A Wedding With Another Bride

A bitter ache rose in my chest. I remembered the time I'd passed out from a heatstroke while working in the field.

One moment, I was inside the tractor, and the next, everything was fading. Right before I blacked out, I called Leonard. My voice was weak as I tried to tell him I was dizzy due to the heatstroke.

But all I got in return was his furious cursing. "Can't you take care of yourself? I'm busy! If you think you've got heatstroke, see a doctor. I'm not one!"

A few hours later, my coworkers finally found me passed out from the heat. If they'd shown up any later, it could've developed into full-blown heatstroke, which could be fatal if it wasn't treated. I didn't find out what really happened until later.

When I called Leonard, Selene had just cut her hand on a thorny leaf in the greenhouse. He was busy cleaning the wound and pressing a bandage over it.

I tried to tell myself he was just being considerate to one of his employees. Maybe he didn't realize how serious heatstroke could get if it wasn't treated.

Looking back, the truth couldn't have been clearer. His love for me would've shown in the little things—if they had existed. I just didn't want to admit it.

I heard a noise at the door and went to see what it was. Leonard was helping Selene inside.

When he looked at me, his eyes were blank. "Lene just got back from the hospital. She's not feeling well. Get her some water. Now."

I didn't even get to say anything before Selene's faint voice broke in. "I shouldn't have come like this without calling first. Lenny, please don't order Mabel around."

After she said that, a coughing fit hit her.

Leonard pulled her in right away, his expression softening as he checked on her. Then, he turned to me and chided, "Mabel, is this really how you treat a guest?"

I turned away from his accusations and sank back onto the couch, too frustrated to look at them again.

His expression darkened as he stared at me. Without another look in my direction, he grabbed Selene's hand and headed straight for our bedroom, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I took a deep breath and asked, "Leonard, whose boyfriend are you, really?"

He froze in his tracks, not even bothering to glance back as he warned me. "Just shut up! Lene needs to rest!"

"Mabel, don't be mad at Lenny. This is my fault, but I'm really scared—"

Leonard's anger flared when he saw Selene's eyes fill with tears. He jabbed a finger in my face and snapped, "You're unbelievable. How could I end up with someone like you?

"The doctor said Lene has severe PTSD from what happened. She's staying here until she gets better. If you keep stirring things up, you can leave."

Without another word, he wrapped an arm around Selene and walked her into the room.

She held on tightly to him, her voice shaking. "I'm scared, Lenny. Every time I shut my eyes, I see all these boulders crashing down on me."

Leonard wrapped his arms around her. His chest tightened with worry as he whispered whatever comfort he could muster.

I looked up and blinked, trying to keep the tears from falling. In the first few days we lived together, a violent thunderstorm hit at night, and I was terrified. Instead of comforting me, Leonard just shrugged. "What are you so scared of?"

I tried to curl up against him, hoping for reassurance, but he pushed me away like I was something gross. "Fear's something you get over. No one's going to baby you forever."

Then, he grabbed his pillow and headed for the other room, leaving me alone to get through the storm.

We'd been together for eight years. But after that night, whenever thunder rolled through the sky, I never told Leonard I was scared, even when I was shaking.

His feelings for me were clear in the little things. And now, I finally realized he knew exactly how to comfort someone. I just wasn't important enough to him.