The Man Who Was My Right Ear Chapter 05

The Man Who Was My Right Ear Chapter 05

The planner paused for a few seconds. “Ms. Rhodes, are you sure?”

I looked at the white umbrella peeking out of the trash bag.

“I’m sure.”

After I hung up, I didn’t cry.

I just opened every box in the living room.

Returned the candy.

Tore up the place cards.

Put the guestbook in the back of the cabinet.

I thought about throwing away the album.

But when I flipped to the last page, I stopped.

It was from our engagement shoot.

Gavin was standing on my right, bending down to adjust my hearing aid.

His eyes in that photo were soft.

I stared for two seconds, then closed the album.

The sound of a key turning came from the front door.

Gavin was back.

He saw the open boxes and his face dropped.

“What are you doing?”

I sealed the last box of candy. “Returning things.”

He walked over quickly and grabbed the contract from the table.

When he flipped to the cancellation policy, his fingers went stiff.

“You actually cancelled it?”

I nodded.

Gavin stared at me like he was seeing me for the first time.

“Vivian Rhodes, have you lost your mind?”

“No.”

He slammed the contract on the table.

“What am I supposed to tell my parents? The hotel’s already been notified. How am I supposed to explain this?”

“Tell them the truth.”

“Tell them what? you’re calling off the wedding because of an umbrella and a few jokes from Maya?”

I looked up at him. “You can say that if you want.”

Gavin’s chest rose and fell. His voice got lower. “Vivian. Don’t do this.”

“I know I haven’t been paying enough attention to how you feel the past few days.”

“I’ll replace the umbrella. I’ll get the camellia back from Maya.”

“We’ll redo the decorations. Whatever you want. Okay?”

If this had happened before, I probably would’ve given in.

All it took was for him to lower his head, and I’d start believing I was in the wrong, too.

But now I looked at him and saw a stranger.

“No.”

Gavin Morgan stared at me. “Then what do you want?”

I thought about it.

“Peace.”

He froze.

I kept putting the place cards into bags.

Gavin grabbed my wrist, stopping me.

“Vivian Rhodes, we’ve known each other for twenty years. You’re canceling just like that—have you even thought about me?”

I looked at his hand. “I have.”

Hope flickered in his eyes.

“That’s why I didn’t embarrass you on the actual wedding day.”

That hope shattered fast.

Gavin let go and laughed bitterly.

“How considerate of you.”

I didn’t respond.

My phone rang. It was my mom.

I picked up. Her voice was frantic.

“Vivian, Gavin’s mom said the wedding is off. What happened? Did you two fight?”

I glanced at Gavin.

He was watching me too, certain I wouldn’t say the real reason.

“Mom,” I said into the phone, “the wedding’s off.”

Silence on the other end. “You’ve made up your mind?”

“Yes.”

“Then come home. We all miss you.”

My nose stung a little. “Okay.”

Gavin Morgan’s face changed.

He probably hadn’t expected my mom not to talk me out of it.

I hung up and went to the bedroom for my suitcase.

He followed me in.

“You’re leaving?”

I took my clothes out of the closet, one piece at a time. “Yeah.”

“To your parents’?”

“Yeah.”

Gavin Morgan stood in the doorway, his voice heavy.

“Vivian. If you walk out that door, we’re really done.”

My hands paused on a folded shirt.

He noticed. He thought I was wavering.

His tone softened.

“Vivi. Don’t take this too far. I’ll handle Maya Sutton. I’ll cut back on seeing her. Is that enough?”

Vivi.

Finally he called me that again. But it was too late.

I zipped up my suitcase.

“Gavin. You don’t have to.”

“Don’t have to what?”

I walked past him, pulling the suitcase.

“Don’t have to handle her.”

“Don’t have to handle me either.”

Outside, the elevator was already there.

I stepped in. Gavin didn’t follow.

As the elevator doors slowly closed, the last thing I saw was the confidence still lingering on his face.

As though he believed that I was only going home for a couple of days.

As though sooner or later, I’d come back.