Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 57

A month after the Lila's first overnight with her dad, Shawn suggests we go to Toronto for the weekend.

"David and Perri said they wanted to try a two night stay. We could fly to Toronto on Friday night and come back on Sunday," he says.

Things were okay between David and Shawn. David conceded (probably thanks to Perri) that Shawn was not teaching Lila to call him "dada" and Shawn made an effort to avoid David when Lila was picked up and dropped off. Lila was consistently calling David "dada" and we'd gotten her to call Shawn "Sawn" since apparently the SH was hard for her to say. Everyone was comfortable again.

I know this is ridiculous, but I have reservations about going back to Toronto with Shawn. Sure it was where we first met and fell in love, but it was also where we broke up. His condo went from being my second home to being the scene of the worst heartbreak I ever experienced.

"We could go someplace else for a weekend," I suggest. "Bermuda?"

"I miss Toronto, Jess. It's my hometown."

Shawn pretty much accommodates my life and my schedule all the time. The least I can do is take a trip with him. Once I get there, it probably won't be as hard as I have built it up in my mind.

I call David and set it all up while Shawn books the flight.

Two weeks later we're landing at the airport. We take a taxi to our old condo building. The doorman is the same and he greets us enthusiastically.

We take the elevator up and get off on our, I mean, Shawn's floor. When we get to his door, I look across at my old place. It feels like a century has passed since that was my home.

Shawn unlocks the door and we go in. It's virtually the same as when I last saw it when I dropped off my key. The only change is the bar cart I'd given Shawn for Christmas, right before we broke up. It looks good in his living room, but it is a painful reminder of that time.

"Can I get you a drink?" he asks when he sees me looking at the cart.

"I'd love a bourbon and coke. Do you have any soda?"

He opens the fridge which is empty except for a couple cans of coke and some ginger ale. "It's from my trip in February," he explains.

He makes us each a drink and we have a seat on the couch.

"Are you thinking about the break-up?" he asks.

"Yeah. You?"

"I didn't think I would, but it was the last time we were together in this room."

I down my drink and hold the glass up signaling I'd like another. After the second drink, I'm more relaxed.

"What we need to do," Shawn suggests, "is create a new memory here. Get our minds off the ghosts of the past."

"I'm all for that," I say. I stand up, take his hand, and lead him to the bedroom, knowing exactly what kind of memory he has on his mind.

The next day, things are less strange. We go to Pickering and spend the morning with his family. Afterwards, we take a long walk along the waterfront. Shawn suggests we go out to dinner.

"You know where we should go?" I say.

"Gift card steakhouse?"

"No. But close. Take me to the sushi restaurant where we had our horrible second date."

"Seriously? I never ate there again after that night," he says shaking his head.

"I am serious. This weekend is kind of about erasing the painful memories and making new ones. That's the perfect place to do that!"