“Are you sure? I don’t want to take up too much of your time, but I am actually feeling a bit brittle.” She tugged a tissue from her jean pocket and dabbed at her eyes.
“Take a deep breath.”
She obeyed, sucking in some air and letting it out slowly.
“Now, just tell me exactly what it is that has you upset.” I kept my voice even, hoping that would help her keep her emotions in check.
She scrunched her face. “I don’t want you to think I’m crazy.”
“Now, why would I think that?”
She shook her head, pressing her lips tight.
Impatience prickled me, but I simply said, “It’s okay, you can tell me anything.”
Again, she shook her head.
Gritting my teeth, I patted her arm. “Talking can sometimes make you feel better. Just saying the words aloud can be freeing.” I’d heard that on some talk show the other day. I wasn’t sure I believed that was true, but it seemed to do the trick with Janelle.
“Archie was married before,” she wailed, her eyes wide.
“Oh, okay. Well, that’s fine. Lots of people marry more than once these days.”
“I know.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I feel inferior.”
“Why?”
“I… I don’t know.” Swallowing hard, she said, “Kimora was her name.”
I wasn’t sure why I needed to know that detail, but I just went with it. “That’s a pretty name. Did Archie get divorced from her?”
“No. Kimora died.”
Shock rolled through me. “Oh, God. I… I’m sorry. That’s awful.”
“Yes.” She nodded, crumpling the tissue in her hand. “Kimora was everything I’m not. She was an exotic beauty. She was sophisticated and independent.” She wrinkled her brow. “I feel like a frump by comparison.”
“No. You’re a lovely young lady.” The words felt stilted on my tongue, but even I knew it was the right thing to say. Besides, she truly was lovely. There was no denying that.
“But Kimora was exciting, and I’m just… me.”
“Archie must like who you are, otherwise he wouldn’t have proposed.”
She closed her eyes. “Sometimes he seems so distant. I can’t help worrying he’s comparing what he had with her to what he has with me.”
“I think it’s normal to worry about that. We’re all insecure to a degree. But Archie wouldn’t have asked you to marry him if he didn’t want you in his life. Surely you can see that?”
“Maybe he was just… lonely,” she whispered.
I frowned. “I doubt that would make him marry you. It might make him spend time with you, but he wouldn’t need to marry you.”
She glanced up, looking hopeful. “Do you really think so?”
“Absolutely.”
