From ex wife to sister in law

From wife to ex–wife.

From ex–wife to sister–in–law.

In ten years, Bernadette Connery and Nolan Colfield went from inseparable to strangers with a huge wall between them.

December. First snow in Los Angeles.

On their third wedding anniversary, Bernadette got nagged by her mother–in–law at the hospital until 11:30 before she could leave.

Snow covered the streets. Since she had not driven, she called Nolan.

The busy tone rang a few times before his voice finally came through, cold and flat.

“What is it?”

Hearing his voice made all the anger and hurt from the night come rushing back. Bernadette’s voice was hoarse as she said, “Can you come pick me up? It’s snowing really hard…”

“I’m busy.” Nolan cut her off, sounding bored. “If you’re tired, get a cab. Don’t bug me with these trifles again.”

Bernadette’s throat tightened. She wanted to say more, but the line went dead.

The busy tone stung her ears and her heart.

They had been in love for seven years. Married for three.

Back when they first started dating, Nolan would wait two hours outside her part–time job in the snow just to walk her back to the dorm.

He would hold her close and say, “The roads are slippery when it snows. I’m scared you’ll fall if I’m not here.”

Now all that was just “trifles“…