On Second Thought(35)

“Thank you for thinking of this,” I said, spreading the napkin on my lap. “It’s good to get out after all the sadness.”

“I still can’t believe he’s gone,” Eric said. “Life will never be the same.”

I suppressed a flash of irritation. While a true friendship between Nathan and Eric might’ve developed, they were really just casual acquaintances. We’d seen Kate and Nathan only twice during their marriage—dinner at our house, dinner at theirs. (Theirs was better. On top of everything else, Nathan could cook.)

“I talked to my sister today,” I said, hoping to remind him whose life would really never be the same.

“How is she?”

“She’s hanging in there. She’s always been strong.”

“Good, good. I’ve had to call on my own strength, too.”

“Eric. I think Kate is probably suffering a little more than you are.” I raised an eyebrow.

He blinked. “Well, I think no one is suffering more than anyone else. There’s no measure. We’re all in pain.”

“No, Kate is suffering more. Mr. and Mrs. Coburn and Brooke and her sons...they’ve lost their husband, son, brother, uncle. Let’s not make everything about you, hon.”

“I’m just trying to say that I feel this deeply. Is that so wrong? And since when has everything been about me?”

I took a deep breath, remembering that tonight we were probably getting engaged. “I’m sorry. Let’s talk about something else, okay?”

“Fine,” he grumbled.

I knew Eric was self-centered, the classic only child, son and heir of adoring parents. It left a mark (or a crown). But he was also generous and smart. He loved the life we’d built, loved our home, loved that at company dinners, his bosses would chuckle and say, “That’s a great girl you’ve got there, Eric,” because I knew how to work the crowd. He was faithful, funny and kind.

Also, he was really good in bed. Did I mention that? Not that I had anything to compare it with, but yeah. He was.

The cancer...well, I was tired of thinking about it, but cancer had scared him to death, despite all his positive affirmations. No one got through an experience like that unscathed.

“Candy’s column was pretty hilarious today,” I said, and he brightened and listened as I told about her advice to a woman with a horrible mother-in-law (a problem I would never have). We ordered wine and appetizers, and I made a point of being my best self, chatty and flirty, to put him in the mood. From time to time, I’d glance over at my boss, but he never glanced back.

It was in the middle of dinner that Eric finally got things rolling.

He cleared his throat and put down his steak knife—he always ordered filet mignon. Every time. I was eating the lobster, which wasn’t the best choice, since my hands were a little buttery. Then again, the ring would slide right on. It was also the best lobster I’d ever had, succulent and tender, and the butter, my God, I wanted to drink it.

Using great self-control, I took one more bite of the lobster, then subtly wiped my hands thoroughly on the napkin. Took a sip of water to cleanse my palate for when Eric would kiss me, his fiancée.

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you,” he said.

Oh, goody! My heart squeezed hard, then seemed to expand to fill my entire chest. Love, baby! Love.

“Really?” I asked, keeping my voice casual. He liked to surprise me, though he rarely pulled it off.

“Yes. But...well, I’m not sure how you’ll react.”

“Hmm. Give it a shot and see,” I said, smiling. In about thirty seconds, our fellow diners would see Eric on bended knee, would hear me say yes, and maybe even Jonathan would be happy for us. Maybe he’d even smile, though his face would probably crack.

“Okay,” Eric said, taking a deep breath.

Then...nothing. He just sat there, not smiling, not frowning, just looking at me.

Reach into your pocket, I mentally urged him, smiling a little harder. Still nothing. “What is it, babe?” I asked. My smile was feeling a little forced. Was he trying to remember a speech? He did love a speech.

“Um...okay.” He sat up a little straighter. My left ring finger raised itself in anticipation. He looked me in the eye, face serious, and said, “I’d like you to move out.”

Though my ears heard the words, it took a little longer for my brain to process them.

Was there a proposal in there somewhere? my brain asked.

No, I don’t think there was, I answered.

What was the question again?

I’m not completely sure.

“Excuse me?” I asked. I was still smiling. My ring finger was still waiting.

“This is hard for me,” he said. “But it’s time. I’ll always cherish our years together.”

“What?”

“It’s just that Nathan’s death...it was so profound, you know? It was a message.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Hang on one second.” My thoughts were just a gray blur. “Um...Nathan’s death? What has that got to do with us? I mean, besides the obvious.”

“It was a message. To me. A very profound moment.”

“No, it wasn’t! He tripped and hit his head and died. That is not profound. That’s an accident, Eric. The opposite of profound.”