After You

I sit down in front of my laptop with my morning coffee in hand and finally fill out the application that has been weighing on my mind now for months. I glance out the window of my Falls Village home in Maine, an upscale New England town with under five thousand year-round residents. Well, the section I live in now is upscale. Where I grew up, not so much. Falls Village is on the coast. Where I currently live is a picturesque harbor town for art lovers, foodies, and charm seekers. Falls Village was once a small fishing village. Back then, it was the go-to summer retreat for city dwellers looking for soft, sandy beaches. Now it’s a town divided by money. The haves and the have nots. But it’s where I grew up, where my memories, both good and bad, are.
I finally click on the empty field, waiting for a description of my husband, Joey Collins.
Falls Village is my home, not Joey’s. And isn’t he always waxing poetic about New York and how that’s where he should be to further his career? Well, now’s his chance. And with Kevin Travens, my childhood sweetheart and the guy I let get away, heading home to take care of his ailing mom, now is my chance too. My last attempt at true love and happiness.
I know that makes me sound like a bitch and you probably already want to hate me…haters gonna hate. I get it. But let me explain. I grew up the only girl in a family of six. Yes, do the math. I have three brothers. Three much older and controlling brothers. Three brothers who think it’s their life’s work to run mine. The only reason I didn’t suffocate growing up was by the time I hit puberty, they were self-absorbed in their high school or college drama. After they left home, none of them returned to Maine. I don’t blame them. Back then, we didn’t live where I do now. Back then, we rented a two-bedroom apartment. My three brothers shared a room, and I had a mattress on the floor of my parent’s room.
They still return home for the occasional holiday and to give me grief. They also have me on speed dial and in an annoying group chat, I never read. I suspect Matty doesn’t either. He’s always been my favorite for a reason. So, they still treat me like I’m a twelve-year-old, instead of a married woman.
If they would take the time to stop and listen to me, they’d see I’m a far cry from that little lovesick girl who had a crush on her best friend’s older brother. Oh, wait. Um…poor example, because I kind of still have a crush on Kevin Travens.
I audibly sigh and return my attention to my laptop. More about Kevin and me in a minute.
Get ready to hate me a little bit more first.
I have a husband I don’t love. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great guy. He could be the perfect husband, just not for me. I write in the open field where it asks for a description of the perspective client of a company called Compatible Companions.
See? I knew your hate for me would grow stronger. Just hang tight. This will be a love story, in the end. It just might take a while for me to get to my happily ever after. Kevin Travens is not known for hurrying.
He’s rich, so there’s that. I continue to type into the field provided to describe my husband. But you know the saying, you can just as easily fall in love with a rich man as a poor one? Yeah, nope! Not for this girl. I’m in love with the wrong man, and here’s where you come in.