Susan agreed without hesitation. That week in Vermont was a true fairy tale for them. They stayed in a small cabin by a lake, went fishing, picked mushrooms and berries, and in the evenings, they sat by the fireplace, drinking mulled wine and talking for hours.
It was there, in Vermont, that Susan realized she was in love. Truly in love. Not with the blind, youthful infatuation she once had for Mike, but with a mature, conscious love for a man she respected and trusted completely. It was there that David first told her, “I love you.”
When they returned to the city, they were nearly inseparable. David often stayed over at her parents’ apartment, helped her choose materials for her new home, and went with her to the construction site. He met her parents, and her father, usually reserved and suspicious, after a half-hour private conversation with David, delivered his verdict: “He’s a solid man. You can trust him.”
When Susan’s condo was finally finished and she got the keys, David helped her move in. He assembled the furniture himself, hung shelves, and connected the appliances.
— I want you to be happy here, – he said, screwing the last handle onto a kitchen cabinet.
— I’m already happy, – Susan smiled. — Because you’re here with me.
On the day of her housewarming party, after all the guests had left, David pulled a small velvet box from his pocket.
— Susan. – He got down on one knee. — I know that after everything you’ve been through, you might be afraid to trust again. But I want you to know: I will never betray you. I will always be on your side. I love you more than life itself. Will you marry me?
Tears welled up in Susan’s eyes.
— Yes, – she whispered. — Yes, I will.
Their wedding was quiet and modest. Only their closest family and friends were there. They simply signed the papers at the courthouse and had a celebratory dinner at the same Italian restaurant where they had their first date. They were truly happy. David moved in with Susan, and her new, bright apartment was filled with warmth, laughter, and the barking of Zeus. They traveled a lot, made plans for the future, and supported each other in everything. David never meddled in her finances but was always ready to help if needed. He respected her career and was proud of her success.
One day, while sorting through old papers, Susan came across a yellowed sheet. A poem Mike had once written for her: “Your eyes are two oceans in which I drown…” She reread it and smiled. How naive and false it all seemed now. She crumpled the paper and threw it into the trash without a second thought. The past no longer had any power over her.
Sometimes she thought about Mike and Eleanor. She had heard from mutual acquaintances that they had eventually sold the condo and bought two small studio apartments in different parts of the city. Eleanor, broken by her defeat and financial losses, had declined significantly and no longer tried to control her son’s life. And Mike? He never found a steady job, survived on odd gigs, and, according to rumors, had started drinking heavily.
Susan didn’t feel sorry for them. She had simply learned from her own story. And the main lesson was this: you can’t let anyone, not even the people closest to you, destroy your life. You have to know when to say “no” and how to defend your boundaries.
One evening, as she and David were sitting on the couch watching a movie, he suddenly said:
— You know, I’m so grateful to your ex-husband.
— For what? – Susan asked, surprised.
— For being such an idiot and letting you go! – David smiled. — Otherwise, I would have never met the best woman in the world.
Susan laughed and snuggled closer to his shoulder.
— I’m grateful to him too, – she said. — For teaching me how to appreciate true happiness.
She looked at her husband, at Zeus sleeping at their feet, at the cozy, warmly lit room, and realized she was home. Truly home. Where she was loved, valued, and respected. And that was the best thing that could have ever happened to her. The resolution of her personal drama turned out to be the happy beginning of a new, beautiful story.
Three years passed. Susan stood at the doorway of the nursery, smiling as she watched David and their two-year-old son, Leo, build a tower of blocks. The tower grew tall and wobbly, and when the final block was placed on top, it collapsed with a crash. Leo burst into delighted laughter, and David, feigning a tragic expression, fell to the floor, buried under the debris.
— Mommy, save us! – he cried, reaching for Susan. — We’re trapped!
Susan laughed and entered the room.
— Alright, what’s the emergency here? – She scooped up the giggling toddler. — Looks like someone needs a rescue team?
This home, which had once been a symbol of struggle and loneliness for her, was now filled with life, laughter, and love. After their wedding, David sold his apartment, and together they paid off the remaining mortgage. Now it was their shared home, where every corner held the warmth of their family’s happiness.
Susan’s parents adored both their son-in-law and their grandson. Victor taught David all the secrets of fishing, and now they often spent weekends on the river. And Carol, whose health had significantly improved thanks to timely check-ups and treatment, spoiled the whole family with her pies and jams…
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