Ten Years of True Love, No Match For Childhood Sweethearts

After five years of marriage, I was finally pregnant.

I was about to share the good news with my husband when I saw my mother, covered in blood, at the hospital.

“Mason wanted Russian sausages,” she said weakly. “I was on my way to get them, but I had a car accident…”

The pouring rain drowned out her voice.

As she took her last breath, she was still clutching the warm sausage.

I was crying uncontrollably as I tried to reach my husband, calling him over and over until I finally got through.

But when he answered, his tone was dismissive.

“Who’s got the bigger bust, you or Ziva Kelsey?” he asked, his voice filled with a mocking lightness.

Listening to the laughter on the other end, I felt a surge of rage and demanded, “Mason, why did you make my mom go out in this storm for sausages when you don’t even like them?”

Ziva’s sweet voice came through the line, “Vivian, it’s actually my dog that loves Russian sausages. Mason had your mom get them for the dog. If you’re upset, blame the dog.”

My vision went dark as I fought to stay upright and said, “Tell that man to come back and get a divorce!”

Mason, still comforting Ziva, finally snapped with irritation, “Vivian, are you seriously getting this worked up over a dog?”

——

He had a point. I shouldn’t be this angry with a dog.

Actually, it was more like three dogs!

I stopped trying to reach Mason and cared for my mother’s affairs alone.

Her death had completely overshadowed any joy I’d felt about being pregnant.

Three days later, Mason returned home.

He collapsed onto the sofa as usual, glanced at the empty dining table, and frowned.

“Where’s dinner?” he asked.

In the past, there was always a hot meal waiting for him when he came home.

My mom and I would compete to cook to make him feel the warmth of home.

But now, I was numb, quietly sorting through my mother’s things.

Mason came over to me, taking in my tear-streaked, swollen face. He looked visibly irritated.

“Are you still upset about that day? It was just a couple of sausages. It’s a small thing. You can’t let it ruin three days.”

I looked at him with cold fury. “Small thing? My mom went out in a storm to buy sausages for a dog! Mason, how could you be so ridiculous?”

The image of my mother, holding onto that damned sausage as she passed, tore at my heart.

My anger must have shown because Mason seemed taken aback.

Then he just smiled and said, “Mom always cared about me. A little rain was nothing. She would’ve gone out for those sausages even if it was raining knives.”

“Don’t be upset,” he added, “I brought you a gift.”

He pulled a set of cosmetics from his bag.

The moment I saw it, the word "garbage" flashed through my mind.

Three days earlier, Ziva had posted on her secondary Instagram account.

[This Lancome set isn’t bad, but I tossed it. He got me an 8-piece Helena Rubinstein set and spent over 10 thousand dollars. It’s so thrilled!!!]

Mason was presenting me with Ziva’s cast-off cosmetics as if they were a prize.

I didn’t let it bother me. I gave a wry smile and set the divorce papers I’d prepared earlier in front of him. “Let’s sign these today.”

Mason threw the cosmetics to the floor and glared at me. “Vivian, are you still not over this?”

“You’re unable to get pregnant. What’s wrong with you?”

“Fine, we can get divorced. Have your mother come and discuss it with me. I’ve wasted five years on you, and you can’t even give me a child. How dare you bring this up?”

With that, Mason stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

It was his usual move, either slamming doors or running off to be with his first love.

I usually would have begged and apologized, but not this time.

I signed the divorce papers, slapped them firmly against the bedroom door, and walked out with my suitcase, leaving without a second glance.