Thirty years of marriage, down the drain in one note. She wasn't surprised – she'd loved David, certainly, but there was no spark. There hadn't been since before they got married. He was a wonderful man, certainly, and it wasn't an unhappy marriage, but she didn't love him like she should have. She couldn't.
They had two kids, Hannah Elizabeth and James Tobias. Both had children of their own now, so she didn't have to worry about them. She wasn't worried about telling them, either – the kids knew that their parents marriage was slipping.
She sighed, looking out at the driveway. She hated that minivan – always had, but it had been useful when the kids were little. Soccer, karate, dance, back and forth all over the town. She had been saving up for a new car – was about to buy one a month ago, but David said it was an unnecessary expense. She grinned, suddenly, and almost skipped to the minivan.
A few hours later, she was on the highway in a convertible mustang, on a nonstop drive to the beach. It was a few hours, but it was worth it. She hadn't been to the beach since Toby was a little boy, and she missed it. She giggled like a little girl, walking across the sand barefoot. She loved the beach, but David thought that a three hour drive was excessive.
After she spent nearly the entire afternoon on the beach, she headed back to the house. She was still giggling when she got home. The phone was already ringing by the time she got home – she caught it on the last ring. "'Lo?" She asked, breathless.
"Oh, God, Sar, I just got the news from David... Are you doing okay?"
"Don't worry about it, Liz. I'm fine. Hey, you busy this weekend...?"
XxXxX
She couldn't remember the last time she'd had that much fun. She, Liz, Caitlyn and Jess spent the weekend at Liz's lake house, catching up and just having fun. She already booked a week at the local spa and hotel, but that wasn't for another two weeks. She booked a flight to Honolulu, with a two day layover in Vegas. She packed up, feeling freer than she had in a long time. She knew she was delaying – she was going to have to call him soon.
She looked at the bookshelf, her eyes drawn to the little red book. She shook her head – he can wait until she's done doing everything else.
After Vegas and Honolulu – and pocketing nearly a thousand dollars at the casinos, spending a little bit of it in Hawaii – she drove up to New York, letting herself be taken away by Times Square, spending the rest of her casino winnings on a whole new wardrobe. She splurged a bit on a new dress and heels, but stayed pretty sensible past that, with enough money to pay for gas for the trip. She got back in time for her week at the spa, and she felt like a whole new person when she finally returned home. Her chocolate hair had been cut in a much more flattering look, and she had soft makeup. She slipped into her new clothes, sighing happily.
She looked back at the bookshelf, finally taking down the little red book after forty years. She was older, and more mature, but she felt the same way she did that summer, so many many years ago.
"I'm sorry it's taken me so long," she said aloud. She could almost feel the years slip away – she felt like a young woman again instead of her fifty five years. She smiled. "I wish the Goblin King would come for me, right now."
"I was wondering if you'd ever come to call, Precious Sarah."
It hit me while I was still half asleep this morning (I say "morning" loosely – I woke up at eleven) and I was listening to George Strait's "Let Herself Go". I thought it would fit, and His High-and-Glitteryness seems fairly pleased. Hope you enjoyed, please review~!