The Winemaker's Dinner: Entrée (33 page)

He’s happy,
so who cares?
Again, they aren’t married.

So what if they were?
What would happen then?

Doesn’t matter.
They aren’t, and they
won’t be for a while.
Time heals all.

That’s bullshit.

“Here you go, ma’am.” A waitress interrupted round two of Jaden’s inner battle to place a caprese salad in front of her. The smell of food, even food this good, only kicked up her nausea.

“Delicious,” Tasha called from across the table with a mouth full of tomato.

Jaden managed a smile she hoped seemed enthusiastic as she cut the tiniest bite possible from a piece of mozzarella. As she put it in her mouth, willing it to stay down, she leaned over to look past Tasha. She watched as Ivan and Gary shared another handshake. Gary pointed out various places around the room and motioned to what looked like a spotlight in the far corner. The another man joined them. The singer? They had to be getting ready for the show. Good. As long as they were busy with logistics, Gary wouldn’t be making any small talk. At least she hoped not. And maybe he didn’t know. Maybe he left early. Maybe he hadn’t paid that much attention to her. Was she nervous for no reason?

Continuing to watch them as she moved her salad around on her plate, she noticed their attention now seemed to fall squarely on their table. But why? The hand gestures and animated conversation made her anxiety worse.

Oh! Micky!
This was how he was going to ask Tasha—during the show.
How sweet
. But that meant all eyes would be on their table, including Gary’s. Should she, could she excuse herself when the show started? What was better: missing the most important moment of her best friend’s life or risking the chance she’d be identified and her relationship with Ivan ruined? How could she explain why she’d hidden this from him? Round three started up where it left off.

She’s nervous.
She knows she’s doing
something wrong.

She isn’t nervous,
and she’s moving
on with her life.

Wrong is hiding
something from your lover.

Wrong is ruining
a wonderful relationship.
She was experiencing life.

Experiencing life
…but hurting someone else.

So there’s no need
to hurt him more.
She’s learned from
her mistake.

Love is about trust.
If she disregards this,
she’s disregarding love.

He won’t
find out. Relax.