Page 6 of Highlands Homecoming

Relief washed over Melissa, and she nodded a silent thank you to Meghana. Dave looked from Melissa to Meghana, knowing something was up, but still trying to put two and two together.

“What were you even doing here?” Dave asked.

“I was just out and about, taking a walk and … Well, you know me. I had to go. This seemed like a place that would have a restroom, so … ” Melissa winced, realizing her story had changed.

“I thought you’d moved to Scotland.” Dave’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Melissa nodded. “I’m just back to collect some things from storage, see friends and family. So I’ll just be on my way.”

“Where are you staying?”

“That’s none of your business,” said Melissa, crossing her arms in front of her.

“So was it the dentist or the restroom? Why would you come back here to the dentist?”

“I lost an aligner and needed a new one,” said Melissa. “Remember? You were mad they cost so much. Silly me.”

“They can’t mail them?”

“Uh, they needed to check the fit. Remember, they did a scan of my mouth. They needed me to come in and check that it was the same. It’s like when you need to see the doctor before they can refill a prescription … you know?” She knew she was a terrible liar, and this was getting her nowhere, but for whatever reason she couldn’t stop.

He was still blocking her way. When they were married, he’d been gruff, but he’d never been like this. Melissa had never been scared of him before, but now she was.

“I need to get by, Dave,” said Melissa in a voice that she knew sounded weak and meek. But she was a different woman now. She was independent. She could face this oaf.

Gathering her resolve, Melissa pushed past him like he was a high school bully blocking her path to the locker. Astounded, he turned and watched as she hurried down the stairs.

Dave called after her, “Don’t you need to see the dentist?”

“I already did,” she called back.

She walked with purpose down the street in case Dave could see her. Then, shaking, she pulled out her phone and texted Caitlin.

M - Can you pick me up or should I call a ride?

C - I’m in Kenmore Square. BRB.

M - I’ll wait on the corner.

Caitlin was already waiting in her car at the corner when Melissa arrived, shaken but proud that she’d made it through her first face-to-face confrontation with Dave. Baby steps. But she had taken them.

“That was fast,” said Caitlin as Melissa hopped into the car.

“Yeah. It didn’t exactly go as planned.”

As Melissa explained what happened, Caitlin tried to comfort her.

“I mean, I’m just too impulsive. I should have let Colin know I was in town.”

Caitlin shook her head. “There’s no way you could have known Dave would be there.”

“Yeah. He’s just getting worse. Now that I’m away, I can’t believe I was ever married to him.”

“You were kind of … sheltered. I’m not sure what the word is, but you didn’t know any better.”

Melissa groaned. She knew Caitlin was right, but the gut punch of being called out was a wake-up call.

“But now you do. So we’re going to celebrate you all weekend. First stop? Shopping on Newbury Street. We can get together with Colin once he’s off the clock.”