Her Husband's Mistress| #watty2016

Chapter 3 | The Big Showndown |

The Big Showdown

{Savannah in the media box above }

Thank you for everyone ;)

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Yet now, as I waited for her at Starbucks, my heart hammering in my chest, I was scared. She was older than me, yes, but she didn't have kids, which meant her boobs probably didn't sag, even without a bra. Her stomach was probably flat and unscarred, unlike mine.

I bet she liked to wear high heels even during the day. I looked down at my running shoes, and my thoughts swirled out of control. I was transported to the times my ex-husband disappeared on weeklong work trips or business dinners every other night of the week.

The feelings I'd tried so hard to overcome surged back, feelings of being unwanted, unloved, and unloveable.

I wiped the palms of my hands along the sides of my workout pants. Up and down. Up and down. "Breathe, Erin. Breathe," I coached myself. "In and out. In and out. It's all you need to do."

I heard the blood pulsing. I Felt the thumping of my heart. I pushed my tongue up hard against the roof of my mouth, a trick I learned recently in an assertiveness-training course. I pushed harder until my throat hurt.

"I got this," I told myself. "Scared is good. It's ok. It's ok. It's ok. It's ok."

I opened the plastic lid of my chai tea and inhaled the sweet and spicy aroma of cinnamon and cardamom. I could feel my heart rate start to steady. When I looked up, she was standing a table length away. I knew instinctively it was her.

I looked directly into her green eyes, stuck out my hand and smiled. In an instant, I'd taken in all the details: her full smile, shiny dark hair, and perfect white-manicured nails. She was wearing a toque, plaid shirt and skinny jeans tucked into motorcycle boots.

After a tumultuous two years of exhausting divorce negotiations and mounting lawyer bills, countless therapy sessions, and the pressures of having to forge a new life as a dating-working-single mother to two boys, I was face-to-face with my arch nemesis.

That's when I surprised myself.

"Thank you for taking such good care of my kids when they are with their dad," I told her warmly. "I know my boys can be a handful, and I'm happy you're there to help."

These words flowed from my mouth unexpectedly, and I realized I'd meant them. Wouldn't it be better to have four eyes watching my kids instead of two, four hands to keep my boys safe? I had built her up in my mind.

I blamed her for clawing away at my self-worth, but what did I have to gain by being angry or continuing to point fingers? I wanted to let it go. To wash my anger off my skin.

I realized in that instant that they were a better fit for each other, too. My boyfriend , Josh and I revolve around our families and our kids; we love dinners at home and spending weekends and vacations together. My ex and his girlfriend enjoy fancy vacations and expensive clothes.

We just have different lifestyles and priorities. I decided to forgive her and finally be at peace with myself. The hatred burst into nothingness, just like a balloon. I had at last come to terms with my divorce.

The next day, I drove to the department of motor vehicles, filled out the name change forms, and waited for my number to be called. My hands fumbled the pen, and they shook as I signed my original signature for the first time in 10 years.

Then I took my wedding bands and two beautiful diamond eternity bands to a jeweler and traded them in for a pair of diamond earrings without thinking twice.

Since that day in Starbucks, I've chosen to befriend her in a way. I always include her at my children's birthday parties; I've invited her into my house, and I've been to hers. We are friendly when we chat - we talk about Lululemon, the kids, working out, and so on.

She helped my boys pick out an engraved Tiffany's necklace for me Valentine's Day last year, and she helped my youngest son make me a painting.

This past summer, I got my boys a puppy, but when the responsibility became too much, we gave it to her parents, complete with all his toys, food and vaccinations. She makes sure my kids still get to see their beloved dog.

We are not a big, happy family, and we certainly don't double date. We came together by odd and unfortunate circumstances. But now, I realize, at least, that we are all on the same team .

***

Yayyy ! I know its only three chapters long but I wanna scream so hard , cause we made it , together !

We've reach the end of this awesome journey , I didn't wanted it to end so fast but ... I guess this is the end ;P . I wanna take this time to thank every single one of you who read , vote and comment :) You kept my confidence level up too make it too the very end , and I thank you for that ;)

You can check out my other books on my profile *-*

That's it for now , take care my luv's ,

*-* Farewell *-*