“Honey, you haven’t met David yet, have you?”

Felicity looked away from the warm fire towards her husband’s voice. Ice suddenly gripped her veins.

Nate stood with his arm around his friend, the two laughing at a joke she could not hear.

She rose to her feet, though she didn’t know how. Her legs moved on their own. A hundred memories ricocheted inside her head at once:

The scent of bergamot on his skin,

his arms wrapped around her waist,

the first word he ever spoke to her,

the last she ever said to him.

Her shoulders tensed behind her. How could he act so casual? Like a stranger? He didn’t seem to recognize her. Did he recognize her?

David Thomas Everett.

His name felt like honey on her tongue. She whispered it to herself on lonely nights at home, when the winds of the past blew hard on the windows. His memory was a beloved secret kept in her upper story; a piece of their passion she lived happily with.

Yet now, he acted to cold towards her, like a stranger. Had he forgotten all she gave to him? How could he forget? It broke her to think so. Was she merely another scared heart on a trail of conquests? A new mix of determination and agitation animated her.

Fine. She resolved herself.

If that’s the way he wanted to play…

She held out an stony hand, and feigned indifference.

“Felicity, nice to meet you.”

He brushed aside golden hair from his face, taking her hand in his. He wore it longer now. She liked it. Their gaze met. She felt him squeeze warmly; still strong. Were his eyes always so blue?

The navy blazer suited him.

“David Everett. Nice to meet you. Nate talks about you all the time. Glad to finally put a face with the name.”

He grinned like the room wasn’t off-kilter. The charade poisoned her, but she held fast. She had to play the role. At least, for her husband.

“Y-yeah, I️ try to meet all the donors. Your company’s gifts to our organization are incredibly generous.”

He didn’t let go. In the moment she thought she sensed something behind the eyes and the smile - a pain she couldn’t place. It formed a deep well he kept hidden behind the jokes and laughs. His voice lowered, almost as if embarrassed, but the gaze never broke.

“The kids need it. I’m glad I️ was able to help.”

She felt surrounded by his presence. As if, in this short moment, he spoke only to her.

“It’s worth it.”

Something there… a twitch in his eyebrow?

His fingers lingered as their hands parted. Breathing escaped her, all the air sucked out of the room. Did she hear him correctly? What could he mean?

The moment left quicker than it arrived. David turned toward Nate and patted his shoulder. The years looked good on him. She imagined the streaks of gray in between her fingers.

“My niece was diagnosed with LCH when she was four. The research you’re funding, not to mention the advocacy, it’s worth it to move closer to a cure.”

Nate nodded sympathetically and raised his glass. He was a good man, but clueless at times.

“I’ll drink to that, my friend.”

Nate pulled Felicity into a side hug.

“Isn’t he great? I️ met him at that golf fundraiser we ran last October. His firm has been a great asset for us, even helped us lobby Ron Dale. You know, dear, the Minister?”

She hated when he did that: explain things to her she already knew.

“Yes, sweetheart, I️ know who he is,” was all she replied.

Nate chuckled, “He practically begged us to host an event like this. Even insisted on funding the entertainment and catering.”

He patted David’s back with familiarity.

“You’re a good man! But I’ll stop bragging before you let it get to your head.”

David looked back at her, playing along, “I️ only do what I️ can when opportunity knocks.”

The two men blathered. She wanted to jump out of her skin. In the corner she glanced Lucille and wished for the first time in her life she could switch places with her sister. She contemplated faking a seizure when a her husband woke her from the stupor.

“Honey, that gentleman over there Rick Green. He’s the guy who’s horse ran the cup last year? You remember. He’s on the Executive Team now.”

Felicity rolled her eyes, “Yes, sweetheart, I️…”

Nate kept going, “I️ need to cozy up to him about that sponsorship deal.” He glanced up at David, “Trust me, we’ll need it. I’ll be right back.”

He winked again in David’s direction, “Keep her company will you?”

She respected her husband greatly. He was a visionary, and driven, but these soirées they hosted brought out a boorish side she struggled to tolerate. He wasn’t like this when they were alone, not really. It’s just something about these social settings…

“You’re more beautiful than ever.”

Everything froze in time. David had a way of speaking, an intoxicating warmth and ruggedness, like something out of Louis L’Amour. Her face turned to meet his. His breath smelled like cinnamon.

“Wh-what did you say?”

“You’re so beautiful. I️-I️ didn’t know if you’d come, but I️ hoped…”

His voice trailed thoughtfully, but his body never moved. Nothing in his gestures to arouse suspicion. Yet, his voice shook with purpose.

“I did everything for you… I️t was always for you.”

A tear welled up beneath his eye.

“Please. Please tell me you knew.”

She tried to stay still, but the anger burned up inside her. She gritted her teeth. How dare he! After all this time! The gall of some men!

“What the hell are you talking about? You walked away from us, not me. You left! I️ would’ve gone around the world with you if you only asked!” She pulled back, surprised by her pain, “But your call never came..”

His eyes widened in surprise. He was thinking. She wasn’t one to lash out. The walls, so carefully constructed, had faltered. She continued.

“You think tossing your money around is going to change that? What, now you intend to whisk away with you like some romance novel?!”

“No! Of course not. But, you didn’t tell me! You nev-“

Nate was heading back towards them from across the room. David’s turned away from him.

“I️ called Lucy. You wouldn’t answer your phone. She said you got engaged. Engaged, Felicity! You never gave me a chance to-“

Nate closed in. David stopped himself in time to get out the words.

“I️ know, Felicity.”

She couldn’t begin to calculate his intentions. Whatever he thought he knew about her was mistaken. Unless…

“Good news!” Nate interrupted. He was almost winded, “Rick said they’ve still got some experiential slots available. We might lock down some more donors with a well-placed VIP tent.”

Felicity tried to hide the knot rising up in her throat.

“That’s great, babe.”

She couldn’t pretend anymore.

“I’m just- just going to run to the restroom,” she blurted before ungracefully speeding away.

She felt mortified. He’d called Lucille? Why wouldn’t she tell her that?

She burst into the bathroom, locked herself in the first open stall, and began to cry - louder than she intended. Though now blinded by tears, it appeared she was alone.

She knew she had to get out of here. She had to leave this nightmare behind. Why did he still bother her? It had been years since he’d seen her. And who was he to show up and drop some petty line on her like that?!

I’ll just text Nate and tell him I️ drank too much, she thought. That’s it - her plan of escape. She stood and pulled the compact from her purse. A few taps with her handkerchief should get her by, long enough to make a discreet exit, anyway.

She unlatched the stall door and stepped out in front of the sink. The squeaking hinges behind her grabbed her attention.

“Hey, Tis. Nate said you ran off?”

Damn it, he would get Lucille.

The formerly loving nickname came from when the two were toddlers. The younger always said her older sister’s name wrong. ‘Tisity’ came out easier. It seemed cute. Now it stung like a knife’s edge.

Felicity’s fist tightened around fabric on the side of her dress.

“I’m fine,” was all the response she could reply.

Lucy tilted her head and grimaced, “Well, you don’t look fine. You look like you saw a ghost.”

Felicity bit her lip for a moment, but felt the walls breaking down. Each word felt jagged.

“David’s here.”

Lucy squinted, “What? You mean David David? That’s what this is about?! I️ know, I️ saw him. What do you care?”

“He spoke to me.”

“Okay….” She wasn’t getting the hint, “It’s been, what, like seven, eight years? Why’s that matter?”

Felicity looked up at the ceiling, trying to keep the tears back.

“He said he called you, Lucille… that summer. You never told me…”

Her sister started, “So what if he did? You were already engaged, Tis! I️ told him the truth: he was a fling and you’d worked things out with Nate. He had his fling and you got your Prince Charming”

She couldn’t miss the demeaning tone intoning each syllable. Lucy always thought she knew best - like everyone else couldn’t make her own decisions. Felicity hated it. Her reply came out harsher than intended.

“You always coddle me like you’re my damn mother! Well you’re not, Lucille! You should’ve told me! You don’t know what I️ went through! What I️ still…”

“Oh my GOD!” Lucy threw her hands up. “So you hooked up some a hot guy! You’re a married woman! Grow the hell up and get over it.”

Felicity felt the walls closing in again. She pushed her sister to the side as she walked out the door. Lucy called after her, but she kept moving. Her sister didn’t listen. Nobody ever listened. Except… him… he would’ve listened. David had been the first person who understood who she was, and she’d thrown it all away. Lucy called after her. She kept moving.

In her heart, she knew she cared deeply for Nate. That made everything worse. They’d met in college, Econ 102. She, the quiet studious type. He, a tall, outgoing, smart rich kid. It wasn’t until he came up to her after class she noticed how his green eyes lit up when he got excited. His short brown hair was always a mess, but he felt approachable. He had a certain charm that made him a natural-born leader. Nate was, in a word, the quintessential heartthrob - the guy with whom every girl dreamed of a forever. She was a lucky woman, truly.

But… she never loved him. Not really.

She followed the wall towards the exit when her husband stopped her. A look of concern spread comfortably over his features. He leaned down and whispered tenderly.

“Are you okay? Do I️ need to take you home?”

Such sincerity. He was too kind to her. She didn’t deserve him, and she knew it. Felicity mustered a smile and placed a hand on his chest.

“No, honey. I’ll have Carl drive me. He’ll come back to get you after.”

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

“You can handle the rest of the party, yes?”

Nate wrapped her up in his broad arms.

“Of course. Get some rest. I’ll see you when I️ get home.”

His warmth should’ve eased her conscience. It only amplified torment enveloping her heart. Instead, she pulled away. They whispered their goodbyes and soon she was downstairs.

The cars outside maneuvered around one other in a drizzling rain. Small gusts of wind carried with them the metallic scents of an old city. Smoke curled atop parti-colored glass and stone buildings. Somehow, the continuous rush around her lightened burdens she carried. Seeing so many lives lived in coherent harmony granted a sense of perspective. She’d made it this long holding all her secrets. Hers but one page in a world of stories.

Carl hopped out of the car and ran to cover her with his umbrella.

“Mrs. Davenport! You’re soaked to the bone! I️ couldn’t see it was you through all this rain.”

He cradled her shoulder beneath his in his fatherly way. The car door popped open as he helped her inside and quickly jogged to the driver’s side. Professional that he was, his umbrella retracted as he slid into the seat. He turned round to face her, silent. She found his company restorative.

“I’m fine, Carl, really.”

She curled her lips into a tight smile.

“I️ just need to get home.”

His expression told her he saw through the half-truth, but he nodded and went on his way. The ever-wise driver never missed a beat.

All the night’s events flooded back in the quiet of the drive. Felicity leaned back against her leather seat. So replayed every interaction over and over again. She always processed her thoughts this way, preferring silent contemplation to talking things out. In the war between mind and mouth, it saved her from speaking rashly. Well, most of the time, anyway.

What a fool she was! Why did all this bubble up now? Why had David even come to the party? A worse thought reared its ugly head. Did he know? She’d never told anyone, not even her sister. It would be impossible for him to know. And yet…

Half an hour later they arrived at the estate. Frithton Park stood proud in stone, curving flights on its facade overlooking a silver pond. As they pulled around the drive Felicity took a lone duck floating upon the glass. The woods beyond afforded them pastoral tranquility which belied their proximity to the city. A purer air stirred across this landscape. It permeated every sense while she walked across the cobblestone.

She stood atop the water terrace watching Carl’s headlights vanish into the distance. Hers was a life of luxurious privilege few ever knew. Was it all worth it? Not the trappings she enjoyed, but the family she’d built here occupied her thoughts. Her heart felt cold as ice.

The sweeping entrance soon greeted her, housekeepers long gone for the night. Valerie’s voice echoed down across the foyer from upstairs as she ascended the staircase. She approached the door and gave three quick knocks before pushing open the door.

“Mommy!”

She saw little Thomas, and all the ice melted away.

The boy bounded from Valerie’s lap and zipped into Felicity like an escaped convict. She wrapped him up in a hug. Holding him tight, she couldn’t help but kiss his cheeks and tousled blonde hair. For the first time all night, she laughed.

“And what are you doing still awake?”

Valerie steadied herself as she rose from her seat and responded, “Your son refused to go to bed until he knew you made it home safe. He thought it best I️ read him a story.” The elderly woman came forward and patted Thomas’ small leg lovingly. A realization came over her, “You’re home early.”

Felicity smiled, “I️ am. Everything’s alright. You know how I️ hate parties. Don’t worry, I’ll take it from here.”

Valerie kissed Thomas’ head and gave her a caring grin before excusing herself from the room.

Felicity playfully squeezed him.

He was getting so big.

“Alright, little blue eyes, let’s get you back to bed.”