unpolished but rich enough to pay the cost of entry to their country clubs. He used to go to parties in off the rack clothes. And the old money set he was so desperate to be a part of would laugh behind his back,” I remember with a fond little laugh.
My grandfather said he didn’t mind that they’d laughed at him. Now that he was too rich to ignore, it delighted him to see the same people who snickered knocking on his door to borrow money. He never said no. In fact, he was generous with his new friends - he shared everything, his cars, and boat and properties.
And once, me.
I’m so startled by the intruding thought that I bite my tongue hard enough to draw blood.
In the ensuing pain, the thought disappears as if it had never been there. And I’m glad because it’s not true. He didn’t share me - yes, he encouraged Marcel, but in the end, I married him because I wanted to.
“So, what happened with you and Marcel?” Stone nudges my shoulder.
I peer at him, doubtfully. “You really want to talk about this?”
He nods, his expression earnest. “Unless you’d rather not. But I want to know everything about you.”
We share a smile that makes my heart do something strange and my pulse race.
“So, it’s over?” he prompts.
I realize I’m just staring at him. I touch my flaming cheeks and blink to refocus my mind on the conversation.
But I can’t remember what we were talking about.
“Is what over?” I ask and slap his arm when he bursts out laughing.
“That’s flattering as hell, Regan…and makes me wish we weren’t talking about your marriage.”
That sobers me up and I sigh. “Oh yes, it’s over. In every way, but on paper.”
“You guys don’t have …” His inability to say sex after all the dirty things he’s said to me in the last few days is endearing. Just like everything else about him is.
“No, we don’t have sex. And haven’t since before I had the twins.” I finish his sentence for him.
“He’s crazy.” Stone’s voice is full of bewilderment
“Not really. Marriage, family -- it’s not for everyone, as you know.” My laugh is hollow, and I don’t want to give him the chance to agree or ask me anything else about it. So, I change the subject.
“So, you went to Colombia to find yourself?”
“Yes and no. I used to think I could save the world,”
“And now?”
“Turns out the world is saving me. Traveling has taught me more than any classroom I’ve ever been in. And I’m having the time of my life in Colombia.” The smile that lights his face makes me a bit envious. There’s so much I haven’t seen.
‘What’s it like?” I ask, hungry for details that I can use to paint a picture of it for myself.
“It’s like everywhere else on earth - families, single people, old people, public parks and traffic. But it’s got this… tenacious spirit.” His hand clenches into a fist. “There is so much misery everywhere and yet, they hold on to every scrap of joy, make use of every resource and take such pride in their town’s history. It’s turned me into an optimist.”
I huff an amazed laugh. “I’m so used to hedging my bets, so stuck on cynical, I can’t imagine that.”
He nods, a pensive light in his eyes as he gazes out at the river. “I get that. It’s safer to not expect anything. But then I see the hope on the faces of the women who come through our clinic. Their lives are incredibly hard. Poverty, political unrest, lack of food security, disease, you name it. And yet their aspirations for their children are unmitigated. It’s hard to look at them and not feel like anything is possible.” His eyes blaze with passion and fondness.
My heart blazes with affection and respect. His empathy and his conviction inspire me.
“Will you be sad to leave?”
“Yeah, especially for the flat, endless sea of suburbia also known as Houston, TX.”
“What?” I sputter, incredulous that anyone could feel that way. “The only true thing in that sentence is flat. Are you kidding? Houston is America’s melting pot.”
His shrug is noncommittal. “It’s fine, but I haven’t lived there in a long time and when I did, I didn’t exactly get to enjoy it.”
“Maybe it’s because I call it home. Besides my time at SMU and the five years we lived in Paris, it’s the only place I’ve spent any decent amount of time. But I