ELEVEN

The waiter came over and went to take our orders. I couldn't believe Adrian had ordered us both ice cream. I thought the waiter was going to pass out. Adrian handed him a platinum card He ran out the front door to the closes ice cream shop. He came back

With every flavor the shop had. The waiter went to walk away, "wait, his card" I yelled. Adrian smiled, "thank you, I almost forgot". I felt like a kid again, young and carefree. We dove into the ice cream, eating some from

Every container. We had completely forgotten the mess we were in. The waiter came to clear the empty containers, tripping on his way out. I ran over and helped him clean it up. checking that he wasn't hurt. The waiter insisted he was fine and to go back to the table which I refused. I helped him with everything to the kitchen. Adrian yelled out, "I'll leave him a big tip. Come eat this ice cream before it melts". Without thinking I yelled back "money doesn't trump kindness" as I came back from the kitchen. Adrian had stomped over to me; I don't think anyone had ever talked back to him like that. I was so ready for the punches, I put my hands up to block my face before he got to me. Adrian stopped in his tracks, "I can see why my dad likes you, you are just like my mother". I dropped my arms and smiled. "He told me so much about her, she sounds amazing". "She was" a tear forming in his eye. I put my hand on his chest, "she's never gone if you remember her how she lived". I made my way back to the table. Adrian turned to the waiter, "leave us" in an authorized voice. He sat down and the table and composed himself. He took a deep breath; I knew the questions that were coming, and I had to answer them truthfully even if I didn't want to. He was considering marrying me, I had to be honest. "Did your husband hit you?", "yes" putting my head down. "Did he," pausing unsure of how to ask. "Yes" before he could ask. A tear dropped from my eye; I couldn't hold it in but managed to keep the rest in "that doesn't leave this room. NO One needs to know. I looked straight at him; it was so hard, but I did it. "No one knows?" "No, no one" so then why tell me?" He inquired. "You're considering marrying me. How could I do that to you. It would be unfair and nasty of me. So now you know why you can't marry me". I dropped my head again; I was ready to go home. I felt defeated and full of shame. "I can't marry you because some a-hole doesn't know how to treat a woman?" I looked up at him, completely surprised. "No, because I'm damaged goods, I'm broken" I got up and ran out of the restaurant. I couldn't hold the tears in anymore. I had to get away, I couldn't take it. I managed to get myself together before I walked through the front door. Michael was getting ready for bed when I got upstairs. I realized as I tucked him in, we didn't have a plan to stop the marriage. I left Adrian to clean up my mess. I grabbed the phone; Sebastian had given me Adrian's number. "I'm sorry I took off. I'm sorry I left before we had a plan. I'm sorry you must clean up this mess I put us in. Please tell Sebastian I'm sorry that I can't marry you. Blame this on me, please".

I didn't get a response and I fell asleep holding Michael. I woke up the next morning and looked at my phone. All it read was

"Engagement party is Friday @7pm. Mint isles"

I realized Adrian hadn't gotten out of it. I quickly unlocked my phone "couldn't get out of it? I'll call Sebastian, I'll get it canceled"

Which he responded, "he's made up his mind, it's happening. There's no going back, we have to just accept it".

All I could say was "I'm sorry". He didn't respond