her remedy

15

"Seriously, Laura? You know those are my favorite." I say from the kitchen table.

She slowly closes the door with the last double chocolate cupcake in her hand.

"I know." She whispers as she bites into it.

"Laura! That's your seventh one!"

"Really? Only seven?"

"What do you mean only seven? I only got to eat five of them!"

"Oh, sorry. I'll buy you more."

I laugh. "Ready to go?"

She swallows the last bite and sighs in satisfaction. "Now I am."

Tonight is Bonfire Night. The first one I'm going to as a taken woman, even though Simon won't be here with me.

We drive to the park and find Daniel. My heart aches a little as I look around at all the happy couples holding onto each other.

A particular person catches my eye. It's someone I never wanted to see again but yet he always manages to show up at the worst times.

He's oddly alone tonight despite being married. My heart goes from aching to racing in nervousness as he starts walking my direction.

I slide closer to Laura and say, "Do you see it?"

She turns her attention away from the sky and looks out in front of us.

"The lights?"

"No, him."

He's definitely coming to talk to us, so my hands begin to sweat.

"Oh no." She says.

Daniel notices our sudden tension so he looks away from the fireworks as well and says, "What's going on- oh."

"Hi, Adele."

I look up into his face without saying anything at first. "Alex."

"How are you?"

"Really good, actually. Where's your wife?"

"Sick. She told me come without her anyways."

"Sorry to hear."

Laura nudges my side and whispers, "Wrap it up."

"I know we haven't talked in a while." He says.

"There's a good reason for that, Alex." I say flatly, picturing Simon's face in my mind. Gosh, I miss him.

"I wanted to tell you that you look really beautiful tonight." He says, sliding a little closer to me.

Suddenly, someone sits in between the little space between us. "She always looks really beautiful." The person says.

My heart jumps at the sound of his voice. For a second I question if I'm dreaming.

"Simon?!" I yell.

He puts his arm around my waist and pulls me closer to him. "Hi, baby."

I kiss him with so much passion that I almost knock him over.

Alex sighs and gets up, walking away without saying anything. Just like he walked away when we broke up.

Simon breaks off the kiss and says, "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner."

"You came just in time." I say, our foreheads touching.

He kisses me once more and then holds me close. We watch the fireworks together and I nearly cry from feeling so happy.

When they end, Daniel and Laura get up.

Laura says, "We'll leave you two alone. Welcome home Simon." She winks at me.

"Thank you for today, Laura." I say to her.

She smiles and says, "Anytime." They walk away hand in hand. I smile when I realize that the two of us have finally found our true loves after wanting it for so long.

"I can't believe you came tonight." I say to Simon.

"I wouldn't miss a night like this with you for the world." He kisses me again.

"How did you get off of work?"

"I got good news today. My boss said that my part in the project was complete. I almost called you to tell you I was on my way home but I remembered it was Bonfire Night here and decided to surprise you."

Tears fill my eyes. I've fallen in love with the sweetest man on the planet.

"You mean, you're home for good now?"

"I'm home for good now."

"So you'll be here for Christmas?"

He laughs at my sudden excitement. "Yes, Adele."

I cry out of happiness into his shoulder for a moment as he holds me and slides his hand up and down my back.

"I love you so much, Simon." I say, holding onto him as if it's the last time I ever will.

"I love you too, Adele. I missed you."

"You have no idea how much I have missed you. It was starting to make me feel sick."

"I'm sorry, baby. I promise I won't ever leave you again."

"Let's go celebrate." I say, standing up and taking his hand.

"Where should we go?"

I think for a moment. Then I realize there's only one place in the world where I want to be with him right now.

"Home."