My Lucky Groom

room, carrying some papers. “Here’s the copy you asked for this morning.”
    “Thanks, Jason,” Richard said without taking his eyes off Ventura’s.
    Jason looked from one of them to the other, then backed out the door.
    “O-kay…” he said, pulling it shut. “I’ll just close this.”
    “It’s almost time for me to pick up the kids,” Ventura said.
    Richard’s gaze still lingered on hers. “I don’t want you to ever be afraid,” he told her. “Afraid to go after your dreams. You have to stand up for your life. Everyone does.”
    “Do you?” she asked with a challenge. “Go for what you want?”
    “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
    She pursed her lips, feeling foolish. What did she expect him to say? I wish you’d stop seeing Charles and go out with me. She hadn’t even begun the story writing in earnest and already her thoughts were spinning off into fantasy. “I apologize,” she said, standing to take her leave. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

    The following Saturday, Ventura sat sharing a picnic with Charles at Hanes Point. Airliners glided overhead, taking off from and landing at Reagan International Airport as the waters of the Potomac stretched out ahead.
    “This is awesome,” Charles said, studying the view. “Another brilliant idea.”
    He took her hand, and Ventura’s heart ached for him, because she knew what was coming. “I feel so awful about having to say this.” She hung her head, and he leaned toward her.
    “What’s up?”
    “It’s us, Charles,” she said, meeting his eyes. “I just can’t do this.”
    “Did I…?” His face was etched with pain. “Was it something I said?”
    She sighed heavily. “It’s nothing you’ve done at all. Actually, you’ve been perfect. The most wonderful guy a girl could hope to date.”
    “Okay,” he said, like he sensed more was coming.
    “But I can’t keep on seeing you when I have such strong feelings for someone else.”
    He looked toward the water, then slowly angled back toward her. “Richard?”
    Ventura averted her gaze.
    “Is it mutual?”
    “It doesn’t really matter,” she said, turning back to him. “He’s always in the way.”
    Charles stared at her sadly, getting it. “I see.”

    Mary entered the basement apartment, carting a big bag of Chinese take-out. “Ventura!” she called in a singsongy tone. “I have good news.”
    “That’s great. I could use some right now.”
    Mary surveyed her sitting sadly on the sofa, like she’d lost her best friend. “What’s wrong with you?”
    “Charles and I broke up.”
    Mary set her hefty bag on the coffee table. “Uh-oh. Who ditched who?”
    “I wish I could say it was mutual.”
    “My poor baby!” Mary cried, wrapping her arms around her.
    “I dumped him.”
    Mary pushed back. “What?”
    Ventura nodded.
    “Why?”
    “It’s not good to see one man when all you can do is think of someone else.”
    “Richard.” Mary shot her a sympathetic gaze. “Listen, Ventura. I know it’s been hard. Unrequited love and all that. From what I hear, it’s a killer. Not that I’d know personally,” she added quickly. “But still, I understand that it’s been painful for you, which is what makes my news extra good.”
    “Mary?” Ventura asked, her hopes rising.
    “Yes!” Mary squealed. “You got the job!”
    They hugged each other and hollered with delight until Nanette called downstairs to ask if they had men over. This was it, a happy sign that Ventura’s life was turning around. She’d been right to break up with Charles. And she’d be right to move on from Richard. She needed to find her own life and forge ahead. But first, she thought, catching a whiff of crispy scallops, she was famished. “What’s in the bag?”
    Mary reached in the sack and dug out two fistfuls of crescents. “Extra fortune cookies,” she said with a grin.

    Ventura looked up at Richard as they stood in the kitchen. She’d just fixed the kids an early supper and was preparing to leave. Richard was dressed in his tuxedo, ready for another society outing. “I can’t believe you understand.”
    “What I understand is that in this town, opportunity only knocks once. You’ve got to answer, Ventura. Go for it.”
    Ventura lowered her voice so the kids couldn’t hear. “But what about Ricky and Elisa?”
    “We’ll manage somehow, just like we did before.” He studied her a beat. “Look, if you’re having doubts about taking this job, why not