My Lucky Day 7

I believe last June 1st may be the luckiest day of my life. That's the day I dumped my fiancée. Although I was devastated at the time, I've come to the conclusion that the gods must have been smiling on me. On June 1st, I found out that my now ex-fiancée had absolutely no respect for me or our relationship. I also found out that she had been cheating on me the whole time I've known her. Why is it lucky finding out the woman you're planning to marry is unfaithful? Because I found out about her before I spent a dime on our wedding. Before we got married, combined our finances, bought a house together, or had children. I found out before I had to pay a lawyer to get rid of her and before a judge was able to give her anything of mine. All I had to do was tell her that we are done, pack her stuff and say goodbye. And I got to punch her boyfriend, something I enjoyed immensely.

First a brief history of our time together. It's probably important to hear the background to understand why all the red flags started flying for me on June 1st. My name is Mark and my ex-fiancée's name is Nora. We are both now 23. We met at a party the Spring semester of our sophomore year in college. We saw each other off and on for the rest of the semester but neither of us was serious about a relationship. Just friends with benefits. Both she and I were seeing other people. We both knew it and were okay with that arrangement. We didn't keep in touch when we went home for the summer.

We ran into each other a few weeks into the fall semester of our junior year. We started to hook up again but this time around we gradually became more serious. Eventually, we agreed to stop seeing other people. We spent so much time together neither of us had time to see anyone else. When Thanksgiving rolled around, I invited her home for Thanksgiving to meet my parents. My parents loved her.

Semester break arrived and I expected her to invite me for Christmas to meet her family. No invitation was forthcoming. Nora kissed me and just said she'd miss me over the break when I dropped her at the bus station. I was disappointed and began to wonder how serious Nora was about us.

But we talked every day over break and a few days before New Year's she called to ask if I would be her New Year's date. Maybe we would go out to dinner alone and then spent the rest of the evening with her parents and her sister and her husband.

I would be staying at Nora's sister place, not with Nora at her parents. Sara, Nora's sister, is two years older than Nora and had married money. When I asked Nora why I wasn't staying with her at her parents, she told me that their house was too small. I'd be more comfortable at her sister's. Nora would be with me most of the time anyway. To say that Sara and her husband Mike have a very nice home is an understatement.

I arrived late afternoon the day before New Year's Eve. Sara and her husband couldn't have been nicer. When I got to their place, before Nora arrived, Sara offered me a drink and sat me down to see if my intentions toward her younger sister were honorable. Sara is funny and welcoming. It seemed like she was really interested in getting to know me. Our discussion was more like two friends joking and talking than an interrogation to find out if she approved of me for her sister. I liked both Sara and her husband.

Nora arrived with her parents for dinner a short time later. I found Nora's parents pleasant but standoffish. Another interview but this time it was more like I was applying for a job I was definitely not qualified for. Nora was very nervous throughout dinner and didn't say much. Sara answered some of the questions her parents asked me. She had become my biggest cheerleader. I must have passed muster because both Nora and Sara told me later that her parents thought I was great. I was just happy they didn't hate me.

After semester break, back at school, Nora and I were inseparable. My roommate was living in his girlfriend's dorm room so Nora basically moved in with me. That summer we both lived at home and worked summer jobs. I made the 2 1/2 hour trip to see Nora nearly every weekend. Most of the weekends I didn't spend with Nora were because Nora said she had family commitments or was seeing her girlfriends. The reasons she gave me didn't make much sense to me but, whatever.

Before semester break senior year I asked Nora to marry me. We had been exclusive since junior year and were living together in my dorm all of senior year. Nora said yes and told me this was the happiest day of her life. I had no money for a ring but Nora didn't seem to mind. We agreed to wait a year or two before marrying. We needed to be set in our careers before a wedding.

But we were going to live together after college. We began to discuss where we would live after graduation. Our first big fight. Nora wanted us to live near her parents and sister. I was studying mathematics and education. I wanted to be a high school math teacher. Over the semester break, I interviewed for teaching jobs in the school district where I went to school. Nora knew I would be doing that. I got a job at a middle school not far from where I grew up. I would start there the following fall. When I called Nora with the good news, she was not happy that I had accepted a job in my hometown. She was adamant about living near her family. I should tell the school I wasn't going to take the job. She was sure I could get as good a job in her hometown. Most of our conversations became arguments about where we were going to live.

When we returned for the spring semester, the argument continued. It got so bad that Nora moved back to her own dorm room. She told me that she wouldn't consider living anywhere else but near her family. We didn't talk for almost a week. I couldn't figure out what to do. It has been a dream of mine to teach at the high school I graduated from. I wasn't teaching high school yet but the middle school job in the same district as my high school was a step in the right direction. But Nora seemed determined to live near her family.

I decided that Nora wasn't being rational. I had a job and could support us both while she looked for work. I took classes that I knew I needed to qualify as a teacher in my school district. Who knows what credentials I would need to teach in a school district near her parents. Neither of us had a job where her family lived. We would be 2 1/2 hours from her parents and sister, not a million miles away. Finally, I knew if I gave in on this, Nora would expect me to give in on everything. Not a life I wanted to live.

I called Nora. She was happy I called. Since I was the one who broke the silence, Nora thought I was going to tell her that I was willing to live where she wanted. Instead, I told her I would be getting a place to live in my hometown and teaching at the middle school there in the fall. She was more than welcome to join me but regardless of what she decided, that's what I'm going to do. Nora started crying. I waited for her to say something but she just kept crying. My class was starting so I told her I had to get off. That night, Nora came to my dorm room about midnight. She got into bed with me, put her head on my chest and asked me if she could help pick out the place where we'd be living. She told me we should find a place near the middle school where I'll be teaching. Less drive time, more time together.

That brings us to last June 1st, a year after Nora and I graduated. The luckiest day of my life was Nora's father's 50th birthday. They decided to have a big party for him that Saturday. Nora's mother was recovering from hip replacement surgery and was getting around on a walker. Nora's sister Sara was giving birth to their first child in a couple of weeks and was as big as a house. So most of the preparations for the birthday celebration fell to Nora. The party would be at Nora's parent's house instead of at Sara's. Sara was too far along with her pregnancy to be hosting parties.

They were expecting a lot of people. Nora's aunts, uncles, and cousins were coming from out of town. I had never met any of them. They also expected people from her parent's church, work friends and neighbors. Lots of food to cook and Nora would have to do most of the cooking. Nora's relatives would be coming to town on Friday but Nora said they would be of no help with the party. Her aunts would just stand around telling Nora that she was doing everything wrong. Her cousins were all completely useless too.

The plan was to for Nora to drive to her parents early Thursday to get started. School was still in session a week before summer recess so I would arrive after classes on Friday. I could not stay with Sara and her husband because Sara was going to give birth any second. I'd be staying in Nora's old bedroom with Nora. This would be the first time I slept at Nora's parent's house.

Friday morning I got a text from Nora asking me to call her when I could. I called her between classes. She told me, "Change of plans. I booked an hotel room for you near my parent's house. You'll be sleeping at the hotel. I've paid for everything. You should go there directly and come to my parents in the morning."

I told her, "I thought I'd be sleeping at your parent's."

She said, "My sister is planning to sleep in her old bed to help with preparations for the party."

"Will I see you tonight?"

"Probably not. Most of the party stuff is falling on me to do. My mother is incapacitated and Sara needs to pee or sit down and rest every few minutes. There's so much left to do I probably won't get much sleep. Call me when you arrive at the hotel."

Nora seemed very stressed on the phone. Even more stressed when I called her later from the hotel. She said her aunts, uncles and cousins have arrived. Her parents can deal with the aunts and uncles but her cousins are bored and think Nora is there to wait on them hand and foot. Thankfully, the older cousins want to go bar hopping. Nora can't wait for them to leave. The older cousins have already started drinking. She told me she probably wouldn't be able to talk later but would call me if she could. She didn't call.

I called Nora about 7:30 the next morning, June 1st. No answer. She called me back about 20 minutes later and said she was in the shower when I called. From the background sounds it was clear she was calling from outside. I wondered where she was going or coming from at 8am. I asked where she was. She said at her parents and abruptly said she had to get off. Her sister and mother are fighting. So much still to do. I should come to her parents around 10am.

When I arrived, Nora was in the kitchen with Sara taking a big turkey out of the oven. After they got it on the stove top, I went to kiss Nora and hug Sara. I asked if I could help with anything. Nora said she'll need help later taking the food and plates outside. But for now I should get something to drink and relax.

Nora's parent's house is small. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, one for her parents and the other was Nora's and Sara's when they were growing up. Downstairs was an open design. A nice sized modern kitchen and a living room. No walls between the two rooms which made the downstairs look more spacious. The backyard was small but it was a nice day so they had set up chairs and tables to eat outside.

I said hello to Nora's parents, wished her father a happy birthday, and we talked for a few minutes. I went to sit on the couch where I could see everything. Sara came and sat down in a chair across from me. I asked her how she's doing. She told me she's tired of being pregnant and wishes the kid would pop out already. Where's her husband? He had to go into the office. Sara laughed and said he'll show up just in time to go home. Sara asked me how the wedding plans are going. I said we're still planning to have a Christmas wedding this year but we haven't decided on a venue. We're looking but everything is incredibly expensive. Sara said we could have the reception at her place. Save some money. I told her that would be great. I'll talk to Nora about it. Sara said she's already talked to Nora but Nora told her I wouldn't agree to have the reception at Sara's. I told Sara I'll have to ask Nora why I don't want to have the reception at Sara's. Since we've never discussed it, Nora hasn't told me yet why I'm against it. Sara laughed and said it looks like we're going to have a happy marriage. Nora is already doing my thinking for me.

I asked what it was like sleeping in her old bedroom. She asked what I was talking about. I said I was supposed to sleep here but Nora told me she, Sara, would be staying here with Nora. So I'm at an hotel. Sara said they live a few miles from her parents. There's no way she's sleeping here. I asked why I had to stay at the hotel. Sara smiled and said Nora has been trying to persuade Sara to stay over. Sara isn't sleeping much, too uncomfortable in her current condition. They hadve to put the turkey in the oven in the middle of the night. Since Sara's not sleeping anyway, Nora figured Sara wouldn't mind getting up to turn the oven on.

Sara added that Nora probably figured the only way she could spend the night with me without facing their parent's disapproval was to put me in a hotel. Sara said she caught Nora sneaking back into her parent's house this morning at 8am looking like she'd been up all night. When Sara teased Nora's about her walk of shame, sneaking back in the house with the same clothes she wore the night before and her bra stuffed in her pants pocket, Nora told Sara she was with me. Nora said she needed to go upstairs and she'd be down shortly. Sara said she heard shower running. Probably a cold shower to wake Nora up. Sara laughed and asked me if I couldn't let the poor girl get some sleep. Did we have to go at it all night every night?

It certainly wasn't me who kept Nora up all night but I didn't say anything to Sara.

Sara liked the idea of having the wedding at her house so she wanted to talk about plans to do that. I wanted to talk to Nora about where she was last night. Sara continued with wedding plans while I began to doubt if there was going to be a wedding.

A few minutes later a guy came in the front door and looked around until he saw Nora. The guy was about my age: tall and skinny. I'm going to refer to him here as Jerk. I asked Sara who the guy was. Sara had her back to the room so she turned to see who I was talking about. She said he's a neighbor who grew up two houses down the block. Nora used to date him in high school. Sara continued that Jerk's father died about six months ago. He's here helping his mother clean out the house so she can sell it. His mother is going to live with her sister. Anyway, she continued, Jerk saw Nora and Sara talking in the back yard Thursday evening and came by to say hello. Somehow he wrangled an invitation to the birthday party. Sara said Nora must have invited him because their parents can't stand him. Either can Sara.

Jerk made his way directly to Nora who was intently stirring a pot on the stove. He came up behind her, put his hands on her hips from behind, moved into her and leaned in to kiss her on the back of her head or neck. Before he could kiss her, Nora flinched, startled by being touched, and turned to see who it was. With an angry look, she shook him off, said something to him and nodded toward me. Jerk looked over at me and smiled. The front door opened and a whole group of people came in. Sara said the aunts, uncles and cousins have arrived. We need to go say hello. She got up and told me to come with her so she could introduce me to everyone. The cousins dispersed as soon as they walked in so I met the aunts and uncles.

After meeting the relatives, I sat back down and continued to watching Nora and Jerk. They had carried dishes, plates and silverware outside and Nora was arranging them on the table in the backyard. Jerk had his back to me but Nora had a big smile on her face. Jerk must have said something funny because Nora started laughing. She must have sensed me watching them and looked in at me. She immediately stopped laughing. She said something to Jerk who came back inside to get more food to carry out. When there was nothing left to take outside, Nora glanced at me again and spoke to Jerk. He left her to talk to Nora's parents. Nora came to greet her relatives and then came to talk to me. She looked really exhausted. She asked me why I looked so unhappy. She said I look like I'm going to bite someone's head off. She's anxious enough about the party without worrying about me. I need to chill.

I asked her where she was last night. She angrily asked where I thought she was. Who do I think made all this food? She was here all night, much of the time cooking. She got very little sleep, is tired, stressed and I'm sitting here looking like I'm ready to go postal any second. I'm embarrassing her. She sat down next to me, put her arms around me, kissed me on the cheek and asked why I'm so upset. She said she really didn't want to be here either. But it's her father's birthday and we should try to get through it. She told me to cheer up, try to have a good time. If she isn't too exhausted, she'll try to get away and stay with me at the hotel tonight.

She had to get back to the kitchen. The turkey needed cutting. She got up and asked if I wanted to cut the turkey. I told her to ask Jerk to do the honors. The color drained from her face. She sat back down and asked if that's what I'm upset about. She told me the last thing I need to worry about is Jerk. He's just a friend from high school. The only reason he's here is that her parents have always been fond of him. They invited him to the party when he stopped by to say hello. Not what Sara told me but I let it pass. After a few seconds she kissed me again, told me to lighten up and that we'd talk later. She said she hasn't slept much for two nights. She's exhausted so she may be too tired to see me tonight but if she has an ounce of energy left, she'll spend the night with me at the hotel. She just hopes she can get through the day. She went to get her father to deal with the turkey.

I decided it was time to leave, get my stuff from the hotel and drive home. But Jerk came over, introduced himself and stuck out his hand for me to shake. I stared at his hand until he withdrew it. He sat down across from me and said he's finally meeting the guy who stole his girl. The smirk on his face looked more like he was telling me he was the one who stole my girl. I didn't say anything, just looked at him. He said Nora told him she was staying until Monday and asked me if I was leaving for home today after the party.

Before I could tell him it's none of his business what I'm doing, a girl a year or two younger than me came and sat on the arm of Jerk's chair. She asked Jerk where they had disappeared to last night. She said she took her eyes off them for only a second and Jerk and Nora had vanished from the bar. She laughed. The way Nora and Jerk were acting, she thought the two of them had gone into the men's room to hook up. But they had left. Did they do it in the car? They didn't look like they could wait long enough to find a bed. She cackled.

Jerk glared at the girl, eyes wide staring daggers and jaw clenched. The universal look that says, "Stop talking, you've already said too much." She looked at Jerk confused. He introduced the girl as one of Nora's cousins. Jerk then told her I was Nora's fiancé. Her eyes opened wide and she put her hand over her mouth. The girl looked back and forth between me and Jerk and said, "Yeah, I heard Nora's engaged. Welcome to the family." She waited for me to say something but I had nothing to say.

She asked how long Jerk and I have known each other. Jerk told her we just met and are getting acquainted. Jerk then repeated that I'm the guy who stole his girl away. Yeah, Jerk continued, big surprise for him. Everything had been great between Nora and him when she came home for Christmas her senior year. Then the day before she went back to school Nora tells Jerk she's engaged to a guy she met at school. First Jerk heard about any guy at school. He frowned and said she broke his heart. The cousin said he didn't seem all that broken hearted last night. She giggled and Jerk smiled.