Chapter 6

Brandi looked at the text on her phone; i pic u up aftr wrk. leave bike 4 l8r Smiling she answered ok.

Sliding into the passenger seat, she grinned at Lupe. “What’s going on?”

“Tonight is a special night! It is our one month aniversario!” Pulling into the street, she continued, “I figured we would go enjoy a special meal together!” They laughed as they headed towards Smiths. “My treat!”

It was during the once again delicious Death by Chocolate pie that Brandi suddenly froze as she heard her name called. “Brandi? Ohmygosh, it really is you! How are you?” Turning, she faced the woman in her early thirties who was rushing towards the table.

“Hello, Frances.” She managed to remain calm as her voice stayed flat.

Lupe studied the woman who approached the table. She was fairly tall, and had curly brown hair that was pulled back and held in place by a headband.

“I made George stop because the little one was dancing on my bladder,” she placed a hand over the baby bump. “He is filling the tank waiting for me. When I saw you I just had to come over. How are you? I haven’t seen you since...” her voice faltered.

“Since I discovered your brother was spending time with another woman,” Brandi stated through clenched teeth.

Frances sat down. “You have no idea how angry we all were with him. I’m so sorry. The divorce almost broke his heart. The only reason he moved to Texas was to have shared custody.” She pulled up a picture of an adorable toddler on her phone. He was as cute as could be, with a big smile and sparkling eyes. Brandi recalled seeing baby pictures that her mother-in-law had pulled out to share. He looked so much like his father, it was painful. The big difference was the hair, the red-brown coloring left no doubt about who the mother was. “They didn’t get married. He brought her up to visit a few times with the baby, and none of us like her. She was even trying to flirt with George and dad while we were all in the yard having a family get-together.”

Brandi and Lupe remained silent as Frances continued. “He misses you. He knows that he screwed up so badly. He realizes that he destroyed what so many of us said was a perfect love, because he cheated.” Suddenly she realized there was another person at the table. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m Frances. Brandi was once married to my brother.”

“Hola, soy Lupe.”

Brandi translated, since Frances didn’t speak Spanish. “She said ‘Hello, I’m Lupe’. She is a friend who lives here in Lodi. We were just having dinner.” She softly commented “Ella no habla,” to Lupe, who nodded. “I transferred down here for work. Weed had too many unhappy memories for me.

“Are you seeing anyone? Dating? He misses you and still talks about you. Is there any possibility that you could forgive him and try again?”

Lupe watched the interplay between the former sisters-in-law. Sadly, whatever relationship they’d had was now long gone, wrecked by an unfaithful husband. Lupe had conflicting emotions. She was sad Brandi’s marriage had been destroyed, but if it were not for a cheating husband she would never have met Brandi - a person who had become increasingly important to her.

Brandi sighed. “I’m sorry. I will admit to random thoughts of him, but they are usually not positive ones. I have no interest in seeing him again. And as for me forgiving him and dating again? Honestly, I think I would rather go swim in a sewage treatment plant, before that happened. It’s unfortunate, but little one in there will never be able to spend time with Aunt Brandi.”

“Well, he certainly won’t be spending time with Aunt Clover, if I have anything to say about it!” Standing, Frances was 5’10”, being tall like her brother. “I’ll let you get back to your meal. Is there anything you want me to tell him?”

Oh, of all the possible answers to that question. Standing, Brandi gently hugged Frances. Her brother was an unfaithful idiot, but she was a nice person who had treated Brandi as a sister during her short-lived marriage.