needed to put an end to this one.
I don’t have time for this, please leave me alone.She wrote back.
Come on, Grace. You don’t even have a few minutes to spare for a secret admirer?A chill ran down her spine at the way this stranger used her name. And a secret admirer? Who the hell would have her phone number and know her name? She stood and checked to make sure that all the doors were locked, not taking any chances. Her thoughts were jumbled, trying to think about what to do next. Her first instinct was to call Archer, but she knew that would only end with her being told that his number was no longer in service.
Her phone chimed again, causing her to yelp. She picked it up and read the text, not knowing if she should answer again or just ignore it.Grace?
What do you want from me? How do you know who I am?She panicked, knowing that she had let the situation go too far and get out of hand.
I don’t want to scare you. I just want to see you. Give me a chance, please. I’m not going to hurt you, please trust me.She barked out her laugh at the thought of trusting a stranger. She looked down when her phone chimed again to find a picture of Archer’s best friend, Jon Hollis, with his arms slung around them both at their wedding. She gasped and covered her mouth with her shaking hand.
Jon, why didn’t you just say it was you? Why the games?She texted. Jon wasn’t just Archer’s best friend but also her old college flame. She was dating Jon when she met Archer and was shocked to find out that they were not only best friends but college roommates. They had known each other since grade school, and she felt like shit for dating them both at the same time. She eventually chose to be with Archer and Jon said that he understood but a part of her always wondered what her life would have been like, had she chosen differently. Grace shook her head trying to erase that last thought. Her life was this way because of the choices that she made, and she wouldn’t change who she was, not even for a second chance.
A part of her still fantasized about what it would have been like if she could have chosen them both, which was crazy. It was her dirty little secret that she never shared with another living soul. Jon and Archer would never share a woman, she was sure of it. Besides, what kind of woman would that make her, wanting two men at once? She was going to have to tread lightly with Jon. Grace didn’t know if he knew about Archer leaving her and she wasn’t ready for anyone to find out yet.
How have you been?She quickly typed.
All right, just worried about you guys. Arch told me what happened.Jon texted back.
“Fuck,” Grace swore. She hated that Archer was talking to Jon and not her. It infuriated her that he would share something so raw and personal with his best friend but didn’t pay her the same kindness. Archer could have at least texted her to let her know that he was alive and well.
Tell me that he’s all right? Where is he? Why would he call you and not let me know where he is?Grace regretted sending her text as soon as she hit the send button. She hated that she sounded so needy and desperate for information. She wanted to know where her husband was, but she also wanted to hear it from him, not his best friend, whom she hadn’t talked to or seen in over a month.
I’m sorry Gracie, but I promised Arch that I wouldn’t tell you where he is. He’s safe if that helps.She wanted to tell Jon that it did not help to know that her estranged husband was fine without her. Hell, it felt downright lousy, but she wouldn’t admit that either. If Archer wanted to keep her in the dark, then fuck him.
Whatever. Listen, I’m just about to go out for the night and I’m late to meet up with my friends.She sipped her wine and looked down at the fuzzy slippers that seemed to scream back at her that she was a big fat liar.
Liar!She should have known that Jon would not only be able to see through her but would also call her on her shit.Just wanted to tell you that I’m here for you Gracie. You’re my friend too and I miss you.
Grace sighed and smiled at her phone. She missed Jon too. When she decided to date Archer exclusively, Jon avoided them both for months. She worried that she was causing a rift in Archer and Jon’s long friendship, but Archer assured her that just wasn’t the case. He even hinted that he and Jon were having issues before finding out that they were both dating the same girl. When she finally came clean and admitted that she had been seeing them both, she expected them both to dump her. Instead, they gave her an ultimatum to pick between the two of them. She spent weeks trying to decide what to do. Grace even took a break from them both, to figure out where her heart was, and she finally realized that she wanted Archer. They moved in together and it took a long time for the three of them to work their way back to being friends again, but they eventually did. Leaning on Jon now would be a mistake. If Archer was confiding in his friend, she wouldn’t come between the two of them again.
Thanks, but I’m good. She lied again.This time, Jon seemed to let that one pass. Her takeout came and she told Jon that she had to go. He made her promise to let him know if she changed her mind and wanted to talk but she wouldn’t. Grace was going to have to face the hard truth that her marriage was over and no amount of crying on her ex’s shoulder would change that fact.