You are the Only One Who Remembers Last Year
Another season had begun and she was married with a beautiful baby boy. She couldn't be happier, especially since her friendship with Eloise had been repaired at the end of last season. Granted Eloise was currently in Scotland with Francesca and John but they kept in touch via letters. It wasn't the same as being across the street from each other but they made do.
All of the trials and tribulations from last season felt as though they happened to someone else. Occasionally she thought back to when she made her debut into society. She had dreamed of marrying Colin Bridgeton but she had never thought that dream would come true. Especially after the comments she had overheard at her Mother's ball at the end of her second season.
But now the man of her dreams was her husband. They were blissfully happy and couldn't keep their hands off each other. And the cherry on top which was proof of their love for each other: their son. Life was perfect. Or at least she thought it was.
Both she and Colin were published authors. They had both found their purpose. And yet there were moments when she caught Colin looking at her and there was a fleeting look of sadness in his eyes. But when she tried to ask him about it, he merely said he was fine and kissed her. Truth be known after that her attention was elsewhere.
She had walked into his office with their son on her hip and caught that look on his face again. "Colin, what's wrong?" It was painful for her to see him unhappy when she was in an almost constant state of bliss. When he opened his mouth to speak, she stopped him. "Do not tell me you are fine." Part of her wondered if it was something she had said or done.
Colin watched his wife bouncing their son on her hip. He was so grateful to have this remarkable woman in his life. He regretted not seeing past the awful yellow dresses her mother had made her wear when she was younger. The hurtful comment he had made after too many drinks at her mother's ball. Then there was his jealousy of her success last season. He had wasted so much precious time.
"I'm sorry for taking so long to see the perfect person to spend the rest of my life with was right in front of me the entire time." He shook his head. "Then I almost drove you away with my resentment of your success."
"Colin, that was a year ago." This was what he was hanging onto? "You are the only one who remembers last year." That wasn't entirely true. Nobody else was dwelling on it. Everybody else had moved on." We can not change the past. I would rather live in the present. The present where you love me and we have this wonderful little boy."
She was right. He had been soaking in regret and missing the joy of their marriage. "You are the gift that keeps on giving."
"No. I am Mrs Colin Bridgeton." She shifted her son so she could sit in her husband's lap. "We have a wonderful life and the bumps in the road that we endured were worth it to get to here."
"I love you." He leaned forward and kissed his wife. Just like that, she had lifted a huge weight from his shoulders.
"You can make it up to me later." She stood up. "But right now we have to get ready for Kate's ball."
His sister-in-law threw a wonderful ball. But he was tempted to have them be late. "Do you need my help?"
Her raised eyebrow showed him that she knew exactly what he was thinking. "Colin, we can not be late." She stopped when she got to the door. "But you can help me when we get home." With that she headed to the nursery.
Chuckling to himself, he put away the draft for his latest book which he had been working on. Nobody had a wife like his. He would spend more time counting his blessings instead of his regrets. With any luck they would have a long and happy life together. One thing was for sure, it would never be boring.