“I am blaming you for the thing you did ten feet from me. That is new for us.”
Derek looked from his wife to the gate.
The boarding agent announced final call for their group.
He made his choice.
He picked up his carry-on.
“I am not wasting the tickets,” he said.
Emily flinched as if he had struck the air between them.
“Go,” she said.
Derek hesitated.
Then he and Vanessa walked toward the gate.
Maggie watched them disappear down the jet bridge.
She felt no satisfaction.
Only clarity.
Emily sat beside her and cried.
Maggie waited until the tears slowed before speaking.
“Do you want me to tell you he is terrible and you should leave him?”
Emily wiped her face.
“No.”
“Good. Because I am done making decisions for other adults.”
Emily gave a broken laugh.
“That sounds aimed at me.”
“It is aimed at both of us.”
They took a taxi back to Maggie’s house.
Princess, a small elderly terrier with cloudy eyes and an unreasonable amount of confidence, barked furiously when they entered.
Maggie looked at the dog.
“Apparently I have been assigned to you.”
Princess sneezed.
Emily laughed for the first time that day.
Over tea, Maggie opened the planner again. She expected Emily to roll her eyes the way Vanessa had.
Instead, Emily asked, “Can I see?”
