Page 49 of Loving Violet
“Ahh, I see. You were the type of man that loves them and leaves them?”
“I guess that’s the best way to put it, but any lady friend I’ve had knew where I stood beforehand. Since the moment I saw you, though, something changed in me. And if I am honest, I have been waiting for this moment. I grew up with parents who love each other, and I want that, just never thought it was in the cards for me. Now that I know you, I feel like I can have that.”
“That’s so sweet. My parents have been together forever, too, and I thought I had that with my ex….” Violet trails off, a shadow passing over her expression.
I lean in slightly, genuinely wanting to understand. “Tell me, what happened with your ex?” I already know bits and pieces from Josy, but hearing it from Violet herself feels different. It feels important.
She takes a deep breath, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting mine. “Taylor and I met in college. We dated for a few years, and when I was a junior and he was a senior, I found out I was pregnant. I decided to quit school and move to Maryland with him.” Her voice softens as she continues. “At first, everything seemed perfect. He was supportive, and I thought we were building a life together. But over time, things started to change. Taylor… He became mean.”
At her words, a pit forms in my stomach. My jaw tightens as I prepare for the worst. “Did he physically abuse you? Did he ever hit you?”
Violet shakes her head, her hair moves with the motion. “No, he never laid a hand on me like that. In fact, after Adrian turned one, he stopped being intimate with me altogether. When I asked him why, he said…” Her voice falters, and I see her swallow hard before continuing. “He said I wasn’t attractive anymore. That I was fat.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I feel my hands clench on my lap.
“When we met, I was skinny,” she explains, her tone steady but tinged with pain. “After I had Adrian, my body changed, like it does for most women. I gained weight, sure, but I’d just had a baby. Instead of being understanding, he started criticizing me constantly. He made me feel ugly and worthless.”
I don’t interrupt, but I can feel the anger simmering just beneath my skin.
“He always had an opinion about what I wore, how I acted—he wanted to change everything about me. I got tired of his constant comments, so I started working out. I thought maybe if I could go back to looking the way I did when we met, he’d start loving me again. But it didn’t work. Even after I lost the baby weight, it was never enough. Then he said I looked too skinny.” She pauses, shaking her head as if to clear away the memory. “It was this never-ending cycle of body shaming. And then…” Her eyes harden, a flash of defiance in them now. “I found out he was cheating on me. With his secretary. That’s when I decided that I had enough. I was holding on for Adrian, but I was miserable. I realized staying with Taylor wasn’t teaching my son anything good about love or respect.”
I feel a rush of admiration for her strength, but it’s drowned out by the rage building inside of me. How could anyone treat this amazing, resilient woman that way?
“That motherfucker,” I mutter under my breath, unable to hold it in.
Violet’s lips twitch, the smallest hint of a smile breaking through. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
“You deserve so much better, Violet,” I say, my voice firm but softening as I look into her eyes. “You deserve someone who sees how incredible you are. Someone who doesn’t just love you for how you look but for the strength, kindness, and courage that you carry. He didn’t deserve you then, and he sure as hell doesn’t deserve your thoughts now.”
Her eyes glisten, and she looks down, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “Thank you, Austin. That means more than you know.”
In that moment, I make a silent promise to myself. To show her, every single day, that she is worth so much more than the pain she’s endured. That she is beautiful, inside and out, and I’ll never stop reminding her of it.
She smiles at me, and I can see small tears welling up in her eyes. I smile back at her and caress her face, tucking loose hair behind her ear. “You will never have to hear those words again. You are beautiful, inside and out. I really want to see where this goes, and be beside you through it all. Be my somebody Violet, let’s see where this goes.”
She nods, her eyes softening. “Okay, Austin. Okay. Let’s try us.”
We sit in comfortable silence for another moment, just enjoying each other’s company, and it’s the best feeling in the world. Is this what falling feels like?
Chapter 19
Violet
Austin has blownmy mind away. Everything is perfect,and I mean everything.
The meal, the company—it’s been perfect.
Austin looks so handsome today, wearing a black polo shirt that molds to his sculpted body, dark jeans, and no shoes. He commands my attention as he moves us through his home.
Since I arrived at his beautiful house, I have been impressed. After we finish the delicious pasta that he made. We move to sit on his comfy sofa, and he starts leaning toward me. We have been talking and getting to know each other. I’ve opened myself to him and shown him the deep wounds that were left after my divorce. I can’t believe that I told him everything. I feel so comfortable with him, and I find it easy to show him the real me. What I love more is how understanding Austin is. His words fill me with a rush of warmth.
After I’m done bearing myself to this man, he leans closer and says in a low voice, “You will never have to hear those words again. You are beautiful, inside and out. I really want to see where this goes and be beside you through it all. Be my somebody Violet, let’s see where this goes.” This gorgeous man sees me for me, and more than that, he wants me. I don’t know what to do with myself. I want to jump in his lap and kiss him. No one has ever made me feel so beautiful in my entire life. So there is no other response to his request. I nod my head and say, “Okay, Austin. Okay. Let’s try us.”
He beams at my response and his stare pierces right through me, and I feel like he can see into my soul. I can’t stop asking myself what he sees in me. I know I will always have more work to do regarding my self image, but I am thankful to have started to grow in that by leaning on Josy and her therapist.
He continues staring at me in silence, examining what feels like my entire face. I can’t look away from his eyes.
I finally get the courage to smile shyly up at him and whisper, “Are you going to kiss me now?”
