Fading Memories

Chapter 2

Our laughter's reached an all-new level tonight, and none of us noticed the music stop next door. We've been over everything I've been doing to keep myself busy, and what the girls have been up to.

Leah thinks that now, with half a bottle of wine ingested, is a good time to bring up the latest gossip on what's new with Peter. Everyone—and I mean everyone—thinks they need to keep me updated on his life. Honestly, all I want to do is forget everything that was Peter.

"So, he asked that girl he's been dating to marry him."

Spitting my wine all over the table, I whip my head around toward Leah. "What! Are you kidding?"

"Sorry Izzie, but no. Found out this afternoon from Joseph and wanted you to know first."

I look toward Kelsey, and she seems to be just as shocked. "Did you know this?" I ask.

"No babe, I didn't know." Kelsey glances toward Leah. "Maybe a little heads-up would've been nice though."

"I've got to say I'm shocked, but it's not really any of my business, guys. He left me remember?" I remind them both of this little fact.

"Yeah, we remember. We were the ones trying to pick you back up when it all happened. Hell, we're still attempting to pick you up," Leah says.

A little annoyed with my two best friends, I set my glass down and start in on them. "I don't need you guys to pick me up. I'm okay! How many times do I have to remind you of this?"

"We just want you to be happy, Izzie." Kelsey shrugs.

"I'm happy. Might not be in love or have a completed heart right now, but I am." Deciding to be brave in order to see what I can find out, especially with this bomb Leah just dropped in my lap, I have to ask, "Do you know what date they've set and where?"

"No, I just know he asked her to marry him after dating for nine months. Plus they'll be in town for The Fourth of July. Joseph said they're staying with him while visiting."

"Wow, I'm shocked that he agreed. The last time Peter's name was brought up, Joseph said he was going to serve him up on a platter to sharks for breaking my heart," I say with a smirk.

"Yeah, well you know how he is, all talk and no action," Leah says.

As she continues to ramble, I choose to space out. Watching their lips move, I know they're talking, but I can't comprehend it. They lost me right after the whole Peter's getting married. It just reminds me of how little our four years together meant to him, and I replay that last evening with him over in my head.

The cottage was quiet and all the funeral guests had left. It was almost like an empty shell of a coffin. Peter was at the kitchen sink, staring blankly out across the rocky water of the Atlantic.

"There'll be a storm tonight," I said, a little too loud for our surroundings, and held out a glass of red wine toward Peter. He shook his head, not looking at me as he pulled me to the dining room table. Pushing the bouquet of calla lilies I'd received to the other side, he sat down next to me and took a moment to rebalance himself.

"Izzie, I'm sorry. This isn't the right time, but it can't wait any longer."

"Peter please, not tonight," I begged and looked up at him. "It's been such a long day, I'm tired. Let's just have a glass of wine, watch the storm, and face tomorrow, tomorrow."

I ran my hand over his sleeve as a sign to show him I just needed him to hold me. Fixating on his mouth as he talked, I questioned how long it'd been since he kissed me—months probably. All my free time away from school had been spent caring for Dad, his illness eating away at him day by day.