Page 112 of Champagne Nights

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” Finn asked.

“I have plans. Why?”

“I was hoping that you would come with Olivia and me to a wine wine-tasting party over at Vitello’s.”

“Thanks for the invite, bro, but maybe next time.”

My family didn’t know where I went on Friday nights. They didn’t need to know. That bar was my place of escape, even if it only was for a couple of hours.

“Hi, Damian,”I said as I walked in.

“Evening, Ben. How was your week?”

“Long. Very long.”

He set my usual bottle of beer in front of me, and when I went to take a drink, that man from last week sat down next to me.

“Long time no see, pal. I can’t believe how fast the week went by.”

“I don’t think I caught your name last week,” I said.

“Oh, sorry. I’m David.”

“Nice to meet you, David. I’m Ben.”

“Likewise.”

“I really couldn’t stop thinking about those fish and chips you were eating last week, so I decided I had to come back and order some.”

“You’ll be happy you did.” I smiled.

We got to talking for quite a while. We ate our fish and chips, drank a beer, and then I told him about Amy. He sort of asked after he overheard Damian mention her.

“I’m really sorry to hear that. I really don’t know what to say, bud.”

“Thanks.”

“Have you talked to someone? Like a therapist?”

“No. That really isn’t my thing.”

“You know that medical building down the street?”

“Yeah,” I replied.

“They have a spousal support group every Friday night at eight o’clock.”

Confusedly, I looked at him. “How do you know that?”

“A co-worker of mine mentioned it. He takes his mother. Maybe you should check it out.”

“Nah. Who wants to sit in a room and listen to other people talk about their loved ones? That’s way too depressing. Especially when you’re dealing with your own grief.”

“See, that’s the point. You sit and listen and discover that you’re not alone and that others are going through the same thing. They’re the only ones who understand your pain and grief, and they won’t be the ones to tell you to do the things you don’t want to.”

What David said made a lot of sense.

“If anything, just go sit in the back and listen.”

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