Prologue
It had been quite awhile since Evie and I had spent any length of time together. Because our daughter was having an operation, both of us decided to be at the hospital for her until she was out of recovery.
Evie arrived first since she brought Jessica to the hospital. I made it just before she was taken into the operating room.
After Amy was wheeled away, Evie and I went to the waiting room. We began doing some reading we had brought with us, but soon began to talk. Talking about general things and trivial things at first, we then reminisced about our past. Talking quite a bit about the good times we had together with our parents, kids, and friends brought some laughs, even the beginnings of tears. Soon, our talk turned to our past relationship and resulting divorce. We talked about where our marriage went wrong. We both admitted to selfishness. We both agreed that another thing that drove us apart was a lack of intimacy.
"I know now that I never made you feel really loved. I never made you my first priority. I had to be in so much control that I wouldn't, couldn't, let myself go, even when it came to sex," Evie said.
I thought for a moment then said, "I understand that now. But I still cared for you and, in the best way I could, I loved you. And I still love you, Evie. There's a part of my heart that is still filled with you. You've never left my heart."
With tears watering her eyes, she said, "And I loved you the best I could. And I still love you too."
We were silent for a moment, then I said, "And do you know what's even better? You and I have changed so much through the years that I feel like we actually like each other now. I'm sure there were times you didn't like me very much."
"Yes, there were. But you've changed. You're now the man I always hoped you would be."
She paused, and with tear sliding down her cheek said, "I'm so sorry. I wish we knew then what we know now."
"Me too." I said. "But our marriage wasn't all bad. Even the sex was good. Except," I added with a smile, "when you were angry with me."
"That was just part of my control thing."
She paused and said, "I've often thought ..."
Just then, the doctor came into the waiting room and told us that the operation was a success and that we could see her in the recovery room. We were able to visit our daughter for a few moments. We talked with the doctor for awhile. He told us that she would be alert by evening.
Relieved that the operation was a success, we walked to the parking garage together.
Along the way, our conversation turned to our relationship again.
I began talking as we neared her car, "You know, Evie, you really didn't know what you were missing. You only touched the surface of the intense emotional and physical feelings you could have felt," I told her. "I wanted you to feel them so badly."
"I know you did. And I'm sorry again for denying you, for denying me, what we could have had."
I looked at her for a moment then took her into my arms. She tilted her head back and gave me a kiss so warm that it touched my heart.
She broke away and said, "Well, I'm coming back tonight. I'd better get going."
"And I'll be here tomorrow," I said.
She looked at me for a lingering moment, and then said, "I'll see you later."
**********
A few days later, I heard a knock on the door.
Opening the door, I was surprised to see Evie standing there.
"Well, Hi there stranger," I said.
"Hi back," she responded.
"What are you doing here?"
"It's a long story. May I come in?"
"Be my guest," I said as I opened the door and stepped aside.
Closing the door behind us, I asked, "So, what's the story?"
"Well, seeing you at the hospital ... it just brought back so many memories."
"I know, it brought back memories for me too."
"It got me thinking about what life with you, what our life used to be like."
"Now wait, Evie, we've already talked about this just a few days ago. We tried the best we knew how. And we did all right. Both of our kids are successful and happy. What more could we want? And, anyway, I wasn't the best husband."
"But there is something that has bothered me ever since our talk at the hospital."
"Which is?"
"I can't help but think that if we had a better sex life, the divorce may not have happened."
"There's more to life, more to a marriage, than sex, Evie."