My Wife’s Friend Was in My Bed, Dressed Inappropriately. I Froze... Then I Hit Record

was lovely. Amy looked radiant, and our parents seemed happy. The ceremony was nice and quick, and we took all the photos before my patients ran thin. Everyone made it to the reception on time.

Everything was well organized, and my best man, Pat, acting as MC, kept things moving smoothly. The food was nice, the drinks were popular, and Pat kept the speeches short. We danced, and Amy tossed her bouquet.

As planned, Amy and I walked around the ballroom, chatting with family and friends. This felt more relaxed than a formal receiving line. We were on her side of the room after talking to her aunt and uncle when Amy's friend Pete and his girlfriend Marca hugged her. Pete was a laid-back surfer, but Marca could talk nonstop, which she began to do. Meanwhile, Amy's maid of honor, Courtney, pulled on my arm. "Hey, Mike. Have you met Tim and Brady?" Two guys stood nearby. They looked to be part of the group Amy and Courtney used to hang out with. "Hey guys," I said. "Are you having a good time?" "Definitely," said Tim. "Great party. Always a good chance to meet someone at weddings," said Brady. "Have you ever met someone and immediately felt uneasy?" That was Brady for me. To be honest, I wasn't too fond of most of Amy's old friends. Pete was okay, but the others, including Courtney, didn't sit well with me. She had a reputation I wasn't sure about. I was willing to tolerate her for Amy's sake, but I really hoped we wouldn't spend much time with Brady. Then he made it easier for me. "You're a lucky man," he said with a smirk. "She's amazing." Tim looked confused, or maybe just surprised. I didn't want to ruin Amy's wedding, nor did I want to upset our parents, but I felt uncomfortable. I turned and walked away. Courtney followed me. "Mike, could you help us out? Courtney, please ask Brady to leave. I really don't want him here." "What? He might have had too much to drink and said something silly, but now Courtney, he was invited," she said.

Just then, Amy came over. "What's going on?" she asked. "I asked Courtney to get Brady to leave, but she doesn't want to." "What?" Courtney sighed dramatically. "Brady said something dumb and now Mike wants him out." "Something dumb?" I said. I turned to Amy. "He just told me that my wife is amazing in a way I don't appreciate. And if you look over there, he's still smiling." Amy paused. "Did he really say that? Are you sure?" "His words were, 'You're a lucky man. She's amazing.' Then he turned to Tim for backup." It was clear I needed to get Brady to leave or I would have to take matters into my own hands. "Mike, someone said, trying to calm me. If you don't want me to make a scene, I can just tell Pat and my groom's men what he said." Finally, Courtney relented and said she'd handle it. We watched her walk away, and soon my friend Pat appeared beside me. "Everything okay?" he asked. "See the guy talking to Courtney?" I pointed out the one with a smirk on his face. "He really should leave," I added. "If he causes any more trouble, feel free to step in." "Got it. I'll grab a couple guys and we'll make sure he leaves quietly," Pat replied. "Thanks, Pat."

After he walked away, Amy turned to me. "I'm sorry," she said. "It's not your fault," I reassured her. "We'll talk about this later." I felt frustrated because Brady was ruining my wedding day. I needed to avoid Courtney for now or I might say something I would regret. I also worried how this would affect my plans with Amy later.

Now, let me share a bit about us. Amy is from Vancouver and I am from Abbottzford. We actually met in Victoria. My old friend Pat and I go back many years. I became an electrician while Pat worked with metal. We both went to Fort McMurray for a work project. Pat lasted only a year. I stayed for three. I managed to save money because I didn't drink, smoke, or gamble.

When I returned, Pat faced a tough time dealing with his father's estate after his dad passed away. "I know you didn't like my dad," he said this knowing I had my reasons, but he left me more money than I expected. "Glad to hear that," I said. Pat continued. "I've thought a lot about what I want to do. It wasn't just the place. I couldn't stand working for people who didn't know what they were doing. So, what if we were our own bosses?" "Are you suggesting we start a business together?" I asked. "Exactly," he nodded. Pat told me I was more than just an electrician. I had skills in many areas. The only part I was hesitant about was working with drywall since that felt more artistic. Pat wasn't the best worker in his field, but he believed he could succeed as a contractor. He also wanted to open a supply center. This way we could get materials for ourselves and sell to other workers. "That sounds like it would cost a lot," I said. "I have some savings, but Pat was willing to cover most of the startup costs, which made me uneasy." "I don't mind, Mike," he said. "I want to work with you. I trust you." I appreciated Pat's trust, but I wanted to make it fair. I spoke with my dad and he decided to invest in me. I ended up putting in a good portion of my savings and promised to pay Pat back when I could.

In the end, things worked out. Pat found us clients and I focused on doing the best work I could. I soon found a few other workers who cared about their jobs and they became my go-to people. Pat ran the office and found a great person to help us at the counter. His wife Manon. Manon was my ex-girlfriend. We dated during our senior year of high school and for 2 years after. Instead of going to college, she got a job at 1. Most of our friends thought we would stay together for a long time. We faced two main problems. The first was that one of her friends, Anne, really disliked me. It took Manon 2 years to see that, but she eventually chose me over Anne. The second problem was bigger. Manon wanted to have children, but I didn't. That is not something you can easily agree on. We broke up about a year before I moved to Fort McMurray. Pat waited 6 months before asking if I minded if he asked Manon out. I thought about it for a moment. I liked both of them and thought they would be good for each other. I never gave Pat a reason to worry about his girlfriend and her ex. Manon and I stayed friends and could talk about our past and mutual friends without making Pat uncomfortable. The three of us worked well together. It might sound odd to others, but we had no issues.

My friend Hannah invited me to a wedding as her plus one. We dated for about 6 months after I moved to Victoria. Hannah was beautiful and smart. She liked changing her hair color regularly, but that didn't bother me too much. She had a small tattoo, but thankfully didn't get more. One day, she said she had something important to tell me. "It feels serious," I said. "It is," she replied. She confessed that she had never been with a guy for more than a couple of months. "You're a great guy, Mike, but but this is harder than I thought." She told me she felt pressured by how close we were becoming. She had never been in this type of relationship before and found it overwhelming. "I just don't think I'm ready for this right now." I admired her honesty. It wasn't nice to be let go, but at least she was straightforward about it.

Almost 6 months later, Hannah asked me to meet for coffee. She emphasized it was just coffee. I thought it would be nice to catch up. "I'm an idiot," she said. "I knew you were great, but I thought the timing was wrong. I should have realized I needed to change my mind when I met someone like you. I'm really sorry, Mike." "I'm sorry, too, Hannah." She looked into my eyes and asked if there was a chance for us again. I didn't need to answer. She understood my response right away. "I didn't think so," she said. "It's not what you might think, Hannah." "I asked someone else out for Friday. It's just a first date, but I understand." She said, "You should give her a fair chance. But can we stay friends? It would help me to see you every once in a while so I can remember to be more careful in the future. You are the example I should compare other guys to." "You want to use me as a measuring stick?" "Hey, you're not that kind of standard." We both laughed.

I went on three dates with Heather over the next month. It took me that long to see we wouldn't be compatible. Close, but not close enough. I did think of Hannah, but by then she had started seeing someone new. I believe he was a lawyer, but they didn't last long enough for me to meet him. Thankfully, being just friends with Hannah turned out to be easier than I thought.

That was how I ended up at Hannah's cousin's wedding. Hannah looked amazing. A few guys noticed me and gave me jealous looks. "I get it," I said. "You brought me here so some of these guys would leave you alone." She shook her head. "It will not stop all of them. and do not feel like you have to protect me or anything. I can deal with guys." Hannah's cousin had seated us with some of the younger guests. Most of them were students from UIC, the University of Victoria. They were loud and full of energy. They were also at the age where they drank too fast and cheered for almost anything, except for one girl. She seemed a little older and calmer than the others. I had noticed her already. She was pretty with blue eyes and brown hair that touched her shoulders. Besides Hannah, she was the only girl at our table who had not shouted OMG yet. The others soon ran to the dance floor or the bar. Hannah's uncle Martin asked her to dance, so I was left alone at the table with Amy. "Are you at UIC, too?" I asked. "What are you studying?" "Business admin," she said. "Do you like it?" She smiled. Her whole face seemed brighter when she smiled. "I just hope it helps me get a job. What about you?" We talked for a while. Hannah came back, but her dad took her away to dance almost at once. So Amy and I were alone again. "Is there a reason the other guys have not asked you to dance?" I asked. "Am I missing something?" It was an honest question. Amy was lovely, but she was sitting alone. "Oh, I am not really part of their group," she said. "I am a little older than they are and I am not from Victoria. They have all known each other for years. High school friends and all that." "You are not from here?" "Oh, no. You are not from Vancouver, are you?" She smiled. "Guilty." I pointed at myself. "Abbottzford. Please do not tell anyone." She smiled again. I was really starting to like Amy's smile. It felt real. That was the best word for it. We had a nice talk until Hannah's dad finally let her go. Before she could even get back to our table, two different men tried to speak with her. Then her grandfather took her by the hand and led her back to the dance floor. "Your girlfriend is very popular," Amy said. "Former girlfriend?" I said. "Hannah and I are just good friends." Amy blinked. "Oh." Hannah finally escaped the dance floor and dropped into her chair with a tired sigh. "Wow, I could really use a gin and tonic," she said. I understood the hint and stood up. "Coming right up. Can I get you something, Amy?" "Oh, thank you. Ginger ale."

When I came back from the bar with the drinks, I walked up behind Hannah. I arrived just in time to hear what she was saying to Amy. "Total idiot," Hannah said. "I should never have let him go. I have been mad at myself ever since." Amy looked up at me and froze. Hannah glanced over her shoulder. "Oh, hey babe. Thanks."

Later, I danced with Hannah to a couple of slow songs. I do not do many fast songs. Some men cannot jump and some men cannot dance. I am one of them. Maybe it depends on what you call dancing, but I know my limits. Some people should stay far away from the dance floor. I am one of those people. Manon used to laugh until she could hardly breathe whenever she saw me try. "You like her?" Hannah said as we moved slowly with the music. "Amy." "No, my grandmother." "Who else? She seems really nice." "Oh, come on." Hannah said, "How did you ever find the courage to ask me out?" I smiled at her. "I did not. You asked me." "Whatever. Here." Hannah gave me a business card. It was her card, but there was a phone number written on the back. "Is this my grandmother's number?" She said. "She thinks you are very nice. Call in the afternoon when grandpa is sleeping." I stared at her. She rolled her eyes. "Of course, it is Amy's number, you fool." "Thank you, Hannah," I said. "I just do not understand." Hannah stepped a little closer as we danced and rested her head against me. "Then do not think so much," she said softly. "Just call her. You have too much class to try to flirt with her right in front of me," Hannah said. "But I can tell you like her. And she clearly likes you, too. I made mistakes. But you are my friend. I want you to be happy. That is all."

Hannah still had family duties, so we stayed a little longer. Amy left before the other students. "It was nice to meet you," she said as she shook my hand. "Same here," I said. "I will call you," she smiled. "I would like that." "See," Hannah said after Amy had gone. "Now you can say thank you, Hannah." "Thank you, Hannah."

I took things slow with Amy. She seemed like a kind and honest woman, and I did not want to rush her. Our first date was simple. We met for coffee between two of her classes. Our second date was a drink after her last class of the day. Neither of us seemed ready for the night to end, so we added dinner, too. She was a few years older than I had first thought. Amy was 26 and I was 28. She was older than most of the students around her, just like she had said. "I was a little lost after high school," she told me. "I wasted 2 years of tuition money that my mom could not really spare. her father had not been part of her life for a long time. I went out too much and my grades were bad. I left school and decided to work until I could save money and grow up a bit." Talking to Amy was easy. She was calm, real, and simple in the best way. She did not act like someone she was not. She did not need hours to get ready. She was not hard to please. Most things I suggested were fine with her. For our third date, we walked along some nature trails. She kept up with me without any trouble. I had been right to go slow.

At the same time, I was also a little wrong. On our fourth date, she surprised me. "I am not sure what is happening here," she said. "I do not have much dating experience. It feels like we get along really well, but you have not even kissed me yet." "Then let us fix that," I said. I leaned in and gave her a gentle first kiss. Amy surprised me again. She put her hands on my face and kissed me back with more feeling than I expected. She began slowly, but she did not stop with one kiss. Then she put her arms around me and held me close. I had not expected her to be so open. For a moment, I was not sure what to do. "Sorry," I said softly. "Do not be," she said. "It is nice to know you feel the same." "The same?" She looked a little shy. "I mean, I could tell you liked me, but you were not making a move." "I was trying to take it slow," I said. "I did not want to rush you. But you do like me." "Of course I do. I am very drawn to you." She looked down for a second, then met my eyes again. "Then maybe you could take me back to your place." I did not know why I had thought Amy was shy. Maybe she was in some ways, but once she had made up her mind, she was clear about it. When we reached my apartment, we did not talk much. The moment we were inside, she stepped into my arms. I held her close, and we shared a long, quiet moment together. I cared about her, so I did not want the night to feel rushed or careless. I let her gently inside and we let the rest of the world fall away. Amy was sweet and nervous, but she trusted me. I could feel that trust in the way she stayed close. I took my time. I kissed her softly and made sure she felt safe. The night became private and tender. We moved slowly with care and warmth. There was no need for big words. There was only the quiet room, the soft light, and the feeling that something between us had changed. For the first time since meeting her, I understood that Amy was not just a nice girl from a wedding. She was someone I could truly care about. Everyone is different. But I had always believed the first time with someone new is less about anything physical and more about whether you truly see each other. With Amy, I did. There was no hurry and nothing to prove. just two people who had decided to trust each other and a quiet room that felt like it belonged only to us.

Afterwards, she settled in against me and I drew her closer. She let out a small, contented sigh. "I hope I didn't rush you," she said. "I've been looking forward to this for weeks." She had such a lovely smile. We talked softly in the dark until sleep found us, her head resting on my shoulder. I didn't know what time it was when I woke up, but I must have stirred in my sleep, waking Amy. I apologized, asking if I could drive her home later. She said she'd need to go in the late morning. The next morning came slow and easy. We lingered a while, in no rush to let the night go. When Amy finally went to get ready, I got up and made a simple breakfast. She came into the kitchen smiling a little shily. "Thank you, Mike," she said. "I meant thank you for last night. It was wonderful." I smiled back and agreed. This led to a hug and a kiss, but I kept an eye on the clock. I needed to get her home so she could prepare for her job. "When can I see you again?" she asked. "I should be the one asking that," I replied. "How about Sunday?" "Afternoon," she asked eagerly. "Don't you have studying to do?" "I'm ahead in all my classes," she replied confidently. When we reached the apartment, she shared with her roommates. She lingered for a couple of sweet kisses before stepping out of the car, and I watched her walk inside.

Back at my place, I went out for a run to clear my mind and think things over. I had meant what I said. Our time together felt special. Amy was easy to talk to and more mature than I initially thought. She was smart, lovely, and enjoyable to be with. I didn't want to focus too much on the last part, but it mattered. She seemed interested in me already, which made my efforts to take things slowly feel less necessary. So, where did I see this going? Maybe the best thing to do was just to ask her.

On Sunday afternoon, I took her to a quiet pub in Eskimalt with a lovely view of the bay. Amy couldn't stop smiling. "I've been smiling since Friday. I can't help it," she said. "I don't think I've ever been this happy, and it's all because of you. I've been thinking about you, too. I was a little scared we were moving too fast, but uh this just feels right. Amy, do you want us to be exclusive?" Her smile froze. "Really?" I was taken aback by her reaction. Did I misunderstand her feelings? "Yes," she said quickly. "I do. I haven't been with anyone else for almost a year." She paused, took a breath, and added, "Yes, I would like that." I held her hand across the table. "Me, too."

The next two months were amazing. Amy spent more time with me than at her own place. She would take the bus back to school in the morning if I couldn't drive her. We made each other happy, and I couldn't think of anything more important. Pat and Manol were thrilled for me and kept asking when they could meet. "This girl who makes you smile so much." "I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't know I was keeping her to myself." "Dinner at our house. Saturday at 7," said Manol. "What should I bring?" "Your girlfriend." Amy was a bit nervous. And then I made it worse. "Just so you know, Manolon and I used to date before she married Pat." "Your ex dated your best friend? Really? Were you serious?" "We were together for 3 years." I explained the situation as best I could. "There's no need to worry about it, Amy. We're all friends now. I just didn't want you to be surprised." Pat and Manolon were great hosts and made sure Amy felt comfortable even sharing funny stories about me. Amy, however, couldn't stop looking at Manolon. "You have such beautiful eyes," she finally said. It was true. Manon's eyes were stunning. "Thank you. That's very kind. I think you're really pretty, too." But Amy still seemed nervous. It did not ruin the evening, but as we got in the car to go home, I could tell something was bothering her. "What's wrong, Amy?" I asked. She looked down. "Mike, how am I supposed to compare to that with Manon? Those eyes. And you were with her for 3 years." She sounded really sad. I pulled over and parked. That got her attention. "It's not a competition, Amy. Manan and I broke up years ago. Now we're just friends. She's practically family since she's married to Pat. They're both happy for me because they see how happy I am with you." "I'm sorry," she whispered. I unbuckled my seat belt to give her a hug. "I don't want anyone but you," I said. "I believe you. I feel the same way."

We both went back to the mainland for Christmas to visit our parents, so it seemed natural to go together so I could meet her mom and she could meet mine. We had only been together for 3 months. But it was clear to me that this was more than just a casual relationship. True to form, my parents liked Amy right away. Even my sister tried to be nice to her. Amy's mom was quieter and a bit reserved, but I think I made a good impression. Amy's best friend came over to visit while we were there. They squealed when they saw each other and rushed to give each other a hug. Courtney was about the same height as Amy with darker brown hair. They were quite similar in body shape, too, though Courtney had chosen to enhance her look. Courtney had a bold style. She was hard to miss. "So, this is the man Amy told me about," she said. Then she gave me a warm hug. "The man Amy told you about?" I asked. "Let us just say you are doing a good job with my girl so far," Courtney said. I felt my face turn red. I did not look at Amy's mother because I was not sure how she would react. Amy was blushing too. "You talked about me?" I asked her. "Of course," Courtney said, answering for her. "Best friends do not hide things from each other, not the important things." There was a sharp edge in the way she said it. "We must know different people," I said. "Anyway, I was raised to believe that a gentleman does not talk about private things." Courtney rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Men talk, too. But that is fine. We have our own rule. Sisters before misters." Courtney turned and gave Amy a quick fist bump. I will admit that my first thought about Courtney was not fully good, but she was Amy's best friend, so I decided to give her a fair chance. I also remembered how much trouble Manon's friend had caused in our old relationship. I was not going to let that happen again. So, I made a real effort to get along with Courtney.

Back home in Victoria, Amy and I grew even closer. The only thing that worried me was that we did not share many friends. Pat and Manolon were clearly my friends, and Amy still felt a little unsure around Manolon. Amy's classmates were always ready for a party, but that was not really our thing. After a while, bars and loud nights start to feel old. Strangely, one of my friends Amy liked was Hannah. Maybe it was because Hannah had helped bring us together in the first place. Some of Hannah's friends were fun, too. Still, Amy and I were happiest when it was only the two of us.

As spring came closer, I felt it was time to make some choices. "You graduate in a couple of months," I said. "Have you thought about what you will do after that?" "Well, I will look for a job here in Victoria." "Yes, I hope so. And what about where you will live?" I knew her lease ended at the end of June. "Because I think you should move in with me." Amy started to cry. She hugged me at the same time so her tears got on my shirt. "I love you so much," she said. "I love you too. That is why I am asking you to live with me." She cried a little more. "We need to talk," she said at last. Those are four words no man wants to hear. They almost never lead to something easy. But I was truly confused. I could not think of what might be holding her back. We sat down and Amy tried to calm herself. "There are some things you already know about me," she said. "I am graduating soon and I do not have a job yet. I also do not have many useful contacts in Victoria." "You will find something," I said. "I hope so. But there are other things you do not know about me. I had to take out student loans to come here. Mom could not really help. I owe a lot of money, Mike. I do not know how much rent I can afford." "If we are going to be together, Amy, then your debt is something we face together. I will help you get out of it." She shook her head. "I cannot ask you to do that." "You are not asking. Listen, every dollar you pay in interest is a dollar we cannot use for rent or a trip or anything else. So, the sooner we deal with it, the less money we waste." I thought Amy might be happy to hear that. or maybe thankful. Instead, that worried look came back to her face. "There is something else?" I asked. She looked down at her hands. "I wanted to tell you sooner," she said. "But there was never a good time." "And I did not want to ruin what we have." "I do. You remember when I told you I went out too much after high school?" Amy asked. "Yes." "Well, it was not just drinking and dancing. There were some bad choices, too. I spent time with the wrong crowd, and I made choices I am not proud of." That was not easy to hear, but I already knew she had a past before me. Everyone has some kind of past. What mattered more was whether she still carried feelings for someone else. Was that not the same fear she had about Mano and me? "Wait," I said. "I thought you said you did not have much dating experience." "I do not," she said. "I had a boyfriend in high school, but that did not last. After that, things were not serious. I was careless for a while." I knew there was an unfair rule in the world. A man with a long past might be praised while a woman might be judged. I never liked that. Still, people in a serious relationship do not need every detail about each other's past. I was not happy to hear that Amy had made choices she regretted, but I could see how hard it was for her to tell me. "That took courage to say," I told her. "I did not want you to hear it from someone else." "Does this have anything to do with why you chose UIC?" "Partly," she said. "The fees were lower than UBC, but yes, I felt like I had to get away from that crowd. I needed to change my life and I have." I believed her. We had been together almost all the time for 5 months. Amy was not that good at hiding who she was. I was sure the woman I had seen was the real one. "Okay," I said. "I am guessing you do not want to hear every detail about Manon, Hannah, or anyone else from my past. So, I feel the same way. I do not need to know more unless you think it matters." She watched me closely. "I told you about Manon because I did not want you to be shocked later," I said. "So, I would like the same from you. I do not want any strange surprises. There is not some private recording or public story I need to worry about, right?" "No," she said quickly. "Nothing like that." "Then, as long as I do not have to hear the details, it should not change anything." I paused. "Wait, was Courtney part of that old crowd? Does she know all of this?" Amy looked away. "Yes." "Then please ask her not to bring it up in front of me. I do not think she would, but just in case. Can you do that?" "Yes, of course." "Then what do you think of my idea? Do you want to live together?"

People say trust has to be earned. I do not fully agree. Respect has to be earned. Trust is something you choose to give. It is a step of faith. When you trust someone, you accept that you cannot control every outcome. If I give you the keys to my truck, how do I know you will bring it back in the same shape? I do not know for sure. I believe you will, or I would not give you the keys, but there is no perfect promise. And what does it even mean to earn trust? Just because someone has not hurt you yet does not mean they never will. Life changes. People change. Trust always carries some risk. That is why betrayal hurts so much. So I trusted Amy because she had not given me a reason not to. She finished her last exams at the end of April. In May, she moved in with me. Life together felt warm and easy at first. We shared quiet mornings, simple meals, and long nights talking. We were close in a way that felt new for both of us. There were many small moments that made the apartment feel like hours. Her books appeared on my shelf. Her coat hung by the door. Her laugh filled rooms that had once felt too quiet. I liked having her there. Amy seemed happy, too. She still worried about money and work, but she tried to stay hopeful. I helped where I could, not because she asked, but because I wanted us to face things together. For a while, that was enough. We were not perfect. No couple is, but we were trying. We were learning each other's habits. We were building trust one day at a time. And at that point, I truly believed we had a future.

Courtney, Amy's friend, came to visit for the weekend to celebrate Amy's graduation. I appreciated the visit, but there were some awkward moments. We shared one bathroom and one shower. Courtney had a very different way of dressing than I did. While I was working on my laptop, she came into the kitchen after her shower. She was drying her hair with a towel and it didn't cover much else. I was taken aback. "Wow, Courtney," I said. "What?" she replied. "Is this how you always act in other people's homes?" "Not always," she said with a playful smile. "Just when I feel like it, or if there's a cute guy around." She turned around and I quickly walked away. That evening, I asked Amy if Courtney often walked around like that. "Well, sometimes. She really likes her body," Amy said. "Okay, but maybe not here. In front of me," I suggested. "I'll talk to her," Amy replied. "Yes, please do."

We took Courtney out for dinner in Chinatown. I wanted both girls to try something new. "This is really nice," Amy said. "Yeah. Not bad," Courtney agreed. Then she turned to me. "Hey, Mike. Sorry if I surprised you earlier. I didn't know it would bother you." I gave her a look. Was she being serious? "I'm not offended," I said. "I just don't think it's right to act that way in front of your friend's boyfriend." "Ooh, nice word," she said with a smirk. "You know, Amy and I had our fun times, too. Remember that one night with the two guys?" I almost choked on my food. I looked at Amy, who seemed frozen with a nervous smile. Slowly, I got up, took out my wallet, and put some money on the table. "Don't drink too much so you can drive home," I told Amy. "I'll see you later." Then I walked out. I heard Courtney shout after me, but I kept going. I was too angry to stay. I walked for a long time trying to cool off. I was fuming over what I had heard. I couldn't shake the thought of Amy with other guys. It was frustrating enough that I had asked her not to discuss her past with me and explicitly told her to ask Courtney to keep quiet, too. The more I walked, the clearer one thing became. The real problem in our relationship had never been Amy's past at all. It was Courtney. Realizing it was best not to go home, I texted Amy. "Not coming home tonight. You can drive Courtney to the ferry tomorrow." Her reply came quickly. "I'm sorry. Can we talk tomorrow?" I texted back and turned off my phone. I walked for another hour until I reached my office. I let myself in and slept on the couch in the waiting room. It wasn't very comfortable, but I needed a break from everything.

I've heard people say not to go to bed angry. I guess they mean you should talk things out right away, make up, and then be close again. But I don't agree with that. If I had stayed at the restaurant, we would have just argued more. Amy would have cried for sure, and Courtney might have jumped in to support her with something silly. Our relationship could have been damaged because of it. Arguing in public isn't great, unless you're on a reality show, which hopefully doesn't exist. But if I waited until we were alone to share my disappointment, Amy would still end up in tears and Courtney would be confused about why I was quiet for so long, even getting upset that I surprised her. So, I chose a different way. I let them know I was really upset, but I didn't shout in public. By morning, I was still angry, but calmer. I had time to think about how I would address the issue. You see, big arguments aren't usually helpful. Letting off steam can sound good unless you're the one getting steam blasted. And talking everything out can seem important, but it doesn't mean you can just say anything. Disagreements happen. They don't have to feel like a fight in a fight. Even if you think you won, you might not have, but if you can turn it into a learning experience, at least one of you gained something. Yelling at Courtney wouldn't help either. I had dealt with a similar situation before, so I knew that wasn't the best approach. It was up to Amy to talk to her sister.

Later that day, I went home. Amy was sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee. She stood up excitedly when I walked in and came over to hug me. "I was so worried," she said. "I'm fine. How about you?" I replied. "You're still mad, aren't you?" she asked. "I'm more disappointed than mad at this point." "Ouch," she said, taking a seat next to me. "You texted me that you were sorry," I began. "What were you sorry for?" "Well, you were so upset," she said. Interestingly, saying she was sorry for my feelings, not for what Courtney said. "Amy, why do you think I was upset?" I asked. She looked down. "Because of what Courtney said," she guessed. I almost retorted back, but instead I said, "I thought you were going to ask her not to talk about your past." "I did kind of, but I'm not sure. She took me seriously. Clearly, she didn't." "I told her again. She thinks that stuff is exciting and that guys like those stories." "Not this guy," I responded. "I know. That's what I told her." "Do you think she understands now?" "I hope so. I'll tell her again, and I'll make it very clear." I nodded. "Do you know what else upset me?" Amy shook her head. "Your reaction," I said. "You know how I feel about that kind of talk." "I thought I was clear." "You were," she agreed. "But you didn't say anything when it happened. You didn't tell Courtney to stop." "You just sat there frozen." "I know. I was embarrassed. But did you have to throw your keys on the table? Others heard you," she said. "They might have seen me toss my keys, but I didn't want to bring that up. I wasn't trying to make her feel worse. How should I have handled it?" I asked calmly. "I'm not sure. We We could have told Courtney that you don't like hearing those things together. I don't know, Amy. I was really upset. It may not have been my best moment, but at least I didn't cause any damage." She smiled slightly as if hoping I was joking and feeling better. She wasn't pleased that we didn't connect in a deeper way that afternoon or evening, but she didn't say it directly. She allowed time to work its magic. However, her patience didn't last long. She woke me up the next morning wanting to be close. I was still bothered that Amy had pulled away. She seemed to think I was angry, but that I had gotten over it. She brought up her embarrassment again and suggested I talk to her before reacting like that next time. I wasn't interested in a next time.

I met with Hannah for coffee. She had let her hair go back to her natural blonde and looked lovely. I told her so. "Ooh," she said playfully. "Don't let Amy hear you say that." She was joking, but also noticed my expression. "Uh-oh. Trouble in paradise." Hannah was a good listener. I didn't want to unload everything on her, but she could tell I was in a bad mood, and she probably wouldn't let it slide. I felt worse than usual, almost angry. Maybe I also needed someone to reassure me that I wasn't in the wrong here. So, I shared what had happened. "H," she said. "So, she's feeling jealous. Jealous or insecure?" "I've tried to tell her that she doesn't have to worry. If she met Manon and Pat, she would see that they're totally into each other. Maybe she thinks you should be worried about her past." "But I'm not. I know. But some people believe that feeling jealous means you care. In this case, I think you're right. Amy is more unsure around Manon than she is jealous." I frowned. "Then why isn't she unsure around you?" "Because I helped you two get together. She knows I'm on her side, even though I'm on yours, too. I just wish Amy was more supportive when it comes to Courtney." Hannah nodded. "I know, but didn't you say that Amy likes to please, and Courtney seems to have strong opinions. If they've been friends for a while, then Courtney probably leads and Amy follows. Is that their usual dynamic? I'm just guessing since I haven't seen them together." "You might be right. She loves you, Mike. She just has years of following Courtney. It has become a habit." "Maybe, but uh but what?" "Call me selfish," I said. "But I think Amy needs to start standing by me." "Definitely," Hannah said. "She needs to see things from your perspective, and that can probably be arranged." I felt much better after our talk.

Then I shared some good news with Amy. "Hannah has invited us to a barbecue at her friend's place. Are you in?" "Sure, babe." Amy was still a bit wary around Manol, but she felt grateful to Hannah for helping us. When we arrived, she was surprised to see that the only people there were women. Hannah and three of her friends. Hannah did the introductions. Next, she asked me to help her with the grill while Kathy, one of the girls, offered Amy a drink. That left my ex and me outside while Amy and the other three women were in the kitchen. The window was open so we could hear them clearly. "A toast," said Kathy. "Welcome to the sisterhood, Amy." "The sisterhood?" "Yeah," said another voice. "The sisterhood of Mike. We've all enjoyed spending time with him. And some of them are married or in a relationship like Manol," the woman said. "Others are just too careful to spend time with us." "Wait," Amy said. "Are you saying all of you have been close with Mike?" "Very close," Kathy said. "More than once." Another woman laughed. "Do you remember that crazy story about him and two girls from years ago?" "Oh, yes," said a second voice. "That one was wild. and he still had energy after that," said the third woman. "That story made him sound like trouble." For a moment there was silence. Then we heard fast, heavy steps followed by the front door closing hard. "She is gone," Kathy said through the window. "Thanks, Hannah," I said. Hannah gave me a quick hug. "I hope it helps." "Me, too." I went inside and stopped in the kitchen. "Thank you, ladies," I said. "I appreciate it. Drinks are on me next time we meet." "I will remember that," Kathy said. I left the house and went out to my truck. Amy was standing beside it because she did not have the keys. I opened the doors. She got into the passenger seat at once. She sat stiffly with her hands held tight in her lap. I got in too. "Is something wrong?" I asked. She turned toward me with angry eyes. "What was that, Mike? Were you close with all those women?" "No," I said quietly. She did not hear me. She was too upset. "That was awful. They were talking about you like they knew every private detail. You told me your friends did not talk like that." "They do not. They clearly do. You should have heard what those women were saying." Amy was very angry. She almost never spoke like that. "I did hear it," I said. "Just like I heard what Courtney said. You did not seem to care much." Then Amy finally stopped. "What?" "I said you did not seem to care when-" "No, before that they do not. My friends do not talk like that." "Yes, they do. Those women said terrible things." "I know. Hannah and I could hear them through the window." "You could hear them? Why did you not say anything?" "I guess I froze." That was when Amy understood. Her mouth opened, but she stopped herself before speaking. Then she looked down at her lap. "You planned this?" "I asked Hannah for a favor," I said. "She got three of her friends to make up some stories. I had never even met Kathy and the others before today." Amy stayed quiet for a while. Then she sniffed. "That was cold. Mike, you planned to hurt me." "Amy, I tried many times in many ways to tell you how angry I was. You were not hearing me. You could not seem to see it from my side. So, you did this to me?" "Yes." She looked away. "Can we go home now?" I was not happy with that question, but I remembered how angry I had been after the night with Courtney. I had not been ready to talk about it until the next day. So, I started the truck and drove home. Amy did not say a word the whole way. When I parked beside our apartment, she reached out and put her hand on my arm. "Wait," she said. I waited. "I cannot say I like being taught a lesson that way," she said. "I feel like you went too far, but I understand now." I stayed quiet. "Those stories are stuck in my head now," she said. "I know they were not real, but they still hurt to hear. And now I understand that this is what you have been feeling." "Okay," I said. "No, it is not okay. I made a mistake. I should have told Courtney to stop. Or at least I should have told her never to speak that way around you again." Amy finally looked up at me. "I love you, Mike. I do not want anyone but you. And I

do not want my past to come between us. Thank you, I said.

So, what do we do? She sighed. I called Courtney to tell her firmly not to act that way again. Then I thought maybe we could connect in a more intimate way, show each other that we were focused on just us. That seemed like a nice idea. And while it might not fix everything, it certainly felt good to be close.

I still had some troubling thoughts in my mind. Sometimes during intimate moments if I couldn't see Amy's face, it was too easy for me to imagine her with someone else. So, I tried to avoid certain positions for a while. When you're being intimate frequently, these thoughts can become hard to ignore. The next time we were together like that, I felt a little more intense, pulling her hair lightly. She didn't seem to mind, but I knew I was doing that to shift my thoughts. By the third time, I felt more at ease as long as I could see at least part of her face. I made sure to stay focused on her, not wanting to think of anyone else.

We continued to go out to eat, but we both realized that too much of that wasn't the best choice. So, we decided to learn how to cook together. I quickly saw that when Amy gets involved in something, she really commits. I thought we would share the cooking equally, but it became clear she was doing more than half. Even when we tried to work together, she did most of the work. I felt more like the helper. And when it came to planning meals for the week, she took charge. I told her, "I'm sorry, Amy. I feel like I'm not doing my part." She replied, "I don't mind. I love planning and cooking for you." She smiled and added, "It's not a competition really. I like it when we cook together, and I enjoy when you help with the cleaning." "I guess it's the least I can do." I said, "You're my driver, my money manager, my cooking buddy. I know how much you do for me, Mike. And that doesn't even include our close moments." "I have a feeling we're headed that way," I said. "You bet we are."

Then we heard that Man was going to have a baby. She and Pat hadn't said anything because they were worried. "When are you due?" I asked. "At the end of October," she replied. "Congratulations." I hugged them both. While I didn't want to be a father, I knew I would be a great uncle. This means we need to find a new office manager, Pat said. I think I might know someone, I said. Amy wasn't too sure about managing the office. I think she was nervous about taking over Manon's job. But Manan and Pat encouraged her and helped ease her worries.

I took Amy to Tofino for a week to spend quality time together and talk about important things. It was a beautiful place and I felt it would be good for us. "You can do this job, Amy," I told her. "You're just as smart as Manol and even more qualified. Pat and I will be patient with you. Our customers will love you. But if you don't like the job or find something better, no one will be upset if you move on." "I would feel like I let you down," she admitted. "You need to do what feels right. But why not give it a try? Just a few months, maybe three. If it doesn't fit and you want something different, I'll support you completely." Amy leaned against me and put her arm around me. "I know you would," she said.

The next evening, we enjoyed a wonderful meal at a nice restaurant. It was a bit busier than I expected, so I decided to wait until we were back at the hotel. I went down on one knee and held out the ring box. "Will you marry me, Amy?"

Later, when I thought about our wedding, I felt that Brady had ruined not just our special day, but also our honeymoon. Amy knew it, too. She couldn't meet my gaze as we walked to our suite. The celebration would continue late into the night, but I couldn't pretend to enjoy it anymore. I didn't want to spoil the evening for our families and friends. I discreetly told my best man that I was going upstairs. We'd rented a fancy suite for the night so we wouldn't need anyone to drive us after the party. "Got it," Pat said. "Are you coming with me?" I asked Amy. She looked surprised and said, "Of course I am." I held her hand as we walked to the elevators, trying not to squeeze too tightly. She could feel the tension in me. If anyone was looking for us, Pat would tell them we slipped away, and most would understand, but they might think something different about where we were headed.

The elevator was empty. When the doors closed, Amy let out a long breath. I stayed quiet, unsure of what I would do when we reached our room. Did I want to talk things out right away or just get some rest? The second option didn't seem wise. I knew I couldn't pretend to be romantic when I was feeling this upset. When we reached our suite, I let her go in first. Amy took off her headpiece and held it, looking a bit lost. "I messed up again, didn't I?" She said. "Yes," I replied. "You're really upset with me, aren't you?" "No, just disappointed." She winced as if that was worse. "Can you explain it to me again? I'm sorry, Mike. I really want to avoid this next time." My disappointment deepened. "We've talked about this before. I don't want there to be a next time." That hurt her. I didn't mean to upset Amy, but I was too angry to handle things calmly right then. Yet, I couldn't leave her alone to replay everything in her mind, especially not on our wedding night. I took a breath and sat us down at the small table in the corner of the room. I grabbed the champagne fluts, opened a bottle, and poured for both of us. "Really?" she said, her eyes filling with tears. I knelt next to her and held her hand. "I love you, Amy. I don't regret marrying you at all. We just have a bump in the road to deal with or a challenge. I'm not sure." I kissed her and she seemed to lean into me, but we still had things to talk about, so I sat across from her. She sighed, but her eyes were hopeful. "You have been honest and open with me since we met." I said, "I respect that and accept your past. It doesn't have to affect us at all. Just like my past doesn't have to matter either." Amy winced again. I was better at letting go of our past than she was. "All right, let's focus on tonight then. I don't care about your past relationships. I just don't want to hear about them." I looked her in the eye, making sure she was listening. "You know that," she looked down. "I know," she whispered. "I'm not upset about what you did before we met. I'm just really frustrated that I found out from Brady." She winced at my words and it seemed like she was on edge tonight. "I never want to see him again. If he makes that smug face at me one more time. It won't end well for him." "He's not really my friend," she said. "That doesn't matter," I replied. "We have a bigger issue here." "Bigger?" "Yes. There are actually two problems connected to each other. First, Courtney ignored his behavior and refused to make him leave. She said, 'Hey, he was invited.' I thought she would know better by now, but apparently not. Courtney is not on my side. You spoke to her after the last time, right?" "I tried, Mike, but I can't control what others say." I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Now, for the second part of the problem, I don't blame you for what Brady said. I'm really upset with Courtney for not stopping him and for not asking him to leave, but I'm disappointed that this happened again after I asked you to talk to Courtney." Amy flinched a little. She had trouble looking at me. "I walked out on you at the restaurant. I tossed my keys on the table, which you didn't like. I even tried to show you how it felt. So, how could you forget all that?" "I didn't forget. You could have fooled me. When it happened again tonight, I thought you would support me. Imagine how surprised I was when you didn't." Now she was looking at me. "I took your side." I shook my head. "No, Amy. Courtney said that I was upset because of something Brady said. I told you he made a rude comment about you and he was still being smug. Do you remember what you said?" "I..." "No, I do," you asked. "Did he really say that? Are you sure he meant it? Does that sound like taking my side? You did it again. You assumed I was mistaken or overreacting. You sided with Courtney just like last time." Amy's face turned red. "I didn't mean to do that." "I know, but that doesn't make it better. In fact, it might make it worse." She looked at me confused. "You weren't upset with me, [clears throat] Amy. You weren't angry about something else. This wasn't payback for anything I did. It was just you forgetting what you promised." "What?" I checked the time on my phone. 8 hours ago. That was all it took. Amy began to cry. Soon she was sobbing and I knelt beside her, wrapping my arm around her. She leaned into me, but it took a while for her to calm down. Her tears slowed, but her sobs turned into hiccups. Now she felt even more embarrassed. She picked up her drink and went to the bathroom. I heard the water running and decided to let Amy calm herself down on her own. Maybe she needed a few minutes alone. I took off my jacket and tie, then opened the top buttons of my shirt. After that, I poured myself more champagne. There was a nice view from the window of our suite, but it did not help me much that night.

In the glass, I saw Amy come back into the room. She had cleaned herself up a little, but her eye makeup was still a mess. "I ruined everything, did I not?" she asked. "I ruined our wedding." She was no longer crying hard, but her voice sounded close to breaking again. I turned to face her. "No, honey. Brady and Courtney did that. At least they did for me. You only missed the chance to stand beside me when I needed you." "Ouch," she said with a weak little smile. "I understand why you are so angry." "Let us be clear, Amy," I said, "I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at them. But you are let down by me." "Yes," I said. "But there is an easy way to fix that." "There is. If I never see Brady again, then I will not lose my temper with him. I hope that with time I can just forget about him. As for Courtney, I know she is your best friend. You do not have to stop seeing her. But if she keeps doing this, then I may need to keep her out of my life. Really, she is your best friend, Amy. I understand that. But if seeing Pat made you feel awful, I would not force you to spend time with him. I would see him on my own. Right now, Courtney has not tried very hard to be my friend." "I will talk to her." Amy saw the look on my face. "I mean it," she said. "I will really talk to her." "All right." Amy paused. "But Mike, what about us?" "I do not want to let you down again." "Just be there for me," I said. "Trust me." She waited for a moment, then took a small step toward me. "Can I hug you?" I opened my arms and she stepped into them. I held my wife close while she cried a little more. After a while, we changed out of our wedding clothes and got under the covers together. Amy was tired in every way. I was tired, too, but my heart still felt raw. No, raw is not quite the right word. It felt like a cut that had been closed, but still hurt when touched. So, we held each other and let the long day pass over us.

We had planned breakfast the next morning for our wedding party and our families, but Amy and I were a little late. My wife said she was not going downstairs unless she looked rested, happy, and like a woman who had made peace with her husband. She got what she wanted. It was not a bad way to feel close again. It also helped us place the night before behind us. We were not the only ones who were late. My cousin Kevin came in last. He looked tired and worn out. "No sleep, Kev?" I asked him. "Not much," he said. "Your maid of honor has a lot of energy." "Kourtney?" "Yes, she is a lot to handle." Kevin was single and he could take care of himself. After breakfast, Amy and I thanked everyone who had helped with the wedding. When it was Courtney's turn, she gave me a small, knowing smile. Amy and I were okay. In fact, without Courtney around, we were more than okay.

I did not keep thinking about Amy's past. I had worried that it might trouble me during private moments with my wife, but it did not. When we were close, I was with Amy. Not with old stories, not with old fears, just Amy. I could relax with her. I could enjoy our marriage without letting other voices into my head. Amy seemed calm, too. She did not act worried or unsure when we were close. She trusted me and I trusted her. That mattered most. I never gave her any reason to think I wanted another woman. I also never believed Amy wanted anyone else. For a while, that trust felt strong enough to hold us together. For one thing, our home life was almost perfect. For another, Amy and I spent nearly all our time together. The only times we were apart for long were when I was out on a job and Amy was at work. She worked with Pat and helped our customers. Amy did a great job running the office. She was bright, calm, and good at her work. Manol had always had a kind of silly charm. She could make a small mistake seem cute even when she did not need to. Amy was different. She was just good at getting things done. Manol had a baby girl and they named her Celeste. Pat and Manol asked us to be Celeste's godparents. I was not religious and neither were they. But I understood what they meant. In the worst possible case, they wanted us to be there for the child. More than that, they wanted us to be like an extra aunt and uncle to her. I was touched, of course, but I checked with Amy before I said yes. She seemed happy about it, too. I think seeing Manon late in her pregnancy and then seeing her with a baby in her arms helped Amy understand something. My old girlfriend was not a threat to our marriage.

The real threat to our marriage came back about 6 months after the wedding. Amy told me Courtney was coming to visit. I admit my first thought was to find a reason not to be in Victoria when she arrived. "She will be on her best behavior," Amy said we had a long talk. "All right," I said. Still, just to be safe, I left a sleeping bag and a pillow at the office. Amy picked Courtney up at the ferry. I got a ride home from a man I was working with that day. When I came in the door, my wife and her friend stood up. Courtney had changed her hair. It was now a lighter brown with clear blonde streaks. "Hey, Mike," she said. She came toward me with open arms, ready to hug me. I took one step back and raised one hand. "Hello, Courtney," she stopped. "Okay," she said. "I guess I deserve that." Amy spoke up. "Courtney has something she wants to say to you." "Yes," Courtney said. "I did not understand how angry you were at the wedding. I was not trying to ruin it for you, but I made a bad choice. I am truly sorry." That may sound like a fair apology. It was not. Courtney was trying to act like someone who felt real regret, but that was exactly what it felt like to me, an act. I did not believe her. But if I said that, I might push Amy into defending her friend. Then I would look like the bad guy. I might also undo much of the progress Amy and I had made since the wedding. So, I chose to be polite. My plan was simple. Be nice, get through the weekend, and hope I would not have to see Courtney again for a long time.

We took her to dinner on Friday night. Courtney behaved well. She stayed away from topics she knew I did not like. The only strange moment that night came when some fool walked up to her while we were eating. Courtney had changed her look and she clearly wanted attention. Still, who walks up to a woman while she is eating with friends? "No thanks," she said, cutting him off before he could say much. "I am with my man." Then she winked at me. The man looked confused. He glanced at Amy. "What about her?" "He is with her, too," Courtney said. "He is a lot for one woman to handle." The man did not know what to say. Our waiter arrived right then and asked if we liked our meals. The man used that moment to slip away. I was not pleased. If Courtney had meant that as a quiet insult toward Amy, I was going to be angry. There were many ways she could have sent that man away without saying it like that. Amy was not upset, though. In fact, she thought the whole thing was funny. If anything, she seemed a little proud. When we went to bed that night, Amy was in a warm and playful mood. She wanted to feel close again, so we spent some private time together and let the rest of the night fade away.

The next morning, I was enjoying a coffee and checking messages while Amy took a shower. Courtney came into the kitchen, dressed for the day, but in no mood to respect the room. Instead of sitting across the table, she came around behind me and leaned over my shoulder close enough that I could smell her perfume. "You haven't even said anything about my hair," she said. I rolled my chair back. "Could you give me some space while you're here?" "Do I make you uneasy, Mike?" "Yes, but more importantly, I can't believe you'd do this to Amy." Courtney just laughed. "Oh, she wouldn't mind. You're the only one who's bothered. And you're welcome, by the way. Welcome. You had a little extra fun last night, right? That was probably thanks to me." I had enough of this. "There's coffee in the pot," I said, standing up and leaving the kitchen. I wasn't sure Courtney wouldn't follow me into our bedroom, so I went to the bathroom where I could lock the door while finishing my messages. Amy was just finishing her shower. "Who's there?" she called. "It's me, babe." "Did you really have to go that badly?" "No, I just wanted somewhere out of her reach." "Courtney's in the kitchen crowding me again. Literally." Amy turned off the water and reached for her towel. "You know she doesn't mean anything by it," she said. "That's just how she is." "Maybe, but I shouldn't have to hide in my own bathroom to get away from your best friend." Amy started giggling. "My poor husband." "It isn't funny," I said, though I was fighting a smile. "A little funny." She wrapped the towel around herself and stepped out, then rested her hands on my chest. "Come here. You've earned some attention for putting up with her." Amy sometimes worried about how she looked, but I had always reassured her that I loved her exactly as she was. "You know I love you." "Good," she said softly, resting her forehead against mine. "Then let me remind you of something." "And what's that?" She just smiled and took my hand. The rest of the morning could wait. "Wow," I said a little later. "What brought this on?" "I just want to remind you that I'm the only one you need."

I thought I'd have a break from Courtney for a while, but Amy soon told me about her friend's big birthday party. Since they were close, it really felt like we had to go. I tried to be optimistic, thinking Courtney would be too busy to bother me. I was wrong. We stayed overnight at Amy's mom's house and then headed to the party in the afternoon. It was set to be a barbecue by the pool. I parked down the street and we walked back to the house. Just then, I saw someone I recognized and froze. Amy looked puzzled. "Mike, what's wrong?" "I'm sorry, babe, but I can't go to Courtney's party." "What?" "I just saw Brady walk in the front door. Brady is here." "Yes, and Courtney knows that's a deal breaker for me." Amy looked worried, but placed her hand on my arm. "Mike, we can't skip the party." "I'm not asking you to skip it," I replied. "But I can. What do you mean?" "I will go back to your mom's or maybe visit some old friends. Just call me when you're ready to leave and I'll come back to get you." "Mike, can't we just move past this?" "I don't want to ruin Courtney's birthday party," I said, thinking about how things went at my wedding. But I kept that thought to myself. "Think of the bright side. If we had both gone in and Brady showed up, it could have caused some issues. If he gave me a funny look, I might have reacted badly. Then she would have had to call for help." "Why are you still fixated on Brady? I thought we were done talking about him," Amy said. I took a deep breath. "It's not fixation, Amy. I haven't thought about him in months. It's just dislike. I feel he ruined our wedding." "But you keep saying you don't care about my past." I worked hard to stay calm. "Look, you've known Pete for a long time. He was part of your old group, right? So, I assume he and you were close at some point and likely with Courtney, too." She didn't need to answer. I just knew. But here's the thing. Pete has never mentioned anything to me. Not a single word. He's never looked at me in that way either. Just like Manan and Hannah never talked to you about me. And you know why? Because they have respect. Unlike Brady." I didn't mention Courtney, but I wondered if Amy would put the pieces together. I handed her the bag with my 12-pack of beer and a bottle of wine for Courtney. She already had a bag with our swimsuits and some towels. "Wish Courtney a happy birthday for me and enjoy yourself. You can ask her why Brady was invited or save it for later. Call me when you're ready to head home. Just make sure Brady isn't around when I pick you up." My wife didn't seem too happy with me, and I understood. Sadly, I felt the same way. Why did we keep having this talk? She thought once I let it go. I should just forget and move on. Why do people even say that? Move on. Where too? What if I want to stay here for now? Does moving forward mean I'm making progress? As an electrician, you don't do that. If you think you messed up, you go back and check everything first. I didn't call my old friends. I would have made poor company. Instead, I found a diner where I ordered some fajitas and watched college football.

It was still early when Amy called. "I'm ready to leave if you're still coming to get me." "I'm on my way," I replied. She was waiting on the porch when I arrived. I got out and took her bag. "Did you have fun?" "It was okay." The ride home was quiet. If Amy's mom noticed we weren't talking, she didn't say anything. Later, Courtney sent me a message. "Why didn't you come in?" "It wasn't the same without you." I replied, "Brady was there. Happy birthday anyway." "Should I feel hurt that you skipped?" "No, I'm the one who felt hurt. Brady was there. I didn't invite him. He just came." There was no point in responding to that. Amy must have told her why I didn't go. Courtney could have asked Brady to leave, especially if he didn't belong there, and called me back. They didn't do that, which told me enough. Courtney texted again. "You missed a good party." Then she sent some pictures. One was of her with Amy. Then she sent some pictures. One was of her with Amy. The two of them laughing by the pool. Another had Pete and Amy together, his arm around her shoulder. They looked like old friends who were comfortable with each other. And it didn't bother me at all. But there was a third one, Amy, with another old friend, Ron. His arm settled low around her waist. The two of them standing closer than I'd have liked. Something about that one stayed with me.

Amy and I did not have a warm, close reunion the night we got back to our place. The bedroom was quiet because we did not talk much. We went to sleep without going over what had happened in Vancouver. I guessed her plan was to forget it and move on. But one day later, she brought it up again. "Courtourtney says you did not answer her last message." "She said that is right." Amy could hear the tone in my voice. She sighed. "Why do you not like her, Mike? All I want is for my husband and my best friend to get along." "It is because she does not like me, Amy." "What? Of course she does. She asks about you all the time. She talks about you all the time. She really likes you." "No, she does not. Ah, why would you even say that?" "Because it is true. Look, you asked me not to leave the toilet seat up. I understood. It bothers you. So, how would you feel if I kept doing it? What if you thought I was doing it on purpose?" "What does the toilet seat have to do with Courtney?" I asked. "I asked Courtney not to talk about your private past with other men. Then she let Brady bring it up right in front of me at our wedding. I asked her not to walk around our place in a way that made me feel uneasy. Then she did it again the last time she visited. She knows I cannot stand Brady, but she still invited him to her birthday party. She could have at least warned me." Amy frowned. "Did she tell you why she invited him?" I asked. "He just showed up." "I do not believe that for a second. Did she ask him to leave? Did she call me and ask me to come back?" Amy did not have an answer ready. I took out my phone, opened Courtney's last message, and handed it to her. "Look at the first photo." "Me and Courtney," Amy said. "Right now, the second." She blinked. "That is just me and Pete. I did not even know his arm was around me. It does not mean anything, Mike." "I know. I have no problem with Pete. Now look at the third one." Amy blinked again. Then she stared at the photo for a few more seconds. "That is just..." "I did not even know his arm was around me. Truly, Mike, it does not mean anything." "So, you would be fine with a picture like that of me and Manon at the beach? I am not sure Pat would like it. Maybe I could ask Hannah to take a picture of me and Kathy like that and we could see how you felt." "Mike, it was fully innocent. Nothing happened. I would never betray you." "I believe you." "You do?" "Of course. I believe you when you say that part of your life is over." She looked confused. "Then if you believe me, why all the questions?" I actually laughed. "You think this is too much? These are just simple questions. I only have a couple more. Here is one. Why would Courtney choose to send me these three photos? She had a whole party to choose from, and she sent me two pictures of my wife with another man's arm around her. Do you think that was by chance?" It took Amy a moment to answer. "I do not think she meant anything by it." "Really?" "Courtney knows I do not want details about your old private life, so why send me these?" Amy looked close to tears. "Okay, I understand why you are upset with me." "Wrong again," I said. "I am not angry at you. I am very angry at Courtney because she keeps doing this. I do not know what game she is playing, but I am let down by you. You are acting more like Courtney's lawyer than my wife." That made the tears come. I was having a hard time understanding Amy. She was so good at her job, yet so blind when it came to the woman she called her sister. Amy had a great memory. She was good with numbers and stock. She was great with our customers. She had also been smart enough to leave Vancouver and get away from her old friend group. So why could she not see what was happening between Courtney and us? Why could she not see that Courtney kept pushing into our marriage little by little? That was the part I could not understand. I was hesitant to even bring up the idea of counseling. First, I wasn't sure I believed in it myself. But maybe Amy could benefit from talking to an unbiased person. She clearly wasn't understanding me when I tried to explain things. We had reached a point where I wasn't sure how much more I could take. Did I want to continue this? I thought Amy was worth the effort, but with some conditions. She seemed unable to stop the problematic situations with Courtney or even see them when they happened. When they did, she immediately sided with her friend. There was a simple answer. Cut Courtney out of my life. Amy could visit her when she wanted, but I needed space from her. I knew Courtney would say bad things about me, leading to a rift between Amy and me, just like what happened with Mano and her friend Anne. There was a drastic option. Just walk away. No more Courtney. No more issues. But that would mean no more Amy either. I wasn't used to giving up, and I knew it would hurt her deeply. Was there another way? Could Amy change? She could start to notice what Courtney was doing or learn to support me more. I needed to see her make progress in one of those areas. Hopefully both. If not, I might have to consider those other options again.

Amy seemed to reach a similar conclusion herself. She decided to take a break one Sunday afternoon. "You're going out?" I asked. "I'm going for a walk with Hannah," she replied. "I think I need to talk to someone." "I know I'm hurting you, and I don't know how to fix it. I need a woman's perspective." I took a breath. It was sad that Amy couldn't see what I was saying. But Hannah was a better choice than Courtney if she needed to open up. When Amy returned just before dinner, I had made tacos since most of the ingredients did not need to be hot. She looked upset. Her face and eyes were red. "I've been such an idiot," she said, noticing the spread I had set up for her. "And you made all this for me?" she sniffed. "I don't deserve you." I had to hug her. Then she held on tightly and cried on my shirt. It seemed that Hannah had helped her see things more clearly. Amy had always put Courtourtney first, thinking I could handle everything on my own. The idea that I might need her support hadn't clicked for her before. "You're so put together and I'm a mess. I should have known you needed me sometimes, too." It wasn't perfect, but it felt like progress from where I stood. Hannah says, "I can't let Courtney disrespect us. I have to draw the line. We can't all be friends without respect." I wasn't going to respect Courtney, but at least Amy was trying, and Hannah had played a part in that. Small victories, I thought. "Let's get you something to eat," I suggested. Amy seemed to need some comfort. She often liked to reconnect after an emotional talk. I gave in, and it turned out to be quite nice.

The next day, I received an email from Courtney. It was a long apology. She said she was very sorry and that she had underestimated how strongly I felt about everything. She promised it wouldn't happen again. "If I had to choose between you and Brady, I would choose you right away every single time." There was more like that in the message. Courtney also wrote a long part about how much she liked me. She said I was good for Amy. She said she was jealous of the bond Amy and I had. She also added another photo. This one showed Courtney and Amy in winter coats standing with their arms around each other. They must have talked about it. Amy could barely wait 2 days before she asked me about it. "Did you get a message from Courtney?" "Yes." "Were you going to tell me at some point? So, are we okay now? The three of us?" "No." "What? Did she not say sorry?" "Sort of, but not really." I handed my phone to Amy so she could read it herself. She read it fast the first time, then she read it again more slowly. I could tell because Amy moved her lips a little when she read. I always found that cute, but I was not in the mood to smile that day. When she reached the photo at the end, she could not stop herself. She smiled. Then she looked at me. "It sounds like an apology to me. You did not like it?" "No. Can you explain it to me, please?" Amy had her hand on my arm. She was serious. "See where she says she did not understand how bad it was." "I said that is not right. She understood enough. She just ignored it. I told her at the wedding that I did not want to be around Brady again. How could she miss that?" Amy stayed quiet. "And then she says she would choose me over him every time," I said. "Except she did not do that the first time at our wedding and she did not do it the second time at her party." "I can see why you would take it that way," Amy said. "Thank you." She tilted her head and looked at me. "For seeing it from my side," I said. Amy wrapped both arms around me and rested her head on my chest. "I am sorry." I stroked her hair. "It is not your fault." "No, in a way it is." She said, "I keep talking to Courtney, but I have not been strong enough. She keeps saying I am making too much of it or that I do not understand the joke." Amy paused. "Sometimes she says, 'You are just jealous of my past, but I really do not think you are.'" "I really do not think you are." "We keep having the same talk. Honey, I am not interested in your past. I just do not want it pushed in front of me." "I know," she said. "That is why I need to have a serious talk with court. I need to be clear with her." "It is not the end of the world, Amy. Many people do not get along. I am not asking you to stop seeing your best friend. Not yet. At least you would not try to come between me and Pat, would you?" "No," she said. "But my sister needs to learn how to treat my husband with respect. If she does not, she will hurt our friendship."

3 days later, I got a second message from Courtney. It was another apology, but this one was written better. Courtney was not stupid. The words were careful. The sentences were smooth. She said she was truly sorry. She said she did not know why she kept upsetting me. She said the last thing she wanted was to offend me. She promised it would not happen again. Courtney wrote that she had been loyal to her old friends in the wrong way. She said from now on she would be loyal to me, too. She said she only wanted Amy and me to be happy together. She also said she wanted to be part of our lives in a good way. I didn't like this apology any more than the first one. It was smarter. It sounded softer, but it still didn't feel real to me. To me, it sounded like something written for show. It sounded like the kind of speech a famous person gives after getting caught doing something wrong. The problem was I knew Amy would probably believe it and I was right. Amy had spoken to her best friend. Then Courtney came back with a much cleaner apology. If I pulled it apart line by line and explained why I did not trust it, Amy might think I was being too hard. She might think I was refusing to forgive. There was a word for the kind of man she wanted me to be. Generous, big-hearted, willing to let it go. I wanted to be that man for Amy. But I also knew something in my gut, was telling me not to trust Courtney. How do you tell your wife that her best friend, the woman she calls her sister, is controlling and harmful? When Manon and I had trouble with her best friend, it was all clear. Anne hated me and she did not hide it. She said bad things about me all the time. After a while, a long while, Manon finally saw the truth. Anne was making things up. She made the stories so big that no one could fully trust her anymore. I could not remember having any serious fights with Hannah. The only thing close to that was her foolish reason for ending things with me. Even then, we did not really fight. Hannah herself said later that it had been a mistake, but getting between Amy and Courtney was much more dangerous. Amy already had a bad habit of taking Courtney's side. If I forced the issue, Amy would have to choose. How sure was I that she would choose me? And even if she did, would she blame me for it for the rest of our lives? So when Amy asked me about Courtney's second apology, I said it was better. Not perfect, but better. Amy chose to hear that as good enough, a passing grade. Maybe she was tired of saying sorry for letting me down. Maybe she just wanted peace. Of course, it could not end there. Courtney had to come see us in person just to prove that we were all fine. For a short time, I thought about making up a job that would take me out of town for the long weekend. But Amy ran our office. She would know at once that it was not true. I even thought about asking Pat to help me make up a story, but I did not want to ask my friend to lie for me. So, I came up with another plan. I would keep Courtney busy. If she did not have much quiet time in our home, she would have fewer chances to cause trouble. If she started talking about the wrong things, I would stop her right away. I told Amy about the weekend plans, though I did not tell her the real reason behind them. She was so happy that she clapped her hands. Then she jumped up and hugged me hard. She was proud of me for trying. She was also excited that I wanted to make the visit nice. That night, we shared a warm, private moment and tried to enjoy the peace between us.

Courtney arrived on Friday afternoon. I avoided her for a while by letting a job run late. When I called Amy, she was not happy. "Come on, babe," I said. "I cannot make him wait until Tuesday for me to finish this. I will be home as soon as I can." Of course, it took longer than I said it would. I had to promise Amy that I would hurry home. In the meantime, I told her to go ahead and serve Courtney dinner. Amy had decided to cook for our guest since we plan to eat out the next two nights. When I got home, Courtney came straight over to greet me with a hug. "I am so sorry, Mike," she said. "I have been such a fool. Thank you for forgiving me." Courtney had changed her hair again. It was now a reddish brown color, but I did not think it suited her. She wore a casual pink top and hugged me too closely. "It is nice to have you here, Courtney," I said. That was not true, but I said it anyway. There, I had offered peace. They sat with me while I ate my warmed up dinner. I praised Amy's cooking, then said I needed a shower. After that, I only had to spend about an hour talking with them before I said we should all go to bed early. We had to leave early the next morning. That was where my smart plan began. I drove us up Highway 1 toward Naimo. It is one of the most beautiful drives on Vancouver Island, maybe even in all of British Columbia. The trip takes more than an hour, but we were not in a hurry. We stopped just past Duncan to visit the raptors. It is a place with birds of prey and falconry shows. Amy loved wildlife, but when she saw hawks or eagles, she became like a child at a fair. Her face lit up, her eyes followed every bird in the sky. Courtney seemed to enjoy it too, though I could not tell how much was real and how much was for show. Still, the plan worked for now. We were outside. We were moving. We were busy. And best of all, Courtney had little chance to sit in our apartment and start another problem. We changed to Highway 1A near the coast and stopped at the falls just past Saltier. Courtney was not really an outdoorsy person, but she agreed that the birds and the falls were nice. She was also trying to get my attention in her tight halter top. We checked into a bed and breakfast in Nanaimo, part of my smart plan. Courtney was less likely to wander around in someone else's home, and then went out for dinner. This time it was Amy who suggested an early night because we had a busy day ahead. She was excited from seeing the birds and delighted that Courtney and I were getting along, so she wanted to enjoy the evening and still get enough rest. We tried to be quieter than usual. Courtney surprised me by coming out of her room in a snug t-shirt and some shorts while I was on my way to the bathroom. I thought she was hoping to catch my eye. I said, "Bathroom's open." And then went back to my room. She replied, "I don't mind sharing." I said, "I do." When we finally set off, we took Courtney to the lagoon. After lunch, we went for a short hike to Ammonite Falls. Amy had not been there before, and she was thrilled. Dinner was nice. I let the girls lead the conversation, relieved that it didn't get too awkward. I think everyone was a bit worn out after our second day outside. After a couple of drinks, we decided to call it a night. On Monday morning, we drove back, making sure to get Courtney to the ferry early. Amy asked her, "Did you have a good time?" Courtney said, "Definitely. You both went out of your way to show me around and you make a great tour guide," she added with a smile at me. I thought that would be all, but she continued. "I guess my only regret is that we didn't get a chance to connect more. I think we still need to work on our relationship." Amy laughed and said, "What? You want me to stay home next time?" Courtney chuckled too. "No, but I think there's more for Mike and me to explore, right?" I said, "Well, this weekend was a good start." Courtney gave us both warm hugs before she left. "I'm not sure if Amy felt as much of a hug from her as I did." "That went well," said my wife. "You were a great host." "Thank you." "Oh, I'm just getting started with my thanks," she promised. Was it a perfect solution? No, I still didn't think Amy fully understood, but she was trying to be especially caring and loving. Without Courtney around, my life felt pretty good. I had a chance to thank Hannah for speaking with Amy. "I didn't do much, Mike." She said, "I just told her to focus on you."

Pete sent us an invitation. He and his girlfriend Gail had decided to get married, but they wanted a different kind of wedding, so they invited a few close friends for a weekend at a spa hotel. Courtney and another girl named Sarah were invited along with Ron and Pete's friend Glenn, who I hadn't met yet. The girls wanted to go shopping and then enjoy massages, manicures, and facials. The guys planned to play golf and then join the girls for their own massages. We would all gather for dinner on Saturday evening. Pete and Gail would have a small civil ceremony on Sunday morning. "I can't believe Pete is getting married," said

Amy, as we drove to the spa. "I'm happy for him. I just didn't think this day would come."

"There better not be any old stories," I said.

"Oh, no way. I don't think Gail wants to hear them anymore than you do, sweetheart."

"Yeah, maybe let Courtney and Ron know that, too. I'll remind her."

We were running a bit late. The others were already heading to the golf course to practice before our game. I took Amy to the hotel, checked in, and brought our bags to our room. After giving my wife a kiss, I told her to enjoy shopping and relaxing.

"You know I will," she said. "Have a good game."

I didn't. When I got to the golf course, I took my clubs to the pro shop. There on the practice green, I noticed Pete and two people I didn't want to see. I felt cold inside. It was a good thing I wasn't the type to lose my temper. I had no wish to cause trouble or spoil Pete's wedding weekend. So, I picked up my clubs and headed back to my truck.

"Mike, where are you going?" Pete called as he followed me to the parking lot.

"I'm sorry, Pete. But I'm not playing if he's here."

"Who? Him? If I ever meet him alone, he's going to get told off."

"Wow, you're serious. What happened?"

"I didn't think you knew him." I gave Pete a quick summary of what had happened at my wedding. He was shocked and said, "I can see why you'd feel that way. If he did that to me, I'd want to confront him, too." He looked around. "But maybe not here. It's not worth the trouble."

"Wait, so you're not a fan of his either."

Pete made a face. "Not at all. He only came to our parties back in the day because he brought free stuff. So why is he here?"

Ron got stuck and won't be here until later. Courtney asked Brady to step in. Courtney did, not you? No. I wish she'd asked me first. I could think of better people. Courtney was still causing issues. Pete, I'm sorry to leave you hanging. I'm taking Amy home. Courtney is trying to mess up my marriage. What? I'll tell you the whole story later over a few drinks. It might take a while. And Amy and I will make it up to you and Gail.

I hate to do this, but you seem like a good guy, Mike, and I know you've been good to Amy, so do what you need to do.

Thanks, Pete. I shook his hand. Hey, you've already helped me out. Looks like I won't be stuck with him. Glenn and I can find other players for our group.

I quickly texted Amy. Coming back to the hotel. Urgent. Need you there, too. Then, I got into my truck and started driving. The hotel was close, maybe a 15-minute drive. I didn't get an answer from Amy, so I called her. I know it's not safe to drive while calling, but I was stopped at a red light. Anyway, do as I say, not as I do. Amy didn't pick up. Worst case, I would wait until the girls got back from shopping. My wife wouldn't be happy, but we could leave soon after. Best case, I would keep texting and calling, hoping she would answer.

I parked outside the hotel and went up to our room. The girls were shopping and the guys were golfing. I planned to change into shorts and sandals. As I opened the door, I felt a sense of unease wash over me. Something felt wrong. The bathroom door was partly closed and the light was on inside. Just then, someone came out of the bathroom. You probably guessed it. It was Courtney. She was covered with a towel.

"Seriously?" I exclaimed, turning around and leaving the room.

"Mike, wait," she called after me, but I ignored her. In the hallway, I took out my phone and called Amy. I heard her phone ring back in our room, which surprised me. Even though Amy was married to me, she always had her phone with her. Why had she left it behind? I went back into the room, passed Courtney, and found Amy's phone on the bedside table.

"Why is Amy's phone here?" I asked, confused.

"My phone is dead," Courtney replied. I borrowed hers, "But why don't you sit down and we can talk about this?"

"No way," I said, quickly leaving again. I headed out to the patio behind the hotel. There was a pool, some small tables with umbrellas, and a bar. I sat as far away from a young couple at a table, and opened Amy's phone. I looked for Gail in her contacts, but couldn't find her. There was a number for Pete, so I tried it, knowing he probably wouldn't be available while golfing. As expected, he didn't answer.

I thought about what to do next. I could return to the golf course to get Gail's number from Pete, but would they let me back onto the course? I might have to wait at the ninth green for a long time. I could also leave the hotel and wait for the girls to come back, which would take hours. Just then, Courtney appeared again, giving me another option. I pressed a button on my phone. Now, Courtney was wearing a black bikini and a sun hat. It wasn't inappropriate, but it was still bold. At least she couldn't be too forward here in public. She put two drinks on the table.

"I got you a margarita," she said.

"No thanks," I replied. She frowned. "Come on, Mike. It's just a peace offering. Why are we fighting?"

"I asked. No, but I can tell you're upset with me. We need to talk."

"Okay, let's start with why you were in our room when I wasn't here."

"I was taking a shower. The water pressure in my room was terrible. So, I asked Amy if I could use your shower while you guys were out."

"Why not just ask for a different room from the front desk?"

"Because my room has a great view. The shower wasn't a big deal. Why aren't you out shopping with the girls?"

"I felt a bit unwell today. I thought I'd stay here and maybe take a nap." Her answers were quick and seemed practiced.

"After showering in our room using Amy's phone so I can't reach her," I said. She pretended to be surprised. "You make it sound like I planned it. Why would I do that?"

"Because you knew I was leaving the golf course. You knew where I would be."

"Right. Why didn't you stay to play golf?"

"I got distracted and didn't think to ask why you came back so soon. Nice try, Courtney. We both know you set this up."

"Set what up?" She replied, looking innocent, but it wasn't very convincing. "Did you ask Ron not to show up so that Brady could take his place? Brady was there. Come on. Pete found out about it. You wanted me back at the hotel. Then you made sure I couldn't reach Amy."

"Wow. You make me sound so sneaky."

"Then show me you're not. Call Gail and have her put Amy on the phone."

"I don't have Gail's number. I think you do. This spa and golf trip was partly your idea. You and Gail must have discussed it in person."

"Yes. Show me your phone then."

"I left it in my room." She straightened in her chair, acting a bit too confident. "There are no pockets in this bikini."

"You can go get it," I said. "I'll wait."

"Why are you acting like this?"

"Because you set things up so that it would just be us here for most of the afternoon." She smiled. "You give me too much credit."

"No, you're dishonest and manipulative." The smile faded. "It took me a while to figure out what you were doing. I couldn't understand why you seemed so intent on putting down your friend."

"Hey, Amy's not a bad person. She just has more experience than you."

"Yeah, I figured you'd say that since you and Amy were similar back then. Experience? You think I don't have enough? You've only had three girlfriends," said Courtney, her smirk showing. "Amy told you that they were serious relationships, one of which lasted 3 years. Amy had never had one like that before me."

"I meant in other ways. Of course you did. I like variety. You would too if you got to explore more. Now I see you were trying to make it seem like Amy has had all these experiences and that I should want more as well. Then you show yourself off to catch my attention. Finally, you get me alone and it seems like you're trying to push me towards something I don't want. Not interested?" The smirk returned. "I've seen the way you look at me. Of course I notice. Then I remember it's you and I leave. You're trying to ruin my marriage." I might have raised my voice at the end. A couple at the other end of the patio looked over. Courtney leaned in. "I'm not trying to ruin your marriage. I want to add a little excitement to it. It might help us connect better. You know, I could really make things enjoyable for you and hurt my marriage. How could you do that to your friend? She wouldn't have to know. Or we could tell her. You might be surprised, but I think she'd be fine with it. She might even want to join us. You would involve your best friend. What happened to you, Courtney? What did Amy do to deserve this?"

"Seize the moment, Mike. I learned that you have to go after what you want. Now you can join me and discover what you might be missing, or you can regret it forever."

I shook my head and stood up. "The only thing I regret, Courtney, is meeting you." I took Amy's phone and walked away, stopping the recording on my phone. I decided not to go to our room since Courtney had a key. Instead, I got into my truck and parked where I could see if she came looking for me. Maybe I was being careful, but at that moment, I felt it was necessary.

Pete must have checked his phone after playing a few holes because he called me back. Amy's phone ringing startled me.

"Got your message," he said. "You said it was urgent."

"Yeah. Amy doesn't have her phone. Can you call Gail and ask her to bring Amy back to the hotel? Tell her it's an emergency."

"Oh, really? Yeah. I'm sorry about this."

"Don't be. You have to look out for Amy," Pete said.

Thanks, Pete. The women did not come back for an hour. That was a long time to sit in my truck with my own dark thoughts. Gail pulled up right in front of the hotel. Amy got out of the car at once and walked toward the door. Courtney stopped her there. Courtney had changed into more modest street clothes. The two women started talking. Courtney did most of it. I gave her all the time she wanted. Let her tell her story. I had someone who could back me up. After a while, it looked like Courtney had finished. The two of them began looking around, maybe for my truck. I honked the horn to help them. Amy frowned at first. Courtney put a hand on her shoulder. Then Amy started walking toward me. She got into the passenger seat beside me.

"Where is the emergency?" she asked. "Why did you pull us back early?"

"Did Courtney not tell you?"

"She said, 'You walked in at a bad moment, then lost your temper and accused her of trying to cause trouble.'"

I laughed out loud. That was not the reaction Amy expected. "Oh, she is good." I said that is not what happened. She made sure I would find her in a way that looked bad. She had been waiting for me to come in.

"Oh, come on. Did she tell you why I came back from the golf course early?"

Amy's shoulders dropped. "There was some kind of mixup. Ron could not get there in time, so he called Brady to take his place. I am sorry. I know that could not have been nice for you."

"It was not. But that is a very neat version of the story. I am sure Courtney has already called Ron and asked him to support it. What are you trying to say?"

"Your sister crossed a line, Amy. More than one line. I am not going to sit down to dinner with her and act like everything is fine. I already spoke to Pete and told him I was sorry for leaving."

"What? We are leaving. We are leaving. I am. Are you coming with me?"

"I am not walking out on Pete and Gail's wedding. Pete is one of my oldest friends."

"Okay," I said, trying to sound calm. "We can go to Abbottzford and stay with my parents. Then we can come back for the ceremony tomorrow. As long as Courtney keeps quiet, it should be bearable."

"Are you serious? You expect me to miss Pete's wedding dinner? You want to spoil things for him and Gail? I am already embarrassed enough and now..."

"Okay. And we already paid for the spa appointments."

"Okay!" I shouted. Amy went pale. I took a breath. "I understand you are staying. Call me tomorrow when you are ready to leave and I will come back to pick you up."

"Mike, I am sorry I yelled at you, but that is the best I can offer. Here is your phone. I will see you tomorrow."

"Why are you so angry? Maybe we should talk this out now."

"Talking only works when both people are ready to listen. I am done talking for today, tomorrow." She tried to argue again, but I drove to the front of the hotel and let her out.

My parents were surprised to see me. They knew I was supposed to be at a wedding with Amy. I did not try to hide the fact that we were having trouble. They asked what kind of trouble I meant, so I told them. Dad thought I was making too much of it. He told me to calm down and stop making myself the center of it. Mom understood though. Pete's marriage was just starting. Mine felt like it might be ending.

I picked Amy up at the hotel the next day. She looked even more upset than I felt.

"How did the wedding go?" I asked.

"The ceremony was fine," she said. "Last night was the bad part."

"Oh, yes. Everyone wanted to know why my husband was not there with me. They thought it was funny that you got upset because you walked in at a bad moment with Courtney. I thought she was supposed to be covered with a towel. Whatever. Did Pete think it was funny?"

"What? I was just wondering what Pete said." She did not answer. We drove in silence for a while.

"That was not the only bad part," Amy said. "After dinner, people had a few drinks, but Pete and Gail went to their room. Then Courtney said we should keep the party going in her room. Sarah said no. Courtney pulled me aside. Amy looked out the window. She said that since you were not there and since you were treating me this way, I could make the night as wild as I wanted. I chose not to answer that. Courtney was already finished in my mind."

"Well, Amy said, 'Well, what do you not want to know what I said?'"

"Okay. Okay. Okay!" she shouted. "I spent the whole night going back and forth between worrying about my husband and being angry at him. Then my best friend told me I could betray you. I yelled at her. So now I am angry at both of you. I told you a long time ago that she did not like me. You did not believe me." Amy made a frustrated sound and looked away.

The car ferry takes a long time. The crossing is more than 4 hours, and that does not even count the time spent getting on and off. I was trying to decide when to tell Amy the whole story. First, she was in a bad mood. Second, hearing the recording I had made would not help her feel better, so I waited. Amy read her messages. She cursed softly at one of them, then opened a story on her phone. I left her alone. A couple of hours later, after a hot coffee, Amy seemed much calmer. That felt like a better time to begin.

"Did Pete say anything about me not being there?" I asked.

She had to think for a moment. "No, now that I think about it, he was the only one who did not. Probably because he understood. Pete knows the truth about why Brady was at the golf club."

"What truth? Ron did not ask Brady to take his place. Pete does not even like Brady much. Why would Ron do that to him? If you were going to miss the game, would you not check with Pete before sending someone else?"

"Fine," Amy said. "Why would Ron do that?"

"Because Courtney asked him to. She also had Brady ready ahead of time. I am guessing last night's party was meant to thank Ron for doing his part." She made a face. "So this is your theory?"

"Not a theory, a fact. Pete got it out of Brady. You cannot be serious. Call Pete and ask him. He will tell you the same thing he told me."

"I am not calling him now. He is on his honeymoon."

"Then give me his number. I will call him."

"You will not," she said, pulling her phone away from me. I gave her a sad smile. "So you do not believe me but you will not check. Careful people say trust but check. Your answer seems to be do not trust and do not check."

"I never said I did not trust you."

"You have said it in 11 different ways since yesterday." Amy looked down. "Think about it. I said besides you and Pat. Who else knew I could not stand being near Brady? She was quiet. Courtney knew I would leave as soon as I saw him. I said she did not go shopping with the women because she said she was not feeling well. Then she made sure I could not reach you by borrowing your phone because hers was supposed to be dead. She showed it to me. It was dead. Then she needed to use our room. Is it not strange how fast she found out the shower in her room was not working? Why did she not ask the hotel to fix it? Why did she not ask for another room?" Amy stared at me.

"You are saying she planned all of this?"

"Yes, I am saying she planned it. She set up Brady at the golf course. She kept your phone away from you. She made sure I would walk in at the wrong time. Then she told you a version of the story that made me look like the problem." Amy did not speak. I kept my voice calm. "I am not asking you to like what I am saying. I am asking you to look at the whole picture. Courtney keeps finding ways to place herself between us. Every time it happens, I end up looking angry, jealous, or unreasonable." Amy closed her eyes for a moment.

"I do not want to believe that," she said.

"I know. She is my best friend. I know that, too. She was there for me when no one else was. I am not trying to erase that." I said, "I am not saying she was never good to you. I am saying she is hurting us now." Amy turned back toward the window. For a long time, neither of us said anything. The ferry moved through the water slow and steady. Cars sat packed around us. People walked past with coffee, bags, and tired faces. It felt strange that the world could look so normal while our marriage sat between us like broken glass. At last, Amy spoke.

"If Pete says the same thing, then I will believe it."

"Good. But I still do not know what I am supposed to do."

"Start by not defending her before you know the truth." She flinched a little, but she did not argue. "And after that, she asked. After that, you decide whether Courtney is a friend to our marriage or a threat to it." Amy looked at me then. Her eyes were tired. Her anger was still there, but now there was fear under it, too.

"You make it sound so simple."

"It is not simple," I said. "It is just clear." She looked away again. The rest of the trip felt longer than the first half. I did not play the recording. Not yet. I wanted her to ask for the truth, not have it forced on her. For once, Amy did not try to fill the silence. She just sat beside me holding her phone in both hands as if she was afraid it might ring just so you could see her without clothes. She has shown me herself without clothes a few times at our place and again in the Nimo.

"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Amy.

"I did. You said that's just Courtney. And now you're saying she tried to charm you. You don't believe me. I tried hard but she wasn't convinced. Come on, Mike. This sounds a bit out there, don't you think?"

I stood up. "There's no perfect time for this, but you need to hear something important. It's an audio file. I'll send it to you. You should use earbuds. You won't want anyone else to hear it. I'll step outside for a bit. Sorry, Amy. Sorry." I nodded and sent her the file. Then, I went outside to lean against the railing. I watched the waves and the ship's path behind us. It wasn't cold, but the wind felt sharp. I wasn't thinking much. I had done enough thinking in the last few years, and especially last night. Yesterday and today confirmed what I already knew. It took about 20 minutes before I was cold enough to go back inside. Amy was sitting alone, gently swaying back and forth. She had clearly been crying. I went to grab a couple more coffees, hoping to give her some extra time. When I returned, she had stopped rocking. I sat beside her and silently offered one of the cups. Amy took it, but didn't drink. We sat together in silence for several more minutes.

"I messed up again," she said.

"Yes. Why do I keep doing this?"

"You wouldn't like my answer, but I told her the truth. Because you don't fully trust me."

"What do you mean?"

"Of course I trust you." I shook my head. "You trust me not to be unfaithful. You trust that I'll be there when I say I will. But you don't trust me enough to believe what I say, especially when it's about someone from your past."

"That's not true. I believe you. You've always taken Courtney's side over mine, starting with that night at the restaurant. You picked Courtney's party and Pete's dinner over me. You even sided with Brady on our wedding day." I was surprised. "I froze every time. Amy, you have a problem. You don't instinctively support your husband. I don't think you should always agree with me without reason. If I'm wrong or acting poorly, you should tell me. But you seem to doubt me if it's about one of your old friends. You've been very steady in that regard." She started to cry again.

"Why didn't you just play the recording for me yesterday?"

"Because I can't always provide solid proof. Do I need witnesses before you'll believe me? I love you, Mike," she said. "You know, I love you."

"I know you do. You just struggle with the parts about honor and support. I trust you not to be unfaithful and to show up when promised, but I can't trust you to stand by me when things get tough." The tears came again. "That sounds so harsh."

"Yes, it has felt harsh for me many times these past few years." At that point, Amy broke down. I let her cry. There was no point in talking further. We didn't say anything else until we were in the car leaving the ferry. As we drove away, she asked a question I had expected.

"Will you help me, Mike? Maybe I can get help and learn to support you first. I know I can do better."

"That's part of the problem, Amy. Being there for me isn't just an action. It's not something you do, it's who you are. We keep having the same conversation over and over, even without the recording, and nothing changes. Every time you have to choose between me and the old crew, you choose them. To you that is a choice," I said. "To me, it means you are not standing with your husband." Amy was quiet for a few kilometers.

"So, what happens now?" she asked.

"I will sleep on the couch tonight. In the morning, I will start looking for another place."

"You can keep the apartment until you are leaving me," she asked, her voice breaking. "I think sometime apart would be best. We both need time to think."

"Are you going to divorce me?"

"It is one choice," I said. "I will not lie to you, Amy. That is how I feel right now. In a few weeks, I might feel different."

"But I love you," she said. "Would you really throw away everything we have?"

"You are a beautiful woman, Amy, inside and out. You are kind and thoughtful. Those things matter to me. They are easy to overlook these days. You are honest, brave, smart, hardworking, and responsible. I have loved being with you. Our private life has been warm and close. But you know the butt," I said. "You told me about your past. I told you it did not bother me unless it kept being pushed in front of me. And that happened again and again. Every time you chose your old friends over me."

"I will cut ties with Courtney. I am done with her."

"You should do that anyway," I said. "For your own sake." She went quiet again until we got home. She did not get out of the truck right away. I stayed there with her.

"I am sorry, Mike," she said. "I am truly sorry."

"I am too."

Amy epilogue. I did not fire Amy and I did not ask her to quit. Pat would not do it either. Amy was good at her job. Manan was not coming back to work until after she and Pat had their second child and the baby was old enough for daycare. That meant I saw Amy most days at the office. We made small talk. We asked each other, "How are you?" We acted polite because we had to. In the end, I did not change my mind. Amy had many good qualities, but she was not the partner I needed. After three years together, she still had not learned to put me before her old friends. She kept struggling to understand how deeply she had hurt me. She also struggled to see how often it had happened. She did try to get help. A couple of counseling sessions did not do much. Then she took some free advice. She talked to Manol and Hannah again. I do not think she liked what Manol had to say. Amy still felt unsure around Pat's wife, who was also my most serious former girlfriend. Manolon could also be very direct. Hannah was softer. She was less quick to judge and much more patient. From what I heard, she helped Amy understand herself and me a little better. For whatever reason, Amy finally seemed to understand that we were not getting back together. And being Amy, she did something about it.

"Mike, do you have a minute?" she asked at the end of a workday.

"Sure. Is everything okay?"

Amy pressed her lips together, then nodded. "I gave Pat one month's notice today."

"You are leaving?"

"I found another job. Where? Hamilton? Wait, Hamilton? As in Ontario? Yes. Pete knows a man there who runs a lumber yard and supply center. He needs someone who can run his office. Some of the work is like what I do here. Pat gave me a very good reference. I would too. I know. Hamilton. I think I need a fresh start. She said as far from Vancouver as I can get." For anyone who does not know, Hamilton, Ontario, and Victoria, British Columbia, are more than 4,300 km apart. That is about 2,700 m, even on the shorter route through the United States.

"Have you been?" I began.

She knew what I was trying to ask. "I have not spoken to Courtney since the first month after we got back," Amy said. "She wanted a chance to tell her side of the story. I never told her that you had recorded her, so she did not know I already knew about almost every lie. I hung up on her." Amy looked down. Then she called about 11 more times. At last, I gave in and let her try to explain again. She took a slow breath. "It was It was just more untruths. I called her out on three of them."

"You did?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied. She came back with, "You can't trust everything Mike says." She also claimed you were unfair to her right from the start. That hurt me the most. I finally realized how I had hurt you each time I believed her instead of listening to you. I felt so foolish. I'm really sorry, Mike."

I was happy for Amy as she was moving away from the bad influences in her life. It was nice to see she was starting to see things differently, too. But it was still too late. She felt embarrassed for falling for Courtney's tricks and guilty for not believing me. Mannon and Pat threw a goodbye party for Amy. A lot of the workers and some of our top clients came. Hannah was there with her friend Kathy. I felt awkward when Kathy joked. "It's like a gathering of Mike's exes here." Luckily, I think only Hannah and I heard her. Little Celeste was upset about losing her favorite godmother. It broke Amy's heart, but she promised to always remember Celeste's birthday and important holidays. I gave Amy half of the money we had, plus some extra to help her start fresh. She was also free of debt. She didn't ask for any part of the business, which I couldn't have given her anyway since Pat owned half and another part was in my dad's name for tax reasons. Amy let me take her to the airport. We hugged and she headed off to her new life. I never heard from Courtney again. So, in a way, this story ended happily. Pete and Gail also stopped talking to her, so her friend group shrank a lot. Brady slipped on some ice in a parking lot right before Christmas and fell awkwardly, hitting his face against his car three times. Sadly, someone accidentally stepped on him while he was down. Manon and Pat invited me for Thanksgiving, which is in October in Canada.

"Manon said I could bring someone along if I wanted."

"You mean like a date?" I asked.

"Or a close friend?" she replied.

"Maybe Celeste could join me," I joked.

"Not happening." Manown laughed. "Pat says she can start dating when she turns 27." Kathy called to invite me to a Halloween party at her house.

"A costume party?" I asked.

"Yes," she said. "You can come as an idiot."

"Excuse me. How can you treat Hannah like this?" she questioned. "She has been there for you through everything and even tried to help Amy get back together with you and now you're ignoring her." She made a valid point. Was there a difference between avoiding someone and completely going quiet?

"Okay, I'll come. I just need to find a silly costume."

"Just be yourself," Kathy said ever so kindly. I dressed as a monk. It was simple, comfortable, and fit the occasion. Kathy made sure I ended up with Hannah, who looked lovely as a Disney princess. Her hair was blonde now, but her darker roots were peeking through.

"I hear I've been difficult lately," I said.

Hannah laughed. "Kathy doesn't hold back. But I'm sure it's not the first time you've heard that."

"That's true, but I deserve it this time. I'm sorry for keeping my distance." Her eyebrows raised. "Keeping your distance? Or should I say keeping several steps away?" She smiled. "Okay, maybe one day you can explain why. Did I do something wrong?"

"No, it was nothing she had done. It was about what she represented to me. That realization hit me hard. Can I ask you something, Hannah?"

"Of course. Always."

"Do you still have feelings for me?" Her smile disappeared. "Wow, Mike, you go straight to the point, don't you?"

"Sometimes being direct is best. What about you, Hannah?" She blinked and looked down. But a moment later, she met my eyes once more.

"Yes," she said. "I felt bad ever since we broke up. I made a mistake."

That sounded so much like her. I shook my head. "No, you were honest. You weren't ready for how serious we were getting. And you said it clearly."

"I know. I was scared, but I keep thinking about what could have happened if I had stayed. Would you have wanted to marry me? Would we still be together?"

"Tell me one more thing, Hannah. Why were you helping Amy?"

"She thought you were trying to help us get back together. I was."

"Why?" She understood what I meant. "I've always liked Amy. I would never want to hurt her. If bringing you two back together made you happy, then it seemed worth it. Even with your own feelings."

"I had my chance," she said. "I lost it." We got new drinks and went out to Cathy's back porch. It was busy, but we found a couple of chairs in the backyard and settled in. Hannah made a toast of sorts. "It's nice to be able to talk again. Here's to old friends."

"Hannah, would you like to go for coffee this week? Maybe after work."

"Really? I just don't want to raise your hopes too high. I'm not sure if I'm ready for a relationship. I don't know if I'll ever get married again."

"Mike, you went from two steps back to coffee to a relationship to marriage. Can't we just start with coffee? I'd be happy with that. I just want to be honest with you, Hannah. I think I have some trust issues." Hannah suddenly looked sad.

"Are you saying that you don't trust me?"

"I know that Amy let you down with her old friends, but no, Hannah, of course I trust you. You've always been honest with me." Even as I said it, I knew it was true. I was the one overthinking things this time. Hannah had always supported me, even when she helped set me up with Amy because she thought she couldn't have me back. Hannah smiled again.

"So, Tuesday for coffee?" It might have been too soon, but Hannah and I moved in together again in March. I just had a feeling, if that makes sense. Amy always remembered Celeste's birthday. She sent a card and a small gift, plus something special at Christmas. Celeste was proud to tell her grandparents that she had a godfather.