Miss Perfect

“Won’t you eat?” Mark’s voice broke through her thoughts.

Jessie blinked, realizing she had been staring at him. “Uh?”

“You haven’t touched your food, Jess. It looks good.”

She gave a small smile and focused on her plate. She picked up her spoon and started eating. Across from her, Mark ate his tuna with steady forkfuls.

That would be a question for later — after they finished eating.

She couldn’t keep her eyes off him the entire meal. Every few bites she glanced up, and Mark noticed. He knew that look. Whenever Jessie stared at him like this, her mind was heavy with things she wanted to say.

He set his fork down gently and leaned back in his chair. “Come on, Jess. Spill it.”

Jessie looked up, confused. “What?”

“I know you have something on your mind. You always stare at me when you do. Talk to me.”

Thankfully, she had finished her food. Jessie poured herself a glass of water, drank it all, then set the glass down. She cleared her throat and met his eyes.

Mark waited, curious about what question was coming.

“You don’t like tuna,” she said calmly.

“Uh?”

“You ate an entire plate of tuna today, Mark. You always said it gives you allergies. What changed?”

The question landed hard. Mark hesitated, clearly caught off guard.

“It looked good on the menu, Jessica.” He let out a nervous laugh. “I just wanted to try it. See?” He gestured to his face and hands. “No reactions.”

Jessie felt a flicker of doubt. Whenever Mark used her full name, something was usually off. She didn’t doubt him — not really — but her gut whispered that he was hiding something.

“Alright,” she said quietly. “If you say so.”

“Was that all that was on your mind? The tuna?” He studied her. “Or is there more?”

She took a deep breath. “Actually. There is more. We need to talk, Mark.”

Those words made Mark sit up straighter. “Well talk to me, hun.”

Jessie paused for a few moments. “We need to cancel the old list and make a new one.”

“W—what do you mean?” He looked at her in confusion.

“I don’t think I can only perform on Fridays. I—I know you want a sophisticated wife—”

“Which you are, Jessie.”

She exhaled. “Mark… I don’t want to wake up one day full of regrets for not chasing my dreams. You know how much music means to me. You said you love me, right?”

“I do love you, Jessie. But I’m not following.”

“All I’m saying is that my dreams matter to me. I’ve worked so hard to get here, and I want to keep going. I want my name out there. I need your support. I promise I will make our marriage work, but I don’t want to be a stay-at-home wife while everyone else is building something for themselves.”

Mark sighed. “We already talked about this, babe. I said I will provide for us.”

“That’s not enough, Mark. If you truly love me, you will help me with this. Please.”

He scoffed, folding his arms across his chest. “And when did you start talking like this, Jess? You’ve always accepted what I said. Was it Taylor? Did you see her today? Did she put these ideas in your head?”

Jessie shook her head quickly. “No. Taylor isn’t involved. I know you’ve helped me and my family — especially Bev. We appreciate it. I want to marry you and support you too.”

“Well, sounds like you are doing me a favor by marrying me.”

“Please, Mark. I need to make a name for myself, just like you have.”

He sighed and reached across the table, taking both her hands in his. He rubbed them gently. “We had a plan, Jessica. You work on Fridays once we are married and focus on being a good mother when the time comes. We need to teach our kids there is more to life than singing for crowds. I don’t want them thinking their mother performs for money. That is wrong.”

“You are mocking me,” Jessie said, slowly pulling her hands away. “What is wrong with singing for money?”

“Jessica!” His voice rose sharply. Heads turned at nearby tables. Tears stung Jessie’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall and ruin her makeup. “Jessie,” he said, softening again.

“Please, Mark. I need this. Just say yes and we will figure it out together.”

“And what if I don’t want that?” His tone turned cold. “What if I don’t want to marry you anymore, Jessica?”

Her stomach dropped. “What— what is that supposed to mean?”

He tossed his napkin onto the table. “I changed my mind. I can’t deal with this. Is this how you repay me after all these years of taking care of you?” His voice grew louder. “Was it Taylor? I told you to stay away from her!”

He slammed his fist on the table. Jessie gasped, startled. She had never seen this side of him in their eight years together.

Mark stood abruptly, shoving his chair back. He planted both hands on the table and leaned in, eyes hard. “I really loved you, Jessica. I did. But if you had just listened to me, we wouldn’t be here.” He pointed at her. “Let’s see how far you get without me. Let’s see if anyone else will ever love a slum girl who didn’t even graduate.” He threw his hands up in the air. “This is ridiculous! I can’t believe someone like me is about to marry you.”

Jessie sat frozen as Mark stormed out of the restaurant. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled down her cheeks. She struggled to breathe, her chest tight and suffocating. This wasn’t how she expected the night to go. She had thought he would understand.

Her hands shook as she grabbed her purse and pulled out her phone. She dialed Taylor.

Taylor answered on the first ring. “What’s wrong, Jessie?”

“He left, Taylor,” Jessie sobbed. “He just… left.”

“Calm down. Stay right there. I’m on my way.”

Jessie set the phone down, numb. Her eyes stared blankly at the floor. The perfect woman she had worked so hard to be was gone. All that remained was a broken girl trying to process what had just happened.

***

“Jessica!”

Taylor’s voice cut through the fog as she rushed over. Jessie looked up, tears still streaming.

“T-Taylor…” Her voice cracked.

Taylor pulled her into a tight hug. “You are okay. I’m here.” She pulled back and winced playfully at the mess on her dress. “Ugh, babe, you ruined my outfit and your makeup.” She laughed softly, and Jessie let out a watery chuckle too.

Taylor knelt before her and took her hands. “What happened?”

Jessie sniffed and accepted the tissue Taylor offered. She wiped her nose, then looked at her friend.

“Take your time,” Taylor said gently. Jessie nodded, fighting back another wave of tears. "You can let it out, Jessica. Gosh! You don't have to be perfect in front of me. Okay? It is okay to cry when you feel sad." 

“I told him everything… but he blamed you. He got so angry, Taylor. You should have seen him yourself. I’ve never seen him like that before. Eight years… just gone.”

Taylor sighed. “I told you that if he couldn’t support your dreams, he wasn’t the one.”

Jessie wiped her eyes again, still in disbelief. “But, eight years wasted.”

“You dodged a bullet, love.” Taylor stood and helped her up. “Come on. Let’s get you home first. I know what will cheer you up.”