*yellow heart emoji*
If you promise to be a bridesmaid I’ll let you wear yellow!
SAY YES
Preston:
THANK YOU THANK YIU THANSK YOUIO
IM GETTING MARRIED *party emoji*
Teddy Graham:
>
>
>
Your turn *winky face emoji*
There’s no way I can hold on to this family, not now. Not if I’m going to do the right thing and give Henry the distance he deserves. I respond to Adamma because I’m so happy for her—and I did spend hours helping Preston plan the perfect surprise while they’re in Chicago. Then I turn off my phone and tip toe downstairs hoping to find coffee and reluctantly face Henry. To my surprise and delight, he’s not there, but Mary seems to be waiting for me.
“Coffee, dear? I was just about to scramble some eggs.”
“Sure, that’d be great. Is Henry here?”
“No, I think he went for a stroll. My fault actually, I may have asked to spend some time alone with you today. Care to indulge an old lady and have a girls’ day out?”
“A girls’ day sounds great, actually. What’d you have in mind?”
I take a sip of coffee as I try not to think about where Henry is right now. We both could use some time apart from each other. I doubt this was Mary’s idea.
“Afternoon tea. There’s a place in London I used to frequent with my mum and I haven’t been in ages. I’d very much like to take you, though I have to warn you, it’s a royal pain to get there.” She smirks mischievously, and I wonder if there’s some sort of inside joke I’m missing out on. But I love tea and all the cute little sandwiches they’re sure to have, so I’m happy to oblige.
An hour later, we’re out the door walking to the train station. She takes my hand and tells me how thrilled she is to do this again. I want to be as animated as she is, but I just keep thinking about my own mom, how I wish I could be here with her, doing something as simple as getting tea.
I wonder what advice she’d be giving me now that I’m divorced, if she’d suddenly tell me all the reasons she actually hated Jack but chose to let me believe otherwise. I wonder what she’d think of Henry and how she’d help me navigate the current situation. I wonder how she’d feel about me getting a hysterectomy, if she’d agree it’s worth losing that part of myself to combat all the pain.
I’m alwayswonderingand then I’m angry because I know that all I’ll ever get to do with her now is wonder.
Mary must sense the direction of my emotions. She leads me onto the train but seems content to ride in companionable silence. After we switch stations in Hampstead, I’m feeling a bit more energized, so I ask Mary to tell me about this special place we’re going to.
“Well, I don’t want to ruin the surprise completely, dear. But I can tell you it’s been around for ages, longer than me, that’s for sure. It’s very traditional, beautiful china, andoh, they have the most wonderful scones! I always wanted to bring Henry here as a boy, but he wasn’t very comfortable going to restaurants.”
She looks lost in a memory, and I think back to our night at Nobu. That feels like years ago, but I’ll never forget that night. The bitchy waitress who I wanted to pummel. Then the amazing dinner we had at Fritto Misto. Falling asleep on opposite sides of the sectional, our feet brushing against each other, knowing he stayed just so I wouldn’t feel alone.
“Lucy, this is our stop! It’s only a quick walk through the park from here, let’s go.” Her excitement is palpable and I’m finally starting to feel its contagious effects.
Walking through Hyde Park is breathtaking. There’s a small walking bridge that reminds me of being back in Boston Commons, but this place is immaculate; it looks so much like a fairy tale that I’m disappointed when a carriage drawn with white horses doesn’t instantly appear. I want to come back here to write. As Mary leads the way, I see we’re heading toward an actual palace.
“We’re not having tea with the queen, are we? I don’t think I’m dressed appropriately for that.”
“Oh Lucy, don’t be silly. The queen takes her tea at Buckingham palace. This is where the duke and duchess reside.”
I see the signs for Kensington Gardens, and we walk through the most well-manicured flower beds I’ve ever laid eyes on. There’s a small rectangular pond covered in lily pads, but it somehow looks like it’s been cleaned just this morning. I make a mental note to tell Henry I’d like to see more of London, and then I realize I can’t ask him things like that anymore. I try to erase the thought from my mind and enjoy the moment.
Mary has reserved her favorite table for us at The Orangery and we’re seated in a beautiful all white room with the perfect amount of daylight shining through numerous window panes. She was right. It’s special, idyllic.
