Every cupboard and drawer in the kitchen is wide open, displaying every dish and utensil that Hayes owns, and all I can do is shake my head as I let a few tears fall, tears of sadness and of awe.
And as I step closer, I realize that there are notes taped to the inside of each drawer and cupboard, and a large note on the furthest cupboard from me, which says, “Start here.”
I rip the paper down from the first cupboard and begin to read.
“They say when you get married that you need something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” With trembling hands, I close that cupboard, following the arrow on the note that leads me to the next one.
I reach for the piece of paper gently taped to an old photo of Wes, Hayes, and me when we were kids at his house, swimming in his parent’s pool. I vaguely remember that day, but apparently, Hayes does. “Our old friendship, though not a solid one, turned into a new love that I never realized I wanted or needed this much.”
The next note is in a drawer. “I also bought you a new ring when we got married that night, and we borrowed a pretty snazzy cowboy hat and blue boa at the chapel, so we got those things covered, for sure.” The photo we took the night we got married is attached to this note, which only makes me laugh as I look back fondly on that memory now.
On to the next drawer. “I think we have the for richer part down, but not only because of our financial status, but because you’ve made my life richer just by being in it.”
And the next cupboard. “But the time you spend giving back to the poor, to those less fortunate, is really what made me fall in love with you and your heart.”
“I’ve never had someone take care of me so selflessly when I was sick, and I’m pretty sure we have the healthy part down with the way we have sex, so there’s no problem there ;) Plus, we learned how to cook to make sure we take care of ourselves too so we can grow old and gray together.” I keep moving, collecting the papers and pictures in a pile as I go.
“Since we gave in to our feelings and confessed our love for one another, my life has been better, the best it’s ever been. It was so easy to fall in love with you when things were good.”
“But in the past month, I’d say we’ve faced the worse part of marriage, for sure. And I know it probably won’t be the last time or worst instance in our relationship in the future, but all I know is that my life is worse without you in it. And no matter how bad things get, I still love you—that part will never change.”
My eyes are so cloudy as I read his words, absorb the truth he’s revealing and how much I agree with him as I pull down the last note and close the cupboard. “If you let me, I still want the ‘til death do us part piece too, Waverly. I still want to honor these vows with you. I just need you to give me a chance to prove it.”
I hunch over, clinging the notes and pictures to my chest as sobs wrack my body.
This man, this person that I thought didn’t want me, has recited every instance of our relationship that has mattered—the instances that reminded me that our marriage was real—it is real.
And as I hold these reminders close to my heart, I wish he were here so I could tell them that I want to honor our vows too.
It’s why I never went into the lawyer’s office today.
It’s why I went home and talked to Emma more, and she made me see how stubborn I’ve been to push Hayes away so quickly.
But I want to make this work because yes, this past month has been trying, but what we’ve built, how far we’ve come—it’s all been worth it and will continue to be as long as we agree to keep fighting for it together. That’s how marriage lasts—it’s two people vowing to never give up and putting each other first. Sometimes that means we’ll hurt one another, sometimes we might have to compromise, but as long as we keep trying and remember the love between us, we can’t lose.
As I take in a few deep breaths, trying to get myself under control, a small knock on the window outside has me shrieking.
“Oh my God!” I spin around, clutching my hand to my chest even harder as I absorb the image of Hayes in front of me on the other side of the panoramic glass window in his living room. “What are you doing outside, Hayes?” I manage to squeak out while my heart races uncontrollably.
“Well, you said I couldn’t be in the house when you got here,” he answers matter-of-factly. “So I’ve been out here, waiting for you to finish.”
I shake my head back and forth, sniffling and smiling when I see his eyes soften too.
“Can I come in now?”
“Yes,” I answer breathlessly, nodding as I watch him open the sliding glass door and then make his way over to me.
“Hi,” he says, framing my face with his hands.
“Hi.”
“Did you get my notes?”
“I did. You left a lot of cupboards open, Hayes.”
“I know, but I knew it would get your attention. Don’t worry, I’m installing the self-closing hinges tomorrow before we leave for Aruba.”
“Oh,” I reply, remembering now that we bought those together, but I guess he never did install them like he promised.
“I never did that, but I’m going to.”
“That’s good. You obviously need them.”
“I don’t want to get a divorce, Waverly,” he declares, still holding my face between his palms.
“I don’t want that
