Ex-wife, Keep Your Distance from Me!

Eventually, Jessica did head back to her dad's place with someone.

And that someone, of course, was Mike.

"It's been ages since I've seen Mr. Harris. Perfect day for a visit," Mike remarked, his smile lighting up.

Jessica almost said no, but Mike wasn't having it.

"So we didn't work out—can't we still be friends?"

"Besides, your husband's MIA today. Doubt he'd mind a bit."

That seemed to settle it, and she got in the car with him.

The ride over was awkward, Mike trying to make small talk to break the ice.

"Had to leave the Beetle at the shop. Lucky I had this spare car."

"That guy I hit—still no one's claimed him."

"Tragic, really. Heard he clung to a bluebell bracelet as he died. Meant a lot, probably."

Jessica had been zoning out, staring out the window.

Suddenly, she snapped around. "What bracelet?"

"A bluebell bracelet. Rare thing, you know? I wouldn't even know the name if someone hadn't mentioned it." Mike tossed out casually.

Her face slowly fell apart.

"No, that can't be..." she whispered to herself.

"What can't be?" Mike teased lightly.

She didn't respond, just fumbled for her phone, hesitating over my contact.

The reason for her shock was clear to me.

The bluebell bracelet was our promise to each other.

When we got engaged, exchanging gifts was a must.

She'd bought that bracelet on the cheap, just to tick the box.

It merely cost her about five bucks.

I never cared about the cost; I treasured it and wore it every day.

Folks used to laugh at me, a rich guy with a plastic bracelet, but I'd tell them straight,

"You don't understand, it's a symbol of our love!"

And that's why that bracelet struck such a chord with her.

"It's not him, his car wasn't gray," she blurted out suddenly.

True, my car was red.

But the day before yesterday, after she mentioned red was garish during her dad's birthday planning, I swapped it for a gray one at the dealership.

The crash happened just after I drove off the lot.

She hadn't known, of course.

They pulled up at her father's place.

Mike, ever thoughtful, had brought along fine wine and a painting as gifts.

He followed her in.

Her dad came out to greet them, all smiles but stopped short seeing Mike.

"Hold on," he glanced at Jessica, "Wade didn't come with you?"

She just nodded.

Even if she'd been keeping it a secret, her dad knew too well our marriage was on the rocks.

He quickly ushered Mike to another room to talk to her alone.

"Jessica, I know it wasn't easy accepting how things turned out," he started.

"But over the years, Wade really has shown you nothing but love."

"Youthful love often fades. You'll understand someday."

The weight of the day bore down on her, prompting her to vent, "I tried calling him, no answer. Didn't even text back."

"Doesn't he see if there was something between me and Mike, he wouldn't have stood a chance?"

Her dad gave her a reassuring pat. "Let's just eat for now. I'll call him later."

The elders sat at the head of the table, with Jessica and Mike on either side, the younger family around them.

Throughout the meal, Mike kept serving her, and after a moment's hesitation, she accepted.

That sight twisted a knot in my chest.

Childhood sweethearts—they share a special bond, one I couldn't compete with.

I never got to be that intimate, not even with food.

When we were newlyweds, I once tried.

She threw it all away—plate and all.

"You know those fork and spoon carry germs, right? All that swapping spit? What are you thinking?" she had snapped.

I'd never crossed that line again ever since.

It wasn't the germs she despised; it was me.

Meanwhile, her mother was animatedly chatting with the other ladies, boasting away.

Women at this age would never shut their mouths on bragging about their sons and daughters.

Proudly, she declared, "I'm no good with phones, but Wade set this up—see, no ads at all."

Aunt Lucy agreed, "That's smart! I'll get my daughter to set mine up too."

Aunt Susan caught something odd, pointing at the phone's call log, "Who keeps calling you?"

My mother-in-law frowned, dismissing it, "Just scam callers."

"Weird though, they've been saying since this morning that Wade died in a car crash."

"Even claimed it was on the coastal highway."

"What a prank! Wade's on his business trip right now, and there's no way anything would happen to him on that highway/"

Crash—

My wife's hand trembled, sending her dinnerware clattering to the floor.