It's a Love Story

by Annabel Monaghan

I smile the smile of a person who is being flushed down the world’s largest toilet but wants people to think she’s enjoying the ride.

Love isn’t a helicopter ride to Catalina; it’s everyday care and treating the other person like they’re your house keys.

that I want every moment of my life after this to be the same exact perfect mix of intensity and fun, that I understand why this is better than insta-love. It’s the time spent digging that makes unearthing the treasure so satisfying.

“What does that mean?” I say. “If you don’t mind me asking. ‘Love happens over breakfast.’ ” “It’s just something Cormack said when we were first married. Romance happens over dinner. The candlelight, the wine.” “Everyone looks a lot better than they usually do,” Cormack says and laughs. Reenie rolls her eyes. “Well, yes,” she says. “That’s the romance of it. But at breakfast everything’s just as it is, in the light of day. No one wears lipstick to breakfast. And this is where you talk about your day and the part of the roof that might leak this fall. You bring your real self to breakfast.”

“True,” I say. My heart is in my throat. I want this bracelet like some people want a beach house.

“I’d like to be the person who could take all of your sad things and make them happy. Like I’d hunt down each one and turn it over.”