The Pearl Dress

This skirt of this set piece will change to something shorter; the letter will also change. It won't just be edited, it will be changed considerably.

Dear Charlotte,

My ex-husband Jon built up a successful development business with his business partner, Barry. They’d been best friends since they were kids growing up together in Halifax and because of their relationship, Kathryn, Barry’s wife, and I became very close.

We were both able to be stay-at-home moms when our kids were born because our husbands’ business was so successful. We raised our kids together.

The story of the dress is the story of Jon’s fiftieth birthday. Kathryn and I decided it should be at their place but that I’d make the cake.

When I was at home decorating it the day before the party Terry, my twin, texted me. She was at Arpell’s having lunch and she sent me a photo of Kathryn and Jon having lunch together and I could tell what Terry knew right away.

Terry came over, partly because she felt guilty but mostly to console me. When she arrived, I toasted her for sending it. The photo woke me up. I’d been asleep in our marriage for a long time.

When I grew up and a kid had a birthday, the birthday cake would have money wrapped in wax paper hidden in it so I decided to put my wedding ring (for Jon), one of my house keys (for Kathryn) and two Zanax tablets (for Barry) — all wrapped in wax paper — into the cake. I was a really careful to note where each one was so that I could serve the right piece to each of them when it was time for dessert.

I was giddy, Charlotte. I was trembling with excitement at the thought of presenting that cake covered with lit candles on it. Then I went out and bought the most expensive dress I could for the party — and three tickets to Hawaii for me and the kids. I decided to tell them about leaving Jon in our condo on Maui.

I made Jon a card using the photo Terry texted me of him and Kathryn on the front and Happy Divorce inside.

I made a card for Barry, too. I wrote out an apology to him for telling him the way I did in it and I wished him the best and gave him my new cell phone number.

Then I phoned the kids to tell them we were going to Hawaii, put on my dress, loaded the cake and cards into the car and drove to the party.

Camille