I Picked Up My Best Friend After Her Breakup… Then She Asked, “Why Didn’t I Choose You?”
Chapter 9
Marriage didn’t magically solve everything.
They argued about money.
They argued about work.
They argued about Ethan leaving dishes in the sink.
Sarah insisted this was a character flaw.
Ethan disagreed.
But they never stopped talking.
Two years into their marriage, Sarah became pregnant.
The news terrified them.
They were happy.
But terrified.
Ethan became obsessive about everything.
Baby-proofing.
Doctor appointments.
Car seats.
Sarah finally told him:
“You’re going to drive yourself insane.”
“I’m preparing.”
“You’ve installed three different locks on the nursery.”
“Security.”
“It’s a baby, not a bank.”
He laughed.
Their daughter was born on a rainy morning.
They named her Emma.
When Ethan held her for the first time, he cried.
Sarah had never seen him cry like that.
“You okay?”
He nodded.
“I just can’t believe she’s real.”
Sarah smiled.
“Neither can I.”
Years passed.
Emma grew.
The three of them built a quiet life.
One afternoon, Sarah and Ethan returned to the restaurant where she and Daniel had broken up.
The place had changed owners.
But the street was the same.
Sarah stood outside.
“This is where you picked me up.”
Ethan smiled.
“Yeah.”
“I was a mess.”
“You were.”
She laughed.
“And I asked you why you were always the one who came.”
“You did.”
“I think I already knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That you would always come.”
Ethan took her hand.
“Always.”
Sarah looked at him.
“Even now?”
“Especially now.”
She kissed him.
Then Emma ran out of the restaurant.
“Mom! Dad!”
They turned.
Their daughter held up a photograph.
“Look!”
It was an old picture from college.
Sarah and Ethan stood beside each other.
Young.
Smiling.
Completely unaware of what the future held.
Sarah laughed.
“We looked so young.”
Ethan smiled.
“We were.”
She looked at the photograph.
Then at him.
“Would you do anything differently?”
He thought about it.
“No.”
“Not even telling me sooner?”
He smiled.
“Maybe that.”
She laughed.
“Me too.”
