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Sebastian only heard bits of the conversation as he came out of his room to grab a quick bite to eat. Since the few months he had moved back to his mother’s house, he had tried to make it to dinner once a week. Being around Demetrius again was challenging, but he managed, if only for his mother’s sake.
“Haley is getting married?” he asked and noticed how Maru and their mother froze at his arrival.
He didn’t really keep up with gossip from the other townsfolk, but Joan had been friends with what seemed like everyone, and thus he knew a little bit about everyone. He would’ve heard if Haley had been dating, at least he would’ve heard before the divorce. His mood instantly dropped at the reminder of his current situation, and he felt bitter at the idea of Haley getting what he should have had: a happy marriage.
“Yes,” Demetrius said. He looked oddly happy about it, which was strange. He only really spoke to the people who ventured up the mountain, which were limited and did not involve Haley. “To Joan. I’m quite happy for them.”
Robin shot her husband a dark look, while Maru looked down at her plate awkwardly. Sebastian felt like asking him to repeat himself, certain that he must have misheard him. Because it sounded an awfully like Haley is getting married to his ex-wife.
The divorce had been quick, especially since Sebastian didn’t want anything from her, and she had been willing to go with whatever terms he wanted. It had been finalized after two months, and it had been seven months since he came home late into the evening to Joan sitting in their small kitchen with divorce papers.
Seven months. She had moved on and was getting married after only seven months? There was no way that was right.
Sebastian went through the motions of making himself a plate and hurrying downstairs quickly. He suddenly felt too ashamed to be around his family, and the bitterness in his stomach just continued to grow. His mother knocked on his door after a few minutes and slowly opened it when there was no reply.
“Hey,” she said, smiling sadly. “How are you?”
Sebastian shot her a look. It was obvious how he was doing.
“I know.” She replied, and slowly walked over to his bed, sitting next to him. “I’m sorry you had to find out like that.”
“I was going to find out eventually.” Sebastian replied and was surprised to find his voice to be even. “Is it true?”
“Yes,” Robin looked like admitting it hurt. “It happened yesterday.”
Sebastian wondered how Joan had proposed. If she had done something special for Haley, like she had done for him. He remembered her dragging him from his room when he really didn’t want to leave. Then she had mentioned finding frogs, and they had searched for hours, got themselves covered in mud and with dirt under her nails she had slipped the amulet out of her pocket and asked him to marry her.
It had felt surreal, after the years they had been dating, for her to propose out of nowhere. Sebastian had never counted himself as marriage material and had told her that countless times before. But he had said yes and hadn’t regretted it for a day. Living in that small house on that large farm had been new and strange, and having a wife even more so. They had only been married for half a year before complications started to arise, and only a couple months later did Joan slide those damned papers to him.
“Seven months,” Sebastian said, and an ugly thought suddenly rose its head. “Do you think she had been cheating on me?”
“I don’t think Joan would do that,” Robin said gently. “You know how she is. She’s honest.”
Sebastian wanted to retort that she sure wasn’t loyal. Wasn’t loyal to their vows. Didn’t even last a year with him, but he knew he couldn’t say it. She had tried to make it work, and he had thought ignoring their issues would have been better.
“We just aren’t a match,” She had said softly, her face highlighted by the fire going besides them. They didn’t even have lights in their house, something Sebastian had complained about time and time again. “I’m unhappy. You aren’t willing to meet me halfway to fix it. I’m sorry, but my decision is final.”
He had packed his things and been at his mother’s house the next day. Robin had looked sad, had tried grilling him, and he had stayed silent. Joan was still a regular customer, and sometimes he heard her laugh through the floorboards.
He missed her. But it seemed she had no problem moving on.
He didn’t attend her wedding. He heard from Maru that it was a lovely celebration, when he thought his self-loathing couldn’t get worse and asked her about it. Their wedding had been lovely too.
Perhaps Joan would find something wrong with Haley, and the town would hear all about their divorce soon. He hated how the thought comforted him. The idea that Joan was with problem, and not him.
But months passed, and he heard nothing but how wonderful they were doing. Joan would give him awkward waves, which soon turned into small smiles, and a quiet greeting, no matter how often Sebastian elected to ignore her. She brought him gifts for every holiday along with the other ones for his family. He didn’t accept them, and she never looked hurt.
Sam told him to ignore her. Abigail always gave him a pitying look. He hated how he became something to pity.
“Maybe you should see someone dude.” Sam said one day while they took a break from their band practice. He took a long gulp of a cola, put it on his bedside table, and leveled Sebastian a look. “Like a therapist. You’re not doing good since the divorce. Maybe even before that.”
Sebastian cringed. He remembered the few times Joan had mentioned seeing a therapist before. He had always blown her off, and near the end she got frustrated.
“...do you really think so?” he asked.
Sam gave his shoulder a pat. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. My mom’s trying to get my dad to go. My mom’s in it too. It’s not a bad thing to need extra help.”
Sebastian nodded and promised he’d consider it. Sam seemed happy enough by that, and suggested they started playing again, before his mother returned and needed Sam for chores.
It was one evening in the saloon that Sebastian saw her for the first time in months. He was shooting pool with Sam, pretending to let the other man get the lead just because of how bad his losing streak was, when Haley’s voice floated over the low music and chatter. The saloon wasn’t packed today. When Sebastian looked up, he saw the blond woman bundled up in her winter gear, waddling. She removed her coat at the bar, and what was easily recognized as a baby bump showed through her sweater.
Sam followed his gaze and then looked back to Sebastian with a worried look. Haley heaved herself onto a stool and started chatting with her sister while Emily got her a glass of lemonade. Sebastian had heard through his mother’s chatter that Joan had gotten another upgrade for her house, but he hadn’t realized it meant she was getting a nursery. She had never been open to the idea of getting one whilst they had been married, always stating she would think about it, and questioned if kids were really what Sebastian wanted.
He did his best to ignore her. He focused on Abigail ranting about never being able to beat the games here, and Sam groaning about his wining game suddenly going sideways. When Joan came into the saloon less than an hour later, Sebastian felt like the universe was against him. She had her hair in this fancy braid, despite it being obvious she had been working with animals all day, with hay and dirt on her coat. She had never been into having her hair done, said it took too long to do so, and always had her hair tied together at the base of her neck.
Haley took her hand, smiled this bright thing, and leaned into Joan’s side. Joan talked to Gus and Emily for a few more minutes, and even when Sebastian tried to ignore her, her laughter was still as bright as always. They left after cheerful goodbyes to everyone in the main section, and before they slipped out of the door, Sebastian saw from the corner of his eye how Joan fixed Haley’s scarf before they braved the snow.
He didn’t say anything to his friends. They didn’t bring it up.
“What are you making?” Sebastian asked.
Robin looked up in mild surprise. She had protective glasses on and had been intently chiseling away at hardwood.
“Oh,” she said, looking uncharacteristically thrown off guard. Sebastian got a better look at the project and frowned. It was a baby cradle.
“Haley due soon?” he asked.
Robin looked even more thrown off. “Um. Yes. Her baby shower is this weekend.”
Sebastian nodded. He noticed his mother’s questioning gaze as he moved to sit at her workbench. “How do you make a cradle?”
She started to explain it and got more excited the longer she spoke. Sebastian was surprised to notice that he didn’t feel as bitter as he would have. Maybe therapy hadn’t been such a bad thing.
“You going to take over the family business?”
“Don’t get too head of yourself.”
“Oh,” Joan said. “Hi, Sebastian.”
“Hi, Joan.” Sebastian replied. The farmer looked surprised that he responded and smiled nervously. “How is Haley?”
“She’s good.” Joan said.
She looked different. She wore the usual tactical pants that she did when she was going to explore the mines, her hair done back in a neatly braided bun. She had a mermaid pendant around her neck, as well as a small gold band. He hadn’t even thought to return the pendant when she had proposed to him.
It took time, but he realized that Joan wasn’t a terrible person. She wasn’t wrong for leaving him. He hadn’t been the one for her, and as much as it hurt to realize that it allowed him to feel some sort of peace. He could remember all the times she asked him on dates, to help with the farm, or even to spend an evening with her, and he had regularly refused.
As often as he expressed his love for their life, for getting away from his mother and especially Demetrius, he had never really shown her that. Hadn’t taken the time out of his day to make hers easier, or just to show how much he cared.
“I’m happy for you,” Sebastian said, honestly. “You deserve to have a good life.”
Joan looked at him for a long moment. Then, she smiled, just slightly. “You do too.”
Then she hurried inside, and Sebastian continued to go on his walk. He’s sure it would never really stop hurting. But he wasn’t going to allow it to hold him back anymore. He looked down at his phone and smiled softly at the text from Sam about his mom’s terrible spaghetti.