Nodding, she looks down at her lap. “Yes,” she answers barely above a whisper.
“You love him, don’t you?” I ask, seeing in her what I’ve seen in my own reflection many times before.
Still avoiding my gaze, she says in a tiny voice, “I thought so, but now I feel terrible. Is that how love is supposed to feel?”
Oh, to be twenty years old again.
“Pretty much. Love is basically the highest highs and the lowest lows. Somewhere in between those, you hope you find some happiness. You don’t have to be uncomfortable about being in love with Marius. It’s something we have in common.”
That finally gets her to look up, and she gives me a tentative smile. “You don’t hate me?”
“How could I? You care about someone who means the world to me. In truth, I completely understand that you’d fall in love with him. He’s funny and sexy and sweet in a way most men can’t even hope to be. I fell for him, and I’m supposed to be older and wiser, so how could I think you wouldn’t do the same?”
She gives me a big smile and lets out a heavy sigh. “Thank you for not hating me. I bet most wives wouldn’t have even let me come up. I can see why Marius married you. You’re gorgeous and smart, but most of all, you’re really nice.”
“I have my moments. The truth is I had a choice when I heard you were downstairs. I could have chosen the path that included me turning you away, but I needed to make sure you knew I didn’t blame you for that night at the party. Here’s a little more truth too. I can be a huge bitch, but I’m proud to say I’m never a woman who attacks another woman over a man. That’s high school bullshit, and as you can clearly see, I’m a long time away from high school.”
Sam leans over and grabs her glass of bourbon, downing the rest of it in one gulp. “This may be the drink talking, but I think you’re beautiful and sweet. I’m pretty sure most women wouldn’t have wanted to talk to me at all after what happened.”
“I know. Far too often, women go after other women instead of the men who are doing the wrong. We’re good, Sam. I’ll talk to Marius and remind him of how much he likes your help. It won’t take much for him to realize he should keep you as his assistant, but it’s entirely up to you if you stay.”
She doesn’t say anything for a long moment before she asks, “Did you two have a fight or something? I thought he’d be here.”
I debate with myself how much of the truth I should tell my new friend and choose very little. Sam doesn’t need to know much of what happened today.
“Let’s just say I’m forcing Marius to take a good look at what he’s been doing lately and leave it at that.”
“I hope I can be as strong as you someday. I always end up brokenhearted with guys. I do exactly what they want, make sure to like the things they like, and I never give them a hard time, and it always turns out bad.”
Ah, Sam’s a pick-me girl. They always think the guys are crazy about them when they abandon their entire personality to be just like their boyfriends, but it never works out. Men, especially those like Marius, want a challenge, not a lapdog with no opinions of her own.
Standing from the ottoman, I grab my glass of bourbon. “My strength is the kind that comes from years of hating even the idea of being weak. Do you know the day Marius and I first got together it was after my then boyfriend pulled me by my hair and punched me in the eye because he thought my dress was too slutty? Don’t beat yourself up too much. That was only two years ago. You’ll get stronger. You either get stronger, or you get hurt all the time. Just remember that even when you become someone’s girlfriend, you’re still you.”
I’ve never had a younger sister to say things like that to. Spending this time with Sam, I wish I had.
As we walk out to the kitchen, she says, “Thank you for being so great about everything, Eden.”
I shrug, secretly pleased as punch that she thinks I’m cool. I would have been a great big sister.
“I’ll tell you what. Give me your number, and I’ll give you mine. We can do coffee sometime, okay?”
Her face lights up with happiness, and she quickly tells me her number. I put it into my phone, and then she does the same with mine. I didn’t plan on making a new friend tonight, but it seems like I have.
Sam smiles and steps forward to give me a hug. “Marius is lucky to have you. I hope he knows that.”
“Well, if he doesn’t, I’ll be sure to remind him,” I say with a chuckle.
She looks at me and nods. “Me too. Thanks, Eden. I guess I better go.”
“Don’t worry, Sam. I’ll talk to Marius. If you decide you don’t want to keep working for him, that’s his loss. Remember that.”
She smiles before walking to the elevator and pressing the button to go downstairs. The doors immediately open, and after she steps inside, she turns around to look at me.
“I hope we can have coffee soon,” I say and mean it.
“Oh, I’d like that. Have a great night!” she says as the doors close and she disappears.
I stand in my kitchen wondering how many times a wife in this city has had to console another woman because of her husband. I’d bet a lot. The difference is this man is my husband.