The Christmas Present

“I used emotional blackmail, tried to manipulate her" Mitch said. "It’s not something I’m proud of. In the end it came down to us wanting different things” he said. “We still loved each other but not enough to change. My work is here, my family are here. My life is here. After I’d calmed down we tried to make it work long distance but that was never going to happen. By the time we admitted that though, she’d built a new life for herself there, so earlier this year we did the only thing left, we divorced.”

Sharni let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. She understood now that she’d been wrong. The betrayal he spoke of was his wife moving away. Mitch felt she’d been disloyal by not putting him first. She could tell he also felt guilty that he’d done the same to her. Reaching out to squeeze his hand she said again “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks” he said and releasing her hand he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. 

But feeling guilty now for doubting him, Sharni felt she needed to tell him. She didn’t want anything sitting between them. Easing back she looked at him and said “when you said betrayal and talked about doing things you regret I thought you meant something else.”

He smiled and shook his head “I’d never do that, to anyone.”

“I’m sorry” she said.

“That’s okay. I can’t expect you to know everything about me, yet” he finished.

She smiled “yet?”

“Yes, I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

She knew he was offering her a commitment and it thrilled her. Things were moving fast between them but they felt so right she had no compulsion to slow it down. With a smile she shook her head, “no neither am I.”

With a smile he leaned forward and kissed her. Then easing back he said in a lighter tone “enough of my pathetic life history, tell me about you. How did I get so lucky as to find you unattached?”