Passing Another Test

In the end I let the wedding dress go. I didn't want to have to see it whenever I turned around. But I kept the photographs, one of which--a shot showing the three of us together in a garden on our fifth anniversary--is sitting on the TV cabinet. I used to love that photograph, me in my red knit tank top, Erik in a short-sleeved shirt, adorable nine-month-old Frances in her sleeveless pink dress with the green leaves embroidered on it. That dress is still hanging in her closet, too precious to let go. It was my favourite picture of my family, when I had one.

But it is still a picture of Frances's family, so even though it makes me cringe, on the TV cabinet it stays. One day soon I will move it into a frame that will fit in her room.

~~~~~

After buying two more hardcover books that I certainly don't need but couldn't resist, I walked to the convenience store for a Diet Coke and picked up a magazine while I was there. (Really. Print addict. I'm not kidding). As I put it on the counter and the shopkeeper rang it in, he smiled, and I smiled back.

"Hello, gorgeous neighbour," he said. This is his standard form of address. I laughed, as I normally do. "How are you today?"

"Good. You?"

"Not bad. How's your daughter?"

"Great. She loves school, she's really settling in."

"No chance for a reconciliation for you, eh?" He heard about the divorce when, a few months back, he pumped me for information on when Frances would have a sibling.

I laughed again. "Nope. Not a chance."

"No? Why not?"

"I have good reasons."

"Everyone makes mistakes and deserves a second chance. No?"

"No. Not in this case." I took the magazine and can of pop and added them to the bag of books, tucked the change back in my wallet.

"You've already forgiven him one or two times, eh?"

"More like a few dozen."

"Oh." He passed me my receipt. "Well, you're entitled then. Good day, neighbour."

I'm glad that my marital decisions meet with the approval of my friendly neighbourhood shopkeeper. One of these days we may even learn each other's names.

Posted by Andrea at September 24, 2007 6:20 AM under Decision 2007

EMAIL this entry

(comments fields are below this section)