Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 20

There is no greater happiness in this world than having weathered every storm, only to find someone still there to spoil you like a child. Thank you for staying, my prince.

So this was Theodore’s surprise.

And what a surprise it was–almost too much to take in.

She and Theodore had only ever gone to the grocery store together once, shortly after they got married.

It had been a rare weekend when he was actually home. Desperate to create some sense of warmth and togetherness, she’d suggested a trip to the store. Back then, she’d truly believed in the dream of a happy marriage: three meals a day, four seasons together, shopping side by side, coming home together, sharing a drink as the sun set, greeting each dawn and dusk as a couple.

But that kind of happiness was just a beautiful dream.

The only time they went shopping together, they ran into someone Theodore knew–an older acquaintance, she thought, though she wasn’t sure. The person called out his name as they approached. Theodore’s first reflex was to step away from her, putting distance between them.

The acquaintance greeted him casually: “Theo, shopping for groceries?”

He answered, “Yeah, just picking up a few things on my own.”

On my own…

Those words pierced her marriage like another sharp little needle.

She stood there, alone, holding onto a shopping cart so full it was almost overflowing. Meanwhile, Theodore drifted away, chatting with his friend, getting further and further from her.

If she hadn’t been blocking the aisle and another shopper hadn’t politely asked her to move, she might never have snapped out of her daze–never figured out how to swallow that brand–new hurt.

As she pushed the cart aside in a hurry, still not used to her limp, she lost her balance. She toppled over, taking the cart with her.

She couldn’t even get up; the pain was too much. It was a little girl and her mother who hurried over to help, picking up the groceries one by one and putting them back

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Chapter 20

into the cart. The child reached out with her tiny, gentle hand, trying to help her up, whispering softly, “Don’t cry, big sister. I’ll make it better, just like I do for my dolls.”

With their help, she managed to stand. She barely held herself together, biting back tears with everything she had.

By the time Theodore came back to find her, she had already composed herself, as if nothing had happened.

After that, she never went to the store with him again.

Every time another bubble of happiness burst, another needle lodged itself somewhere deep inside her–a pain she’d have to learn to live with, to bury in just the right place, so that maybe, eventually, it wouldn’t hurt so much.

Now, looking at the photo of Cecilia sitting in the shopping cart, grinning, being spoiled like a child, Emma felt that familiar stab–a needle caught in her throat, like a fishbone she could neither cough up nor swallow down.

Cecilia’s post had only gone up half an hour ago, but it already had a flood of comments.

Curious, Emma tapped to read them, only to find most were harsh criticisms.

“Aren’t you a little old for this? Have some dignity.”

“Those shoes are filthy! Other people have to use those carts for their food. Just thinking about it is gross.”

“Does she really think she’s cute? My God. Keep your lovey–dovey stuff at home, will you?”

For once, the comment section was unanimous.

Just then, Emma heard the front door open, followed by a wave of noise and excited voices.

A whole crowd had arrived, and the loudest of all was Cecilia.

“Oh wow! Theo! This sofa! These windows! That dining table! The chandelier! And this rug! It’s all gorgeous!”

“Theo, you actually remembered how we talked about decorating our new place! You turned it into your home? Theo!”

“This space is huge! Theo, I told you a big loft would be beautiful! You wanted a house in the suburbs, remember? See, the loft is way better, isn’t it?”

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Chapter 21

Chapter 21