Quietly, trailing behind her, I murmured, "I'm sorry."
Eventually, Jessica did head back to her dad's place with someone.
And that someone, of course, was Mike.
"It's been ages since I've seen Mr. Harris. Perfect day for a visit," Mike remarked, his smile lighting up.
Jessica almost said no, but Mike wasn't having it.
"So we didn't work out—can't we still be friends?"
"Besides, your husband's MIA today. Doubt he'd mind a bit."
That seemed to settle it, and she got in the car with him.
The ride over was awkward, Mike trying to make small talk to break the ice.
"Had to leave the Beetle at the shop. Lucky I had this spare car."
"That guy I hit—still no one's claimed him."
"Tragic, really. Heard he clung to a bluebell bracelet as he died. Meant a lot, probably."
Jessica had been zoning out, staring out the window.
Suddenly, she snapped around. "What bracelet?"
"A bluebell bracelet. Rare thing, you know? I wouldn't even know the name if someone hadn't mentioned it." Mike tossed out casually.
Her face slowly fell apart.
"No, that can't be..." she whispered to herself.
"What can't be?" Mike teased lightly.
She didn't respond, just fumbled for her phone, hesitating over my contact.
The reason for her shock was clear to me.
The bluebell bracelet was our promise to each other.
When we got engaged, exchanging gifts was a must.
She'd bought that bracelet on the cheap, just to tick the box.
It merely cost her about five bucks.
I never cared about the cost; I treasured it and wore it every day.
Folks used to laugh at me, a rich guy with a plastic bracelet, but I'd tell them straight,
"You don't understand, it's a symbol of our love!"
And that's why that bracelet struck such a chord with her.
"It's not him, his car wasn't gray," she blurted out suddenly.
True, my car was red.
But the day before yesterday, after she mentioned red was garish during her dad's birthday planning, I swapped it for a gray one at the dealership.
The crash happened just after I drove off the lot.
She hadn't known, of course.
They pulled up at her father's place.
Mike, ever thoughtful, had brought along fine wine and a painting as gifts.
He followed her in.
Her dad came out to greet them, all smiles but stopped short seeing Mike.
"Hold on," he glanced at Jessica, "Wade didn't come with you?"
She just nodded.
Even if she'd been keeping it a secret, her dad knew too well our marriage was on the rocks.