Chapter Four

Petunia sat with Annabelle in her apartment late one night, depressed. "What was it, in the end, do you think?" Annabelle asked. "Looks? Actions?"

"Both," said Petunia helplessly. "I don't know, it's just - I was never particularly attracted to him. There's nothing wrong with having a big body type, exactly, but there is something wrong with it when it comes to simply having a lack of disregard for your own health. He wasn't even sick, he just… ate too much and his idea of exercise was crossing a street. Walking." Annabelle smiled faintly, nodding, letting Petunia air it all out. "You're not like that, Annabelle, you're a big woman but you're very healthy," said Petunia helplessly.

"So there was the way he looked. And then there was actions?" Annabelle added.

"Yes. He was - you have to understand, he'd never have allowed me to do anything. No imagination, no work, only being friends with the right kinds of people. I mean… you would never have seen me again."

Annabelle nodded. "Can I be honest with you, Petunia?"

"I would welcome it," said Petunia, exasperated.

"I never liked him," Annabelle admitted. "I put up with him because I thought you did. You want my advice? Don't lose any sleep over it. I didn't when I broke up with my last boyfriend. Drinking, I'm sure you heard."

Petunia nodded, shamefaced.

"He would either go out drinking and have fun without me, or he would stay in and drink at home and be in a bad mood for the rest of the night." Annabelle shrugged. "I don't have to put up with that."

"But don't you have to - in order to find someone?" Petunia seemed caught off guard. "I mean, Vernon was the same way, but -"

"If that's what it takes to find someone, I'd rather be alone," said Annabelle simply. "Being alone - you know, it's not the end of the world, Petunia. Only when you become comfortable being alone can you be truly happy with another person.

"No matter what the gossips like to tell you."

Petunia nodded. "I… I have a lot to think about," she admitted, still downcast.

"Would you like to move in with me?" Annabelle asked kindly. Petunia looked up in surprise. "I mean, you don't need to, of course, but I do have a bigger place. And then we could pool our money together. I'm much messier than you are, and I burn incense all the time even though I'm not supposed to, but if you can put up with those things -"

"I accept," said Petunia immediately, and Annabelle smiled.

David, Annabelle's cousin, came over to help Petunia move her things in. "Why the sudden change?" he asked absently at one point.

"She broke up with her boyfriend," said Annabelle loudly, "so she was looking for a roommate."

David's mouth fell open and he stared at Petunia for a moment. Petunia blushed very furiously and looked anywhere but at him. "Ah," he said at last. "Well - well I'm very sorry to hear that." But he didn't sound sorry at all.

He helped them move the rest of the boxes in, and went to leave, and then paused and turned back at the door. "Would you - would you, uh -" He was staring, flushed, at Petunia. "You said you always wanted to go on a picnic," he finished at last, lamely.

Petunia realized all at once what was going on, what had been going on all along, and she was struck momentarily and uncharacteristically dumb.

"... She'd love to," said Annabelle, smiling slyly, poking Petunia in the back.

"Y-yes! Yes, that would be wonderful!" said Petunia, recovering, and David looked enormously and uncharacteristically relieved. She thought she heard him collapse a little against the door once he'd let himself out and closed it, and she unsuccessfully tried to suppress a smile.

David made it his mission in life to do all the things Petunia had always wanted to do for a date. They had a picnic and he killed all the bugs for her that wandered onto their blanket, they brought mugs of hot cocoa and sat in lawn chairs looking up at the stars, they went ice skating - grabbing onto each other for dear life, falling over and laughing a lot.

Dating David was nothing like dating Vernon. They hugged, held hands, cuddled, kissed, and touched, had sex. Even when they sat in watching movies together, she still had a good time. There was no overabundance of loud complaining, no demands placed on her. And even when they fought, she never doubted the relationship - it still felt like it was worth it.

Much sooner than she had in her last relationship, Petunia began laying out plans for the future.

"I want to get married," she said, "but stay working."

"We'd both have to work," David agreed amiably, feet up and eyes on the television. "All things considered. I'll do the cooking if you do the cleaning."

"And I think we can make it work," Petunia smiled, triumphant. "Oh, and I want children."

David froze. "... Would you be willing to adopt?" he asked, in a tone she couldn't define.

"Why?" She frowned.

"Because I'm infertile." He winced.

There was a moment of horrified silence - then Petunia shot to her feet. "What?! Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" She felt betrayed.

"I didn't know you wanted children that badly!" he protested, but she was already storming to the door. "Petunia! Petunia, wai -!" She slammed it shut.

Petunia stormed into the apartment she shared with Annabelle. "He can't have kids?!" she screeched, red-faced. "You didn't bother to tell me he can't have kids?!"

Slow realization came over Annabelle's expression. "Oh, God, I… I thought he'd told you." Annabelle put her hands to her mouth.

"Obviously not," Petunia spat. "It was a desperately unpleasant surprise."

She turned to the window, arms wrapped around herself, trying to hide the tears in her eyes.

"... You can adopt," said Annabelle timidly, coming up to stand behind her.

"It's not the same."

"Look. I can't make this decision for you. But the question you have to ask yourself is… if you give up this shot at happiness, will you regret it and wonder about it for the rest of your life?"

Petunia stared out the city window at the lights of passing cars. "I really thought I had a chance at happiness," she whispered, almost to herself.

Annabelle winced. "You do," she said. "But happiness can come in many different forms. Maybe… maybe the universe has other things in mind for you."