"From This Day Forward (Part 3 to One Night Stand)"

"Dinner for One"

Summer was back in Virginia. She was sitting at her desk at work going back & forth with staring at her screen & looking out the window. She was physically in Virginia, but her mind was elsewhere. She had enjoyed the time with her family in Seattle. She didn't realize how much she missed them until she left. She took a deep breathe & focused back on her work. Summer was granted few weeks off of work & although she was grateful to be back at work, she just wasn't passionate about it anymore. A moment later, there was a knock on her door. It was her secretary. She poked her head in Summer's office.

Rebecca: I hope I'm not interrupting.
Summer: Not at all. I need a break actually.
Rebecca: I have someone here for you.

Summer felt a bit of excitement in her heart. Who was here to see her?

Rebecca stepped aside to let Nat in. Summer was expecting someone else, but was still grateful to see her friend. He came straight to her side & gave her a hug. He sat on her desk & placed a cup of green juice on her marble coaster.

Summer: What are you doing here?
Nat: I haven't seen you at all since you've been back.
Summer: I know. I'm sorry. I was just trying to get back in the swing of things I guess.
Nat: Is that all? I'm kinda worried about you.
Summer: I'm sorry I haven't returned your calls.
Nat: K said she tried to call you too.
Summer: It's been crazy.
Nat: Everything ok?
Summer: Yes...
Nat: If you say so. We need to celebrate your birthday.
Summer: Oh, we don't have to.
Nat: No, we totally should.

Nat stayed for a bit longer as he talked Summer's ear off about George & how they were looking into buying a house. Nat noticed that Summer seemed distracted & not like herself at all. He figured she was just overwhelmed about coming back to work.

Nat: Well, I'm gonna get going. I'm meeting Georgie to look at more houses. I'll talk to you soon, ok?
Summer: Thanks for stopping by & for the juice.
Nat: I really missed you. It wasn't the same without you.
Summer: I'll talk to you later.

Summer stood from her desk, looked around her office, picked up her bag & headed out herself. As Summer drove home, she thought about Jay. Jay was finally home from deployment. And she thought she'd be happier now that he was home. But she wasn't. She knew the transition from deployment to coming home would be work. Well at least that's what they mentioned in all those military spouse support groups.

Jay usually cooked dinner & Summer wanted time surprise him by giving him a night off of cooking. She decided to cook dinner.

Summer felt guilty. She kept telling herself that it was her fault that Jay cheated. Or so she assumed. "What did I do wrong?" "What can I do differently?" These questions flooded her mind. She was full of anxiety that Jay would cheat on her again if she wasn't trying hard to do better & be better. She got dressed out of her work clothes & slipped into a sexy black dress. She started cooking dinner & setting the dining table. As she cooked, she caught herself in a daydream. As she was chopping up vegetables, she remembered Dennis. She imagined him in the kitchen with her cooking alongside of her. She smiled, but quickly stopped. She felt ashamed that she was daydreaming about another man other than her fiancé. She finished up with dinner & set everything nicely on the dining table. The table was decked with pretty candles & flowers. She glossed over the table & double checked to see that everything was perfect. The chicken looked good, the vegetables & potatoes looked about right. She clasped her hands together hoping that Jay would like it.

Summer sat down at the table & checked her phone for messages or calls. She didn't get any from Jay. "Jay should've been home by now", she thought. She texted Jay & waited about half an hour more. Jay finally texted apologizing & saying that he had to stay late again. For the past week, this was the pattern. Summer would come home from work & Jay would come home later than she would. The past 2 nights, he came home even later. Summer had already fallen asleep before he even got home on those nights.

Summer decided to just eat. After eating, she put away all the candles, plates & food. She turned off the lights downstairs & headed up stairs. She felt silly for getting all dressed up for nothing.

Summer got ready for bed & then pillowed her head. She felt bad that she hadn't seen Jay all day. She felt bad that her hard work in the kitchen was unnoticed.  She felt bad that she was going to bed alone again. Yes, Jay was back home in Virginia, but she never felt further from him.