When I lost Travis and then found out about Madeline a week later, I resolved myself to the life of a single mother. I accepted I would be doing this on my own.
Now, sitting here with Marshall, it makes me wonder about the possibilities the future might hold. I can finally see past my grief and realize that maybe somewhere out there, there’s a man who will love both of us. We are a package deal, after all.
“Sure, it’s not easy,” I finally answer. “But nothing in life worth having comes easy.”
“Now you sound like my dad.” He smiles. The corner of his mouth quirks up just a bit, and there’s a dimple there I’ve never noticed before. “Tell me about him. About your husband.”
I should have known this question was coming. “Travis and I met in high school. We had freshman English together and were seated next to each other. We were paired up on a project, and we became fast friends.”
“Nice.” He nods. “High school sweethearts.”
“Not exactly. We were friends all through high school. I didn’t have a lot of friends. My social circle was pretty much nonexistent. I always felt guilty for Dad having to work so hard to cover bills, and things I needed, so as soon as I could get someone to hire me, which happened to be my freshman year, I started working.”
“I can see that from you,” he comments. “You were the girl who tried to hide in the shadows. Did anyone not tell you that you’re too beautiful to go unnoticed?”
I smile and shake my head. He’s charming and he knows it. “Anyway, it was a local pizza joint. I picked up as many shifts as I could so there wasn’t much time for a social life. Travis was a foster kid, but he was never placed. He lived in the children’s home, and they weren’t allowed to be out unless it was with a mentor who was approved by the home or a school function. Sometimes the home would take them on trips or to get ice cream and pizza.”
“I see where this is going.” He nods.
“Is this your story or mine?” I tease. It feels good to be so comfortable with him.
“I’m just saying.” He chuckles.
“Anyway, yes, he came to where I worked about once a month or so, and when I took my breaks, we would sit and talk. He had big dreams of a better life than the one he grew up in. He was treated well in the home, but he wanted more. He wanted a good job and a family of his own.”
“Damn,” Marshall mutters.
“He studied hard and got into college. He wanted to be a pharmacist. He was extremely smart and dedicated to school. We talked when we could and met up for pizza.”
“That was your thing. I like it.” He nods.
“Anyway, when my dad died, he was there for me. I had to sell the house to pay off debts, and Travis offered for me to stay with him. One thing led to another, and we started to date. Six months later, we were married. I was working with the dream of adding the title of RN to my name. The plan was for Travis to graduate, and then I would go back to school.”
This time he doesn’t comment. Instead, he holds my stare. “When he asked me to marry him, I said yes. He was my best friend, and it seemed like the right choice.”
“Wren.”
“He was a year from being done. Then he could take his licensure, and then it was my turn.” A lump of emotion forms in my throat when I think about the day I got the call.
“What happened?”
“There was a guy who came into the pharmacy, coincidently, the one where I met you.” I try to smile, but it’s no use. “The guy wanted pain medication. It was two weeks too early, and he argued with Travis. He was screaming and raging mad. At least that’s what they tell me. Finally, the pharmacist on duty intervened and told the guy they were going to call the cops if he didn’t leave. He knocked over an endcap display and stormed out.”
My heart is in my throat when I think about Rodney sitting me down in his office to tell me the events of that day. “Rodney was Travis’s mentor and the managing pharmacist. He’s the one who told me what happened.” I pause and swallow hard.
“You don’t have to.” Marshall is quick to tell me. He places his hand on my thigh while the other holds my now-sleeping daughter close to his chest. “If it’s too painful, you don’t have to keep going.”
“I’m okay,” I assure him. He doesn’t move his hand, and it gives me the comfort and the strength I need to keep going. “When they closed that night, Rodney and Travis were the last two to leave. They had a shipment come in they didn’t get to during the day and the pharmacist has to sign off on all of them. Travis offered to stay and help get everything signed in and put away so they weren’t behind the next day. It was something they did often.