The Son They Never Had
1131 Words
The wedding was three months away.
I should have been drowning in excitement.
Instead…
I was drowning in decisions.
“What do you think about ivory instead of white?” I asked, holding up two fabric samples.
Joel looked up from his laptop.
“I don’t care.”
I frowned.
“You don’t?”
“I’ll marry you in a potato sack if I have to.”
I laughed.
“You always know what to say.”
He stood, walked over, and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“I mean it.”
His lips brushed my forehead.
“The only thing that matters is that you’ll be my wife.”
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach.
No one had ever made me feel so loved.
Or so important.
⸻
My phone rang.
Mimmy Calling.
Joel glanced at the screen.
“You can answer.”
“I’ll call her later.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, I want to spend time with you.”
A smile spread across his face.
“I like hearing you say that.”
I silenced the call.
Five minutes later…
It rang again.
Joel chuckled.
“She really wants your attention.”
“It’s probably wedding stuff.”
“Doesn’t she know you’re with me?”
“I’ll call her after dinner.”
He nodded.
“I appreciate that.”
Something about those words lingered.
I appreciate that.
Not…
Do whatever makes you happy.
Not…
Go talk to your friend.
Just…
I appreciate that.
⸻
Over the next few weeks, little things began to change.
Whenever Mimmy invited me out…
Joel had already planned something.
Whenever my parents asked me to visit…
Joel surprised me with a weekend getaway.
Whenever my cousins organized family dinners…
Joel would smile and say,
“I was hoping we’d have a quiet night together.”
He never told me not to go.
He simply made staying with him feel like the better choice.
And every time I chose him…
He rewarded me.
Flowers.
Dinner.
A surprise gift.
A long hug.
“You always put us first.”
Those words became addictive.
⸻
One Saturday afternoon, my mother called.
“Hope, sweetheart, are you coming tomorrow?”
I froze.
Tomorrow?
“Oh…”
I had forgotten.
Dad’s birthday.
“We’ve already invited everyone.”
“I…”
Joel looked up from the sofa.
I covered the phone.
“It’s Dad’s birthday.”
His smile faltered for the briefest second.
“Oh.”
“They want me there.”
He nodded.
“Of course.”
Relief washed over me.
“You should go.”
“I will.”
He smiled warmly.
“I’ll just spend the day alone.”
The words were light.
Casual.
But they landed heavily.
“I mean…”
He continued quietly.
“It would’ve been nice to spend Sunday together.”
“I know.”
“But your family comes first.”
Guilt settled in my chest.
“I could see them another day.”
“No.”
His voice remained soft.
“I’d never ask that.”
I stared at him.
He looked… disappointed.
Not angry.
Just hurt.
“I don’t want you to resent me.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“You might.”
“No.”
He smiled sadly.
“It’s okay.”
“I’ll survive one lonely Sunday.”
My heart squeezed painfully.
“I…”
The silence stretched.
Finally…
I picked my phone back up.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“I’m really sorry.”
Joel lowered his eyes.
“I don’t think I’ll make it tomorrow.”
There was a pause.
“Oh.”
My mother’s disappointment echoed through the speaker.
“We already told everyone you’d be here.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
But it didn’t sound okay.
After I hung up…
Joel kissed my forehead.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For choosing us.”
⸻
That night…
I couldn’t sleep.
My father had sent one message.
You’ll always be my little girl. We missed you today.
I stared at it for several minutes.
Then locked my phone.
⸻
A week later…
Mimmy showed up unannounced.
“You’ve been ignoring me.”
“I haven’t.”
She folded her arms.
“You canceled lunch.”
“I was busy.”
“You canceled movie night.”
“I forgot.”
“You missed my birthday.”
My stomach dropped.
Her birthday.
“I…”
“You forgot.”
“I’m so sorry.”
She looked at me carefully.
“This isn’t like you.”
“I’ve just been busy.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You’ve disappeared.”
“That’s not true.”
“When was the last time we spent time together?”
I couldn’t answer.
She already knew why.
“It’s Joel.”
“No.”
“It is.”
“He just…”
“What?”
“Loves me.”
She sighed.
“Hope… loving someone shouldn’t mean losing everyone else.”
Before I could respond…
The front door opened.
Joel.
He looked surprised.
“Oh.”
His smile was flawless.
“Mimmy.”
She didn’t smile back.
“Joel.”
“I didn’t know you were here.”
“I can leave.”
“Nonsense.”
He walked over and hugged me from behind.
His chin rested on my shoulder.
“Hope was just telling me how exhausted she’s been.”
I frowned.
I hadn’t said that.
“Really?” Mimmy asked.
Joel nodded.
“Wedding planning has been overwhelming.”
“I can imagine.”
He kissed my temple.
“That’s why I’ve been encouraging her to rest instead of running around.”
Something about his wording felt strange.
Encouraging.
Not stopping.
Always encouraging.
Always caring.
Always sounding reasonable.
Mimmy stood.
“I should go.”
“I’ll walk you out,” I said.
Joel’s arm tightened around my waist.
“I’ll do it.”
“No, it’s okay.”
“You’ve been complaining about your headache all day.”
I opened my mouth.
I hadn’t complained about a headache.
Had I?
Joel smiled.
“You forgot already?”
Maybe…
Maybe I had mentioned it.
He looked at Mimmy.
“Thanks for checking on her.”
Then he gently closed the door behind her.
Without me.
⸻
That evening…
I looked out the living room window.
Mimmy stood beside her car.
She looked up.
For a moment…
Our eyes met.
She didn’t wave.
She just looked…
Heartbroken.
Then she drove away.
I didn’t know it then…
But that was the last time I’d see my best friend for a very long time.
Because Joel wasn’t trying to win my heart anymore.
He already had it.
Now…
He was making sure no one else did.
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