The Girl He Left Behind

“Oh, that would be great. Thank you.” She hesitated, then added, “I’m really proud of you, Adam. You’ve done so well.”

“Thanks. There’ve been some rough patches, but overall, I’m happy with the way things have gone. And what about you? Did you go to college like you planned?”

“Yes, but not exactly the way I’d planned. I could only go part-time because I had the twins, so it took me about six years to finish.”

“Twins? I didn’t know that.”

“Yes, a boy and a girl. Natalie and Nathan.” Even saying their names to him caused her heart to flutter alarmingly.

“How old are they?”

“Um, they’re eleven.”

He looked over at her, and she wondered what he was thinking.

“You married that guy who was always hanging around your family’s house, didn’t you? That friend of your family’s.”

“Bill Kelly. Our parents were best friends.”

“I always thought he was lookin’ to score with you.”

Eve had sensed the same thing, even though Bill had never said anything until after Adam was gone. And even then, he probably would have bided his time, thinking she was too young, but she was such a mess and so vulnerable, he had seen his chance and he’d taken it.

“You married him almost right away,” Adam said.

“Not right away. It was...about three months later.” She had nothing to feel guilty about. After all, Adam was the one who had left. Adam was the one who had never returned her calls.

“Did you love him?”

“That...that’s not a fair question.”

“I think it’s fair. I loved you, Eve. I thought you loved me. We were going away together. And three months later you marry someone else? Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

I don’t owe you anything.

“You never called me.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice.

“You were the one who didn’t show up that night.”

“I didn’t think you’d go without me!” she cried. “And I did try to call you. I tried several times, but the number just rang and rang. And I didn’t know how else to get in touch with you.”

He put his now-empty glass down on the little table next to the swing and stared at her. “You tried to call me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I—” She stopped. What could she say? It was too late to say anything.

“Why, Eve? Were you sorry? What?”

“I—I just wanted to talk to you.”

“When did you call?”

“What does it matter?” She could feel tears welling. Dammit. She would not cry. She wouldn’t!

“It matters ’cause I didn’t get any calls.”

“Well, I called. Not right away.”