My Husband’s Best Friend Toasted To Me As “The Temporary One” At Our 3rd Anniversary Dinner. I Just Found The “Future Plans” Folder For His Ex In His Locked Desk. How Do I Get My Revenge?
The Anti-Anniversary
I picked a Thursday evening for the dinner because that’s what we’d done 3 years ago. Same restaurant, different table, completely different meaning. Saki arrived first and saved us a spot near the windows where we could see the street. Dominic showed up right behind her carrying a bottle of champagne he’d picked out himself. My sister came last, rushing in from work still wearing her court clothes because she’d been in depositions all afternoon.
The hostess led us to our table, and I noticed we were sitting three tables away from where the anniversary dinner had happened. I could see the exact spot where Lucas had made his toast and where David had kept cutting his steak like nothing was wrong. Saki saw me looking and reached across to squeeze my hand. Dominic poured the champagne, and I told them this was my “anti-anniversary,” my celebration of being free.
We raised our glasses, and my sister said, “Here’s to Jennifer, who isn’t temporary or secondary or anyone’s backup plan anymore.”
The champagne tasted better than any wine I’d ordered for David. We ordered food we actually wanted instead of what looked impressive or what David preferred. I got the pasta I’d always liked but never ordered because David said it was too messy. My sister got the steak, but she cut it into small pieces and actually enjoyed it instead of using it as a prop. Saki ordered three appetizers because she wanted to try everything, and Dominic didn’t complain about the cost.
We talked about normal things like Saki’s promotion at work and my sister’s new apartment and Dominic’s terrible golf game. Nobody mentioned David unless I brought him up, and even then they just listened without trying to fix anything. The waiter brought our food, and I realized I was actually hungry, not just pushing food around my plate to be polite. We stayed for 2 hours talking and laughing, and I felt more like myself than I had in months.
Kelani’s office had big windows that let in afternoon light and plants on every surface. I’d been seeing her for 8 weeks now, and the sessions had become something I actually looked forward to instead of dreading. She asked me what I wanted to talk about today, and I told her I’d been thinking about what comes next.
The divorce was final. I had my own apartment. I’d separated all my finances from David. But I didn’t know what to do with all this freedom I suddenly had. Kelani leaned back in her chair and asked what I meant by that. I explained that for 3 years I’d made decisions based on what fit into David’s life—his schedule, his preferences. I’d stopped taking classes because he said they were expensive. I’d stopped seeing certain friends because he didn’t like them. I’d stopped doing hobbies because they took time away from being available for him. Now I could do whatever I wanted, but I’d forgotten what I actually wanted to do.
Kelani asked if there was anything I’d been curious about or interested in before I met David. I thought about it and remembered I used to love taking photos. Just random shots of things I found interesting. David had always said buying a good camera was a waste of money when phones took decent pictures, but I’d wanted to take a real photography class and learn how to actually use professional equipment.
Kelani asked what was stopping me now, and I opened my mouth to list reasons but then stopped. Nothing was stopping me. I had my own money that I could spend however I wanted. I had my own time that wasn’t scheduled around someone else’s needs. I could take a photography class or any other class, and nobody could tell me it was stupid or wasteful.
Kelani smiled and said, “That’s exactly right.”
I was free to make choices based on what I wanted instead of what fit into someone else’s plans for my life.
