Confession

Lauryn sat at an outdoor table in the Grapevine Bar, a place she’s known from her college years. It was always quiet on mid-afternoon weekdays. She liked knowing a place that had been essentially the same since before she was born.

“Just water for now. I’m meeting someone,” she said.  She felt a quiver in her voice. Her heart pounding in her chest. She had rehearsed this a thousand times, but now she wondered if she would even be able to form the words.

A woman in her late 30s opened the door and squinted as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight from inside the darker interior. Her eyes came into focus on Lauryn, the only other lady sitting at a table.

“Hi, I’m Sarah. Are you the one who called?”

Lauryn stood as she might have for one of her real estate clients.

“Yes, I’m Lauryn. Thank you for meeting with me.”

“We’re not wanting to put our house on the market. I looked you up,” Sarah said with a smile.

“Oh no, this wasn’t about that. Please sit. I got you some water, but we can order drinks if you’d like.”

Sarah said, “I would like a little something actually. Maybe a red wine.”

Lauren smiled and spoke to the older waiter she'd known for years. He came right out with two wine classes.

Lauren noticed Sarah’s fingers. Her nails were beautifully manicured, and her skin had a shine to it. Her hands seemed older than her face. They were hands of service, hands of love that had wiped tears from eyes and given a loving touch.

“I love your nails,” Lauren said, noting the quiver returning to her voice.

“Oh, thank you. I just had them done. My husband, David, likes fancy nails and so I do it for him. If it were up to me, I’d leave them alone.”

As Lauryn watched Sarah raise her glass to her lips, the image of Sarah’s fingers wrapped around David’s cock came bursting into her mind. Then she saw Sarah’s tongue on the glass rim and she thought again of David. Lauryn shook her head before sipping her own wine.

Setting down her glass, Sarah said, "I am curious why we’re meeting. Is there something you want to tell me? We get regular requests from charities and benefits, and we love to help. Hazard of marrying a lawyer I guess.”

“Yes, I imagine so, but no. This isn’t that.” Lauryn said and then a pause.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn’t speak. Sarah said, “Are you alright?”

“Yes…no. There is something I have to tell you. I had an affair with your husband, David.” The words came out so matter of fact, not what she'd intended.

Sarah's eyes were on the reflection of her wine, then she looked up. "What did you just say?"

"I'm so sorry," Lauryn continued, her voice trembling, "I never meant for any of this to happen. It was all a mistake, a terrible mistake. I fell into something I couldn't control."

Sarah's face contorted with pain. "How long?"

Lauryn swallowed hard, her guilt suffocating her. "One night," she whispered. "I knew he was married, but I convinced myself that it didn't matter, that our feelings were too strong to ignore."

Tears formed below Sarah's eyes, and she shook her head. What am I supposed to tell my daughter? Our family will be broken.”

Lauryn nodded, her own tears flowing freely now. “There’s something else I have to tell you.”

“There’s more?” Sarah said, feigning a sarcastic smile.

“Yes,” Lauryn said. I’m pregnant.”

“Is it his?” Sarah said with even tones.

“It is. I had a pregnancy test. I had DNA samples…” Lauryn knew she’d said too much.

They were both quiet. Lauryn felt hate from across the table but also a mix of disappointment and loss.

Finally, Lauren spoke up. “I know I can never make this right, but I needed to tell you the truth. I'm so sorry for the pain I've caused you."

Sarah bowed her head as Lauryn’s words washed over her and settled on her chest. Sarah took a deep breath and wiped away her tears. "Thank you for telling me.” Her voice was weary but composed. "I don't know what I’ll do now."

The two ladies exchanged phone cell numbers on tear-stained napkins. Sarah stood and walked away slowly.

Lauryn remained to compose herself. She finished her wine, the first she’d had since her treatment months before.

She ordered a second glass.