My wife invites her ex-boyfriend to lunch

 

My wife invites her ex-boyfriend to lunch

She tells me Justin had good jokes,
good manners, was a card shark
and a militant Baptist. They broke up
because she always burst into giggles
when he kissed her. She never told him why.
Giggled, she tells me now, because
kissing Justin was like kissing a pug.

So we meet. Justin seems shocked
to see she’s pregnant. Congratulates her. Us.
Justin has big lips and a fuzzy face.
Tells funny stories, has impeccable manners.
Says he’s married to a woman who wants
to make films. Not movies. Films.
Says she has moods. Big moods.
Says she used to be political but couldn’t choose sides.
Says she covered their new wallpaper with tinfoil.
Says she subconsciously converted their apartment
into a dump because that’s what she was used to.
Says she’s bad at choices.
Like, look, (he laughs) she chose him.

So, my wife asks, do you love her?
At once Justin and I are both on alert.
Yes, Justin says. Yes, we kiss. A lot.
That’s good, my wife says.

After lunch,
we all shake hands.

…..

First published in Roanoke Review