Free Mid-Life Crisis Diaries by Geraldine Solon

In the hours that followed, she barely thought of Blake at all. And when she did, it was more along the lines of seeing something that she thought he might like. In her mind, at least for the afternoon, she was able to categorize him as a friend that she knew, rather than her husband who had just left her. It made the pain more manageable, to be able to separate it like that. As did having an understanding partner on her arm. Maybe Puerto Vallarta was a good idea, after all.

C H A P T E R  11

    A fter another half hour in the next shop, the pair of broken lovers found a steady pace to walk that both gave them time to see most of the stalls and also get through more of the market. The only way Andre convinced Marsha to stroll faster, was by assuring her that they could visit the market every day if she wanted.
    At one stall, Marsha eyed the beautiful handmade jewelry so long that she was surprised she didn’t spend a day’s wages on only necklaces. They were all so beautiful, and with all the colors, would go with practically everything she owned back home. These lovely necklaces would have added a pop of color to everything, and she vowed to think about the purchase and come back another day to pick her favorite one. Something pretty to remind her of this pretty place, and her pretty tour guide.
    As they strolled away from the jewelry stall, Marsha slid her hand back into Andre’s and strung the other one around his arm, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Thank you,” she said, her eyes closed in a big smile. “For letting me look so long.”
    “Absolutely,” he answered. “It looked like you really found something you liked.” Marsha walked beside him, her eyes still closed, completely blissful. “You looked like a kid at Disney World, it was a great treat for me to experience that with you. Here, can you stop for a minute?”
    Marsha stopped in her tracks and Andre circled around behind her. Before she could ask him what he was up to, he’d slipped a beautiful red and orange beaded necklace around her neck. She immediately pulled it up closer to her face to admire it.
    “Andre!” she half-shouted. “It’s…it’s even more beautiful on than it was on the rack!” She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she beamed.
    “I really love that giant smile on you, actually. It’s a really great look for you. And to think I put it there…” Andre smiled, and kissed her below the forehead, right between her eyes. It was the sweetest thing in the world and made her so happy. “You look lovely.” He swung his arm over her shoulder, and rested it there. With his other hand, as they walked, he sneakily handed her a brown sack with a little handle on it. “And these are to go with it.” He never broke his gaze from the horizon, but the slightest smile played at the corner of his lips.
    Marsha’s mouth actually fell open, then turned to a girlish smile that went from ear to ear. She opened it, and ran her hand around in the bag. It was completely full of necklaces!
    “Wow!” was all she could manage. She honestly just didn’t know what to say, and with Andre, she didn’t feel the need to say anything, which was a first. When Blake gave her gifts, they always had to be acknowledged. With Andre, she felt like that first thank you was enough. She wrapped her left arm around his waist and leaned into him as they walked.
    “Hungry?” he asked, rubbing her shoulder lightly.
    “Famished.” she smiled. “How about something on a stick?”
    Andre laughed. “Your wish is my command, fine dining it is.”
    The two of them, their arms wrapped around each other in a gesture of friendship, strolled along the market stalls looking for the best-smelling thing they could find. They only got distracted a few times to pull skirts off the racks and hold them up to Marsha, looking for a brightly colored one that would fit her perfectly. They found two, and she purchased them