Love: A Matter of Conscience

I handed in my resignation and passed off my work.

As I left, a delivery guy brought lunch and wedding favors.

He announced, "Frank and Adeline's second anniversary is coming up! Lunch and candies on them!"

On my phone, Lila's new post popped up.

She and Frank were at an amusement park, sporting Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps headbands. Their poses were flirty and intimate.

Last year, I had begged Frank for those movie-themed photos, but he had laughed it off, calling them childish.

Apparently, they weren't childish with her.

I liked her post and walked out.

The janitor called after me, "You're leaving these beautiful flowers?"

"They look pretty, but rotten inside," I replied without looking back.

Not long after I arrived home, Frank rushed in with a StellaLou keychain.

"Babe, I know you love StellaLou," he wheezed, struggling to catch his breath. "Got this for you. Seeing it is like seeing me."

Years ago, when we were broke, I'd eyed that keychain at the park but passed to save money.

Now, I barely glanced at it. "Leave it on the coffee table."

From Lila's post, I knew it was a freebie for spending $999.

"Babe, don't be mad," he said. "It was Lila's birthday, and she begged to go to the park."

"Don't worry," I said, my voice flat. "Birthdays matter."

He noticed my packed desk. "You quit? No big deal. I'll take care of you. My money is yours, too."

I sidestepped him. "Go hang out with her. Lila has preferred you since middle school. No one else cuts it."

Once, I took Lila out, buying her snacks and rides, but she was not satisfied.

She sat on a bench all morning, wasting the expensive tickets.

My cramps were brutal that day, so I called Frank to take over. When he showed up, Lila lit up, dragging him around and chattering about wildflowers.

When they returned, Frank fussed over me. "Babe, you okay? Need a hospital?"

Lila pouted, dropping her toys. "Adeline's been sitting there forever, and my feet hurt. Why don't you ask about me?"

Frank chuckled, grabbing her bags. "I'll drive you back to school."

She clung to his arm, beaming.

I saw her as a kid then and let it slide. Now, she was an adult, crossing lines she should've respected.

...

"Go. If she can't find you, I'll be the one dealing with her complaints," I said.

Frank tapped my nose, grinning. "Jealous, huh? I'll tell her to cab back to school. I'm staying with you today."

Sensing my mood, he suggested dinner at Sky Garden, where we had our first date.

He ordered my favorite dishes, and during a pause in the live piano, he whispered to the waiter.

Then he took the stage, sitting at the piano. "Babe, our second anniversary's coming. You've stuck by me through everything. I won't let you down. You can always count on me."