After what seemed like an eternity Edmund was able to stop crying. It wasn't like him to feel sorry for himself like this, but he had been through so much in the past nine months and he was tormented by how all of this had hurt the one person he loved more than anything-Brooke. He started the car and drove home, lost in thought. He knew he couldn't just leave Maria and the children. The kids needed him now more than ever to help them adjust to having their mother home. He wasn't the type to just give up on a marriage and he wasn't going to start now. But how was he going to stop loving Brooke?
Brooke never saw Edmund crying in the car because she had taken a shower immediately after Edmund left. She had also done her share of crying in the shower, her tears mixing with the water that ran down her face and her body. She wanted more than anything to be with Edmund, to rejoice in this pregnancy with him, but that was never going to happen. The pain she felt was immense, physical almost, and she wondered how she would continue to work with him while she felt this way. But she knew she was strong enough to do it. She had done it before when she was married to Tad and all those years since. And if she could survive Laura's death, she knew she could survive anything. And this baby would get her through it, would give her the hope and the joy for a fulfilling life without Edmund, because she would have a little part of him through her child.
Jason came by a few hours later. She was busy catching up on work when the doorbell rang. Jamie had come and gone after telling her about the game and how they'd won. He had gone to see Laurie. She was worried about him and what was happening with Laurie, but she didn't say anything to him, she didn't want to be overprotective.
She answered the door and Jason breezed in smiling and talking about the game she'd missed. He had a bag of groceries. His attitude cheered her and she found herself smiling in spite of herself. How did he always stay so upbeat? She had never seen him down or sad about anything.
"So are you feeling better?" he asked. "Are you up for some dinner? I thought we could eat here and I'll cook you a fantastic meal."
"That sounds great!" She said. I am feeling better and I'm famished. I didn't know you could cook."
"There's a lot you don't know about me," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "I have my little secrets too, you know." He laughed and so did she.
He cooked an incredible linguine and clam sauce dish that she couldn't get enough of. He watched her eat with a smile on his face and finally said, "It's good to see you enjoying the food."
"Jason, this is delicious. Really, you're an excellent cook. And what a treat to be served dinner in my own home."
After dinner they worked together to clean up the kitchen and then he followed her into the living room. They sat together on the couch and talked. She asked him about his family and he said he had two children and an ex-wife. His children were grown and had lives of their own, but he was close to them and saw them when he could get away.
He looked at her and said, "It's nice to be able to talk to you about my family. I feel so comfortable with you Brooke, I hope you feel the same about me."
She did feel comfortable with him and he made her feel warm and happy. "I do feel comfortable with you. I feel like I can talk to you about anything."
He put his arm around her and they sat together on the couch staring at the fire, each with their own thoughts.