“Have you called him?” Bevy asked Madison as she shuffled through the stack of invoices on her desk.

“Bevy, I’m not ready.”

“Can I call him? I miss him. I’m miserable now that I have to take care of all this shit.” Bevy grabbed a pile of invoices, lifted them in the air, and then dropped them back on her desk.

“Bevy, I’m not ready to call him.”

“I noticed he hasn’t come for his things; he must be waiting for you to call. Do you forgive him?”

“I know he didn’t sleep with her, but now I need to get my head together about what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.”

“I know he didn’t sleep with her. Even though I saw his car there, I believed him when he said they just talked. It’s so like Jeremy to bring out the best in a woman.”

“Every man should bring out the best in a woman. I’m very lucky.” Madison admitted.

“Then call him and tell him.”

“I will but not yet.”

“What are you waiting for?” Bevy organized the papers on her desk into a neat pile.

“Bevy, I’m pregnant.”

Bevy slumped back in her chair. “I thought you took birth control.”

“I did, but I got lazy. This relationship preoccupied my mind, and I’d forget to take it here and there, sometimes days at a time.”

“Is this good or bad news?” Bevy had to ask.

“I feel happy but terrified, and then I think of Jeremy, and I know how happy he’ll be, and then I feel happy, again, and all my fear subsides.”

“I’m happy for you. Let’s go out to dinner tonight. We’ll work this out.” Bevy jumped up from her chair.

“I may not be such great company.”

“Don't worry, neither will I. I think I miss him more than you.” Bevy sagged back in her seat as she snarled at the pile of papers in front of her.

“Not possible.”

 

Jeremy noticed her the moment she walked through the doors to the restaurant. She looked stunning, and he wanted to run up to her, take her back to their apartment and make love to her. His heart ached as he watched her stroll through the restaurant following the hostess avoiding eye contact with everyone while Bevy smiled and waved at the people she knew. She stopped to air kiss a few of the diners as she partook in small talk. Madison sat at the table alone for a few minutes while she waited for Bevy to join her.

The hostess chose a table in the farthest corner from the bar for Bevy and Madison as per Madison’s request.

“Don’t look over but he’s here,” Bevy whispered as she took her seat.

“Who here?” Madison’s heart started pounding against her chest.

“Jeremy is here, and he is sitting with a girl.”

Madison looked over at a table near the back. Jeremy stared directly at her. She quickly looked away and stared down at the table. “Oh God, Bevy, I can’t breathe. I need to get out of here, now.”

Bevy rubbed her arm attempting to console her, “Honey, it’s Jeremy, the man you love.”

“But he’s with a girl.” Madison felt herself slipping into a full on panic attack. She reached for her bag ready to bolt from the restaurant.

“Hello,” Jeremy stood next to their table gazing down at Madison. “Bevy, could you go over and keep my friend, Claire, company while she waits for her girlfriend to arrive.”

Madison looked up at Jeremy as Bevy stood. “Good luck you two.” Bevy squeezed Jeremy’s arm. She stood on her toes and placed a small kiss on his cheek then whispered in his ear, “It’s good to see you.”

Jeremy patted her arm then Bevy walked away.

Madison’s gaze followed Jeremy as he sat down. “She’s not your girlfriend, and she’s a lesbian.”

“The girl I’m with?” Jeremy asked.

“Yes,” Madison confirmed.

“She’s a dear friend, and yes, she is a lesbian.”

Madison felt her body relax. She folded her hands in her lap and focused on them as she spoke. “I know you didn’t sleep with Carol.”

“She told you.”

“No. I haven’t talked to Carol. I just know you didn’t sleep with her.”

“I didn’t. I went over to her house and talked to her. She’s a woman, who is in a lot of pain, and she needed someone to blame, and she needed a punching bag. You, as her ex-husband's lawyer and a woman, were an easy target and you filled both those roles.”

“Jeremy, I feel guilty doubting you for a second.”

“Madison, it’s okay. It looked bad but when I tell you to trust me and when I tell you I love you those aren’t just words. I love you, Madison, and when you hurt I hurt.”

Tears pooled in Madison’s eyes. “What do we do now?”

“We go over to where Bevy and Claire…” Jeremy turned around and glanced over at the table, “and Claire’s girlfriend are sitting and we all have dinner together, and then I’ll take you home to our apartment.”

Madison nodded as she bit down on her lip, “I missed you.”

Jeremy leaned over, slid his hand behind Madison’s neck and tilted her face closer to him. He gently placed his lips on hers. Jeremy felt Madison’s tears, “Sweetheart, I’m never letting you or Bevy kick me out of that damn mansion again.”