Seeing My Parents Ignored, I Knew This Don Wasn’t the One Chapter 08

Seeing My Parents Ignored, I Knew This Don Wasn’t the One Chapter 08

For a long time after that, Dominic didn’t stop trying to find me.

Flowers every day. Messages constantly. First explanations. Then apologies. Then something close to pleading:

[Charlotte, I’ve cut ties with Eleanor.]

[My parents went to your house to apologize.]

[Just give me one more chance. Please.]

I didn’t respond.

While my dad was in the hospital, Dominic showed up a few times. The nurses always turned him away.

Once, I saw him at the end of the hallway. He was holding an expensive-looking box of pastries.

He stood there for a long time. Then he left, the box still unopened in his hands.

My mom watched him go, and her face softened with pity.

“Lottie, he seems so miserable.”

I poured my dad a cup of warm water.

“Mom.”

“Pity isn’t love.”

“And regret isn’t, either.”

My mom was quiet for a while. Then she nodded.

“I trust you.”

Things weren’t going well for Eleanor, either.

The news of the canceled Hamptons wedding spread fast through both families’ circles and the underworld.

People called her family shameless. Leeching off someone else’s wedding. Taking business-class seats. Booting the bride’s parents.

Her friends tried posting snide remarks on social media at first, but Marchesi’s legal letters shut them up fast. Nobody dared bring it up again.

Eleanor’s parents initially kicked up a fuss, demanding Dominic reimburse their travel costs.

Then, Mr. Marchesi had his lawyers handle it. They didn’t get a cent extra.

Eleanor’s mother went to the Marchesi house to cry once. Mrs. Marchesi said only one thing.

“If your daughter were truly innocent, she wouldn’t have been so comfortable taking Charlotte’s parents’ seats.”

After that, the Vance family never dared show their faces again.

Eleanor sent me a long message once:

[Charlotte, I know you hate me.]

[But Dom and I really never had anything.]

[I’ve just never had any security in my life, so I let myself depend too much on the way he took care of me.]

I stared at those lines and felt absolutely nothing.

The old me probably would’ve softened at her “no security” confession.

I’d have remembered her red-rimmed eyes and stories about her family struggling.

I’d have remembered the first time she came to my house in a washed-out dress, too scared to step inside.

Back then, I gave her my best dress. Brought her into my friend group. I genuinely treated her like a friend.

But what she took from me in the end was so much more than a dress.

I deleted the message. I didn’t reply.

Two weeks later, my dad’s condition stabilized.

I accepted a job in Northgate and rented a small place near the hospital. It wasn’t much. But the balcony got sun.

My mom scooped the damaged jam into a clean glass jar. She looked a little embarrassed about it.

I dipped a cracker into the jam and took a bite. It was cloyingly sweet. It was also the most comforting thing I’d eaten in weeks.

“This is so good.”

My mom’s eyes lit up. Just like years ago, when I was a little girl and praised her cooking.

My dad sat on the balcony, soaking up the sun. He grinned.

“Once my back’s better, I’m buying you a new outfit.”

“That suit looked awful. I don’t want it anymore.”

I walked over and draped a blanket over his knees.

“No need. Once you’re better, I’m taking you and Mom to the beach.”

“Just us.”

My dad paused. Then he smiled.

“Okay.”

“I’m flying this time.”

A month later, Dominic came to find me one last time.

I was at Northgate Airport with my parents, checking in.

The destination was an island down south. Not the wedding island. One I’d picked myself.

I bought my parents business-class seats.

My mom sat in the lounge, nervously smoothing her clothes. My dad stared out the window at the planes, like a little kid.

“Lottie, is the takeoff really fast?”

I smiled.

“A little. But I’ll be with you the whole time.”

Right then, Dominic’s voice came from behind me.

“Charlotte.”

I turned. He’d lost weight. Dark circles under his eyes. He was holding the same ring box I’d returned.

“I heard you’re taking your parents to the beach.”

“Can I come?”

His voice was so quiet saying it. Almost uncharacteristically humble.

I looked at him and thought about that day at the airport.

He’d stood at the gate just like this.

Except back then, he’d been surrounded by Eleanor’s family.

And my parents hadn’t even had a valid bus ticket.

Now he’d finally chased after me. But some people, once you left them behind, had no seat left to claim.

I said softly, “Dominic.”

“There’s no seat for you on this plane.”

All the color drained from his face.

“Charlotte, I’ve changed. I swear.”

“I’ll treat your parents well from now on.”

“I’ll care for them like they’re my own.”

I shook my head.

“There’s no need.”

“They have me.”

The boarding announcement came. Business class was boarding.

I helped my mom up and reached back to take my dad’s hand.

This time, my dad wasn’t shrinking or looking down. He straightened his back as best he could—the injury still healing—and his smile was peaceful.

Dominic stood there, eyes red-rimmed.

“Charlotte.”

“Is there really no going back for us?”

I looked at him. And smiled, calm and certain.

“No going back.”

“The moment you left my parents at that Greyhound station—that was it.”

I didn’t look at him again. I walked my parents into the boarding lane.

This time, no one was left behind.

No one had to bow their head and apologize.

And no one was making excuses for Dominic anymore.

As the plane climbed through the clouds, my mom held my hand tight.

My dad stared out the window and said softly, “Lottie, is the ocean really blue?”

I looked at the sunlit sea of clouds stretching into the distance. My eyes burned a little.

“Yeah.”

“Really blue.”

And the man who once promised to marry me in the Hamptons—I left him at the gate for good.