He led her to the middle of the dance floor, and the two swayed to the music. Joy rested her head on his shoulder just like she did in the gymnasium at that senior dance. Inhaling his cologne, Joy closed her eyes and allowed herself to do something she hadn’t done in years.
She reminisced about her happy years with Tony.
“I love this rendition,” he whispered.
“Yes.” She stepped back and watched the saxophonist play. “Very talented.”
“Joy?” Tony pulled her close. “I am very sorry for what I did. I hope you know that. I got lazy and took my eyes off the prize—you and Jaime—and fell for something that I never should have fallen for.”
Joy grinned awkwardly.
“And if you let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.” Tony twirled her around, then pulled her close again.
Joy’s eyes widened as she gasped. She looked over his shoulder and shouted. “Look. It’s Tiffany!”
“Where?” Tony let go of Joy and turned around.
Joy stepped back a bit and watched him. Standing with her arms crossed, Joy raised her eyebrows and watched as Tony realized no one was behind him.
He slouched his shoulders and faced Joy again with tight lips and a red face.
She scoffed, then made her way back to the table to retrieve her purse. She set down some Euros for her meal.
“Have a good trip home,” she said, leaving him standing alone on the dance floor.
“Joy, please. Wait up,” Tony cried after her.
Joy brushed off his words, rushing along the pathway as tourists and locals passed by her on their way to the restaurant. Light rain fell, and each cold drop stung her exposed skin, mirroring the ache in her eyes. She clenched her jaw, determined not to let tears fall. I won’t cry over him again. I won’t.
“Please, Joy,” Tony pleaded as he reached her and gently touched her shoulder.
“Why, Tony?” Joy asked, wiping raindrops off her face, grateful for the cover they provided for her tears trickling down her cheek. “Why did you come here and ruin my trip? Why?”
He tossed up his hands in defeat. “I don’t know. I don’t mean to ruin anything.”
She twisted her lips and turned to leave.
“Joy, I guess I wanted to see if you and I could start again from right here and right now.” He pointed to the wet ground. “You know?”
Joy paused and faced him again, avoiding his eyes.
“We have so much history together. Why can’t we just be a family again?” he begged.
“Seriously? You have to ask?”
The rain plastered his hair against his forehead as he stood blinking.
“Because you tore open my chest and ripped my heart out, Tony,” she shouted.
He winced.
“And then you handed it to me all bloodied and bruised. Now you want me to forget all that?” Joy shook her head. “I can’t.”
“But—”
“Listen, it took months for me to get over it.” Images of herself lying in a darkened bedroom appeared in her mind. The sound of Jaime’s knocks on the door, desperately worried about her, echoed inside her head. “I wasn’t sure I could get over it.”
He wiped the rain off his face.
“If I am over it.” She licked the rain off her lips, tasting her salty tears. “I suppose it’ll always hurt.”
“Joy . . .”
“If I had cheated on you and left you for another man, can you honestly say you’d take me back?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Without hesitation.”
Joy looked away.
“I mean it.” Tony took her hand.
“Well, that’s easy for you to say, because I never hurt you that way, did I?”
“I know I would take you back because I know I was a jerk to you and probably deserved it. I worked long hours and ignored your needs. Constantly left you and Jaime alone while I went on business trips all over the world. I’m frankly surprised you didn’t leave me.”
The stinging rain pelted her face. “I remained faithful because I loved you. That’s what married people do, Tony.”
