My Everything

think this could be the moment, but hold back and just enjoy what we are celebrating.
     
    “Nick, are you coming?”
    I blink a few times to clear my thoughts. I don’t know what I expected. Maybe I thought the park bench would be gone, or this café never took off. I’m wrong on both accounts. Aubrey has had to drag me down the street since my feet decided they no longer function for their intended purposes.
    I thought about telling her that I didn’t feel well and that I needed to rest before returning to work tomorrow, but I owe her this. I can’t expect her to stay cooped up in my parent’s house the whole time. I want Beaumont to be her home and sadly that means I’ll be running into Josie.
    “I’ve been dying to try this café since your mom and I drove by it the other day.” Aubrey climbs the three steps that lead to the café. When Josie told me about the expansion I flipped. I thought she only wanted to do it so Liam had a place to play. I told her it was stupid and a waste of money. Looks like I was wrong.
    There are only a few chairs available with a line of people at the counter. No music right now, thank God. I don’t know what I’d do if I saw Liam. I know we are going to end up talking sooner or later, but I’m hoping for much later. Actually what I’m hoping for is to find out he’s gone back to L.A. leaving Josie here. At least then I can be in Noah’s life and have a somewhat reasonable relationship with him.
    I stand in line behind Aubrey. Josie has created one large space, combining the flower shop and the coffee shop into one. I look around for Jenna, but don’t find her. I always liked her. She was real good to Josie when we were dating.
    “Why are you so fidgety?”
    “I’m not.”
    “Yes you are. Here give me a kiss.” Aubrey pulls me down, not afraid of public displays of affection. I pull away from her when I hear a throat clearing. I look up and instantly wish I was back in Africa.
    I wish I had a mirror so I could see what my face looks like because Josie’s face is impassive. I look from her to Aubrey, who is oblivious to what is going on and back at Josie who smiles softly as if she’s greeting the next customer.
    Aubrey steps forward and places her order. Josie is calm, respectful, but I can see the questions swirling in her mind. I know what she’s thinking and for some reason it bothers me. Why is it okay for her to move on, but I can’t? I see the ring on her finger, the one I so fiercely tried to cover. I notice her eyes as they travel down my hand and then over to Aubrey’s. We wear simple wedding bands nothing flashy and eye-popping, but enough for us and the moment when we said our vows. She doesn’t show any sign of recognition. No annoyance or happiness.
    “What can I get for you, Nick?” I thought that hearing her voice for the first time in over a year would bring back the pain I felt when I left, but it doesn’t. My heart isn’t aching and threatening to burst out of my chest. I’m not remembering the night I left or the life I left behind. The shared kisses and romantic moments that we had aren’t flooding my conscious. I look down at my wife and know that I’ve married my soul mate. I kiss her on the nose, thankful that I made the decision – the right one for me – and married her. “Just black, Josie.”
    The recollection of our long heart-felt conversations is evident on Aubrey’s face. I’m not sure what to expect. We didn’t talk about my life back here and what it would mean when we came face to face with my past.
    Aubrey turns and extends her hand to Josie. I watch as my former love and my forever love shake hands. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
    Josie’s face deadpans and as much as I want to laugh I know she’s thinking the most horrible things. “I’m sure you have.” Josie glances away and busies herself with our order.
    “Nick wouldn’t say anything bad about you. He has the utmost respect for you.”
    Josie dips her head slightly. I know she’s having a hard time believing Aubrey. I probably have every right to sling her name, but I didn’t and I won’t. We are adults and things happen. Am I upset, yes, not because we aren’t together, but because I’ve lost Noah?
    “I’ll bring over your coffee,” she says as she disappears behind the large coffee machine.
    I guide Aubrey to a table and pull out her chair. When I sit, I inspect the café. Needless to say, I’m shocked.