Page 55 of Save the Date

“I think that’s understandable.”

“Or maybe it was silly to think we can ever be fully healed. Life is probably too complicated for that.”

Will looked at her and shook his head, like she was a puzzle he couldn’t figure out.

“What?”

“I just don’t know how you can be so reasonable and thoughtful about the world and still want to marry a guy you barely know.”

“Maybe Operation: Save My Date is also reasonable and thoughtful when you really break it down and remove societal bias.”

Will seemed to consider this option for a moment before replying. “No. I still think it’s pretty nuts.”

“Don’t saynuts,” Emma corrected.

“Sorry. I meant completely bananas.”

“Better. But I thought you were going to try to be objective.”

“We both knew that was never going to work,” Will said. “Especially when it comes to you.”

As those words hit her ears, Emma’s heart wanted to leap out of her chest, burrow into Will’s body and fuse with his heart so they could be together forever. Had he really just admitted that Emma was his weakness? That was the exact kind ofyou are incredibly special to mesentiment Emma had searched for her whole life. But she knew better than to admit all that out loud. Will probably didn’t even realize how it sounded.

“How did your parents fuckyouup?” Emma countered instead of leaping over the table to kiss him. Maybe if she could expose more of his issues, she wouldn’t be so goddamn attracted to him all the time.

“I don’t know if I’ve had enough therapy to properly answer that question,” Will admitted. “Although one of my exes did once refer to me as ‘a classic Cancer’ if that gives you any insight.”

“It doesn’t.” Emma had never gotten into astrology mainlybecause she thought it was completely made up. “Let’s try another route. Are your parents happy together?”

Will let out a long whistle that would make for good audio. “Now that is a great question.”

Emma smiled. Asking good questions was kind of her whole thing.

“I think if you asked my parents if they were happily married, they would say yes. Well, my mom would say yes, and my dad would grunt. But I don’t really understand how that’s possible. I would never want their version of marriage.”

This wasn’t surprising. Most people seemed to either want to re-create what their parents had, like Emma, or run in the opposite direction, like Will.

“What’s their version like?”

Will suddenly seemed aware that their conversation was being recorded. He sneaked a glance at Anika, who raised her eyebrows. It was either a challenge or a warning; Emma didn’t know her enough to tell.

“Fuck it, they never listen to my shows anyway,” Will declared as he readjusted himself in his chair. “My parents’ marriage isn’t really a marriage. It’s more like a cult of one where my dad is the leader, and my mother is his loyal follower. She does whatever he wants, and he rewards her by…continuing to dictate her entire life.”

Emma nodded. It was an unfortunately common dynamic and not one that created a peaceful home for children.

“For a long time, I only blamed my dad. But part of me thinks my mom likes it this way. If my dad is in total control, she doesn’t have to think for herself or take responsibility when he blows up at a waitress or yells at her son for not being a varsity athlete. She can just coast and make mediocre jam.”

“I’m not sure if it’s ever that black-and-white, but I can definitely see why you would think that,” Emma replied, shifting comfortably back into her role as a neutral third party.

Will put his hand up to cover his mic. “Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what?”

“Don’t become Therapist Emma. This is supposed to be a conversation. Give me your real reactions as a person not a professional.” He took his hand off the mic, signaling they were back on the record. She both hated and loved that he had called her on her shit so efficiently. Most people took far longer to figure out when she was hiding behind her credentials.

“Okay. Fine. Myrealreaction hearing all that is sadness. It sucks that their dysfunctional relationship is your main reference for marriage. And, if I’m being totally honest, I also feel slightly better because I just realized yourmomis the reason you didn’t agree to my operation. Not me.”

Will looked at her baffled. “Um… I don’t want to marry my mom, Emma. She’s pretty good-looking for her age, but she’s also my mom.”

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