Jade was looking over some papers when Zander walked into the house with Alyssa. He was carrying a bag with groceries and she noticed the bottle of wine. �What are you celebrating?�
�Emily and Lucky. My wife and my best friend. Didn�t you know?� Zander asked Jade.
�I suspected it at first, but then Lucky confirmed it.� Jade said. �I thought it best to let one of them tell you��
�Figures.� He said, setting Alyssa down on the floor. �I told Alyssa that Daddy would make tacos-soft tacos- for her and Mommy tonight. Any objections?�
�Zander, we need to talk.� Jade said.
�Do we?� He asked, looking back at her. �What�s there to talk about?�
�I think that we�re making a huge mistake.� Jade said, honestly. �I have a feeling that Emily is going to come back, and you are going to want to go, and I don�t want you feeling obligated because we slept together.�
�I don�t feel obligated. I want to be here,� He said the words, but she didn�t believe him. �It�s simple here, with you and Alyssa.� Zander said, going into the kitchen.
Jade picked Alyssa up and followed him. �You know, I think you believe that, because of everything you�ve gone through with Emily, but there�s a baby involved��
�Lucky�s baby, more than likely.� Zander said, not wanting to think about it. �Jade, I really don�t think the baby is mine.�
�I do.� Jade said. �In fact, I�m willing to bet that Emily will call you and tell you that the baby is yours�� The doorbell rang, and Jade disappeared to answer it, coming back a few seconds later with Cameron and Alexis following him.
�Hello, Alexander.� Cameron said. �I heard about you and Emily.�
�Oh, I�m not surprised. Hey, Alexis. Where�s Kristina?� Zander wanted his father to disappear, but he knew that wasn�t going to happen.
�She�s with Ned and her soon to be stepwitch. I accept it, because I have custody again, and Ned and I are on friendlier terms, but I don�t like it.�
Cameron was playing with Alyssa, making her laugh in a way only he could. �I assume you�re living here for now.�
�For good.� Zander said. �Emily and I have both moved on.�
Jade rolled her eyes, �Don�t listen to him. He�s here for now, but as soon as Emily says the words, he�ll move back to their place.� She kissed Alyssa and Alexis. �Bye, Cameron, don�t get the baby too worked up. Zander, have her in bed by eight thirty. I�ll be back when I feel like it.� She was angry and all three adults knew it.
�What the hell is going on between the two of you?� Alexis asked.
�We�re living together, because Emily and I filed for divorce. I think things have moved too fast for either one of us. The thing is, I think this is the best thing for us also. Emily is having Lucky�s baby��
�Lucky! Lucky Spencer? Your best friend, Lucky?� Alexis asked, shocked.
�Yeah, that Lucky.� Zander said. �I know that having me back here is confusing Jade, but Emily and I are over.�
�Are you sure about that, Alex?� Cameron asked his son. �Are you really sure?�
�Yes, Dad, I�m sure!� Zander said, as he started cooking dinner. �You two want some tacos?�
�Sure, I�ll have one,� Alexis said with a smile. Zander was not in the mood for his dad to try and analyze his relationships.
�Alex, what if the baby is yours?�
�I�ll have the same arrangement with Em that I had with Jade.� Zander said. �I�ll see the baby as much as possible..�
�You�ll go back to her.� Cameron said with a smile. �And Jade knows that. Remember, she knows you better than anyone.�
Zander paused and considered his dad�s words. It was true, Jade did know him better than anyone else. He knew that she�d know even before he did, and it would break her heart.
He said nothing else as his father and stepmother played with Alyssa. Emily was the love of his life, and Jade was the one always there for him. He was getting divorced, they�d set that in motion. Zander wondered if it would be too late to stop it, if that�s what he decided he wanted.
Chapter 32
Dillon knew his mother better than anyone. By Monday morning, she was trying to get the courts to allow her to close Dillon�s accounts, but she couldn�t touch them. Dillon was in Jade�s office making sure that Tracey wasn�t going to try and pull some kind of stunt on him.
�She can�t touch you, Dillon, but I wouldn�t try and antagonize her. Tracey Quartermaine is someone I wouldn�t mess with.� Jade told him. �Have you already signed the lease on the apartment?�
�Yes,� Dillon told her that they�d found a place, but he hadn�t said anything to Georgie.
�I assume that the deposits have been paid?� Jade inquired.
�Yes, Ma�am.� He saluted her. �I also paid ahead on the rent.�
�I can help you set an account up and your mother won�t even know about it.�
�Sounds good to me.� he said, playing with a pen. �How about you?�
�What about me?� Jade asked.
�What�s going on with Zander?� Dillon asked.
�That�s none of your business.� Jade said. �I�ll send the bill to your new apartment.�
�Fine, but something is bothering you. You�re worried about Zander going back to Em, aren�t you?�
�Zander and I aren�t together.� She said, not looking at him. �Alyssa, unfortunately, has become attached to her father living with us, and I have no idea how the hell I�m going to explain it to her when he leaves��
�Where�s he going?�
�I�m going to tell him to move out.� Jade said. �Actually, I�m sending him home to his wife.�
Dillon shook his head. �Jade, they are getting divorced.�
�No, they aren�t.� She opened her filing cabinet and pulled a file out. �This stays between us.� Jade held the papers that she promised to file up for him to see.
�What is going through your mind, woman?� Dillon asked. �Geez! The guy is living with you, you�re sleeping with him��
�He told you?� Jade looked shocked.
�Yes, he did. Jade, he and Emily both wanted a divorce, and I happen to know that she and Lucky are practically living together now too.�
�He�s staying there?� Jade asked.
�Yes, so sending Zander back to Emily would probably be a really bad idea.� Dillon said.
�Damn him! Damn her! A year and a half ago, he�d have given his left leg to be with her, and suddenly he is determined to divorce her!� Jade threw the papers back into the filing cabinet and stood up, walking to the window. �You know, this baby is Zander�s.�
�You think so?� Dillon asked.
�Yes. I really do. I made a mistake letting Zander back into my heart. I knew that if Emily snapped, he�d go running back to her�.�
Chapter 33
Zander stood watching Emily. She was only inches away from him, and suddenly he wanted nothing more than to kiss her and forget about the divorce, Lucky, Jade�everything. All he wanted was Emily.
Emily looked at him and managed a small smile. �I didn�t expect to see you here. I was hoping to talk to Jade.�
�She�s at the office.� Zander told her.
�Betty said she left early..�
Zander nodded, �Yes, she had something to do this afternoon.�
�I was wondering when the divorce would be final.� Emily knew now that she didn�t want it, but it was too late. She knew that Zander and Jade had reconnected, and it wasn�t fair to hurt Jade like that. She loved Lucky, also, and he loved her, but Zander was her first love, her true love, and she knew now, the father of her child.
�She said a couple of months.� Zander turned away from her. �How are you doing?�
�Actually, not so good. Lucky and I broke up this morning.� Emily said.
�I�m sorry to hear that, Emily. What about the baby?� He asked, holding his breath without realizing it.
�Zander, the baby is yours.� Emily said, through fresh tears. �I had an ultrasound this morning, and Lucky knew then that the baby wasn�t his. It broke his heart, but there was no way we could live a lie.�
Zander nodded. �I suppose we need to talk about support and visitation��
�Do we have to?� Emily asked.
�I�m going to support you and our child.� Zander said, knowing that Jade had been right all along. He was only waiting for Emily to say the words.
�Zander, you know exactly what I�m saying, damn it! I love you, I always have. We filed for divorce without even knowing why. Yes, I spent the night with your best friend, and yes, we both regret that it happen, but being away from you has made me realize how much I love you��
�Are you saying what I think you�re saying?� Zander asked, �Do you want to stop the divorce?�
�I shouldn�t have asked for it in the first place!� Emily said. �And I can�t ask you to leave Jade��
�It�s going to hurt her.� Zander said. �I hate what it�s going to do to her, but you are still my wife and I never stopped loving you.� He kissed her gently at first, but the kiss deepened quickly and they didn�t notice the shocked, hurt figure in the doorway.
Jade knew it would happen, but she hadn�t been prepared for the reunion to take place in the room she�d spent the night before making love to Zander in. Slowly and quietly backing out of the door, she turned and walked away as the rain started to fall. This was the moment she knew would come, and Zander deserved the time alone with his wife.
And their baby.
Chapter 34
The next day, Georgie was released from the hospital. She was still weak, but feeling much stronger than the first days following Kat�s birth. As Dillon led her into their apartment, they stopped and stared at the city below them, still being plummeted with rain.
�I hope Jade�s alright,� Georgie said. Jade had stopped by the hospital the night before, crying, drenched, and defeated. It tore at both of them to see the woman that had tried so hard to help them looking as if she would never survived, but after three hours, Jade kissed them both and promised to bring a housewarming gift and visit her goddaughter the next day.
�She�s stronger than we both know, I think. Jade�s picked herself up after Zander�s broken her heart before. She�ll do it again, and next time, because for some reason, I don�t think Zander and Emily will ever be completed finished, although I don�t think they�ll ever completely be together, Jade will know better��
�She�s more in love with him than that, Dillon.� Georgie said. �She loves Zander the way that I love you. That kind of love doesn�t die or go away.�
Dillon touched her face, �I love you, Georgie.�
�I love you, too, Dillon,� Georgie said, and then saw him move to one knee. �Dillon��
�When I first met you, I had no idea that I would fall in love with you. When I fell in love with you, I had no idea that it would be forever. And forever is what I�m asking for. Georgie, will you marry me?� He slipped a diamond ring on her finger and she recognized it as one from a magazine she�d been looking at with Maxie.
�Dillon!� Georgie was speechless.
�Say yes,� he whispered with a smile. �Just say yes!�
�Yes! Yes! Yes!� Georgie said with tears. �I�ll marry you!� She pulled him up and he picked her up.
�We won�t plan on anything until Kat comes home, but I want you to start thinking of what you want. This is going to be all about you.� Dillon said.
�No, it�s about us,� Georgie said.
Dillon smiled as he gave her a tour of their new home and stopped in front of Kat�s room. �All three of us.�
Chapter 35
Zander was pacing the living room, worried. He had a feeling that she�d seen him with Emily and he was sorry that she had. He loved her in his own way, and they had a bond that would never be broken, but he knew his place was with Emily.
The door slowly opened and he saw her soaked body walked in. Her hair was wet and tangled, her face pale, and her clothes completely soaked through.
�Where the hell have you been?� He asked, grabbing a blanket and walking toward her, but she put a hand up.
�Stop! Don�t act concerned about me.� Jade said.
�I�m not acting! It�s been storming since last night and you are probably going to catch pneumonia��
�It wasn�t storming, only raining. I saw Georgie and Dillon at the hospital, and I walked around town for a little while. I spent some time at the office and decided to bring you this.� She opened her wet briefcase and handed her a file. �I never filed these with the court��
�What?� Zander looked at her.
�I didn�t think you two would get divorced. I know how much you two love each other, and I knew the baby was yours..�
�Jade, I never meant to hurt you..�
�You never do.� She looked around. �Where�s Alyssa?�
�Lucky has her. We talked last night, when I was looking for you. Things aren't completely cool, but at least it�s a start.�
�Well, it�s a good thing she�s not here because I have something to tell you.� Jade sat down by the fireplace and took a deep breath. �Alyssa and I are moving to Florida. JW left me the house and I think that we need to get away from here for a while.�
�You can�t take my daughter��
�Gia�s moving with me. She�s transferring schools, and we�ll probably fly up every weekend. I have enough money to take off a year or so. Betty has already been let go, Alexis found someone to take over for me��
�You�re serious? You are going to take Alyssa and leave?� He asked, shocked.
�I have to, Zander, I can�t stay here, knowing that I had you for a short time, but I wasn�t good enough�.�
�Don�t say that!� Zander said. �Don�t think that!�
�It�s true, because if I were good enough for you to love, then a year ago, you wouldn�t have gone back to her. If I were good enough to love, you would have been here when I was pregnant. If I were good enough for you, you wouldn�t be leaving, but you are. It�s Em that you love, the one that�s good enough for you. I hope that you two have a long happy life together and that you are blessed with many children��
�Jade, we�ll see each other again��
�Not like before, Zander. I�ll find someone to meet you with Alyssa for visits. We�ll discuss matters concerning her..�
�You can�t cut me out like this! We�re friends��
�No, we stopped being friends the night we became lovers, almost two years ago. We�re more than friends, and unless one of us lets go, we�ll never be able to co-exist.� She took a deep breath. �You should get your things and go��
�I got them out earlier.� Zander made a move toward her, but she pushed him away.
�Leave. I�ll call you from Florida to set up visitation.�
�You�re serious about this.� His voice was shaky. He�d hurt her deeper this time, Zander realized, and it would take more time for her to heal. �Jade��
�Get out!� she screamed. �I don�t want you here.�
�Wait!�
�Leave! Zander, go!�
�Why are you so anxious to get rid of me?� He asked. �If we aren�t going to see each other again..�
�If you don�t leave me right now, I won�t let you go. I have to, Zander, for me, for you, and most important, Alyssa. I can�t ever let her see the effect that you have on me. I don�t want her to ever know that I was a fool. I�ll tell her how much I love you, because I always will, but I�ll never tell her the pain, frustration, the misery that loving you caused me��
Zander grabbed his jacket and then her arm. �At least let me tell you good-bye��
�Leave!� she said, trying to control her voice.
�Jade��
�Leave!� Jade tried to pull away from him. �Go!�
He kissed her then, a move that surprised them both, and when he pulled away from her, he knew that she was right. He had to leave.
�I do love you, Jade, I just wish I could make you understand that.� Zander said, kissing her forehead. �I�ll miss you.�
Jade saw something that didn�t surprise her at all; Emily was sitting in her car, waiting for Zander. He turned one last time, to see Jade standing on the porch, the rain falling down around them, and then slowly turned and walked away. Once in the car, he leaned over and said something to Emily, who nodded and looked at Jade. Jade couldn�t take her eyes off of them, and a tiny part of her hoped that Zander was telling Emily he couldn�t leave, that their marriage was over, but it was Emily�s door that opened.
Approaching Jade, Emily looked somewhat frightened. Jade had no idea what to expect, and thought that Emily was going to say something about being friends with her while sleeping with her husband, so she prepared herself for the shouts, and was shocked by the hug.
�I�m so sorry we did this to you, Jade.� Emily said, turned around and ran back to the car. Jade stood, shocked, and then heartbroken once the car pulled out of the driveway and then disappeared.
Slowly, she walked into the house and closed the door. Looking around, remembering the night before, she fell to the ground and tried not to think of Zander, but of the future she and Alyssa would have in Florida.
�Do you think she was serious?� Emily asked, ready to move to Florida also. Alyssa was Zander�s daughter and if he wanted to go, then she would move anywhere with him.
�I think so. I think it�s a good idea.� Zander said, staring out the window.
�What about Alyssa?� Emily asked.
�We�ll see her every weekend.� Zander said and then touched her stomach. �But let�s concentrate on us,� he said with a grin. �On us, and our son.�
Emily laughed and let him take her into his arms. This was what she wanted, and although she knew Jade was hurting, she was glad that Zander had stayed in the car when she asked him to. She was sure, had he gotten out of the car to say one last goodbye to Jade, that he would never have come back to her.
The End
Sequel Coming Soon