Both she and Tom left their respective offices at a decent time. She was leaving in the morning for a quick overnight trip. It would be their first night apart since they met. She was afraid she may have to go away a few days the next week or the week after. Avery always enjoyed her jet-setting, but suddenly the appeal was fading fast. Tonight they planned to enjoy their time together. She had never fallen so quickly for anyone, ever. He was just so everything.

They were eating Thai delivery when she had a call from downstairs. She answered, "Good evening, Walt."

"Mr. Dixon is asking to come up."

Great, there goes our evening. "Send him up." She turned to Tom. "Sorry, but he will never go away if I don't see him. I don't know how he knows I'm home."

She introduced Sterling to Tom. She watched as Sterling assessed him. Tom had taken off his suit jacket and tie. His shirt sleeves were rolled up past his elbows. He stood and shook Sterling's hand. "Tom Goodwin. Should I leave?" He looked at Avery.

Avery answered, "No!"

Sterling looked as if he'd prefer privacy, but Avery didn't care. Sterling said, "I went to see an attorney about the..."

"Divorce. Ster, Tom knows. Jen lives here. Remember?"

"He thinks it will go quickly, but he told me there will be a public record and the press may get a hold of it." He looked worried.

"Sterling, you can't just pretend you two are still married."

"Fine, I know, but public. It'll ruin us!"

"No, it won't. You need to control your own narrative." Avery suggested. "You can put out a press release. You should hire a publicist to handle the damage control if you're so worried."

"A publicist, that's just what we need!"

"I work with them all the time. I can give you a few names of people I like."

"Have you heard from Jennifer?"

"No, I think she's been busy. She's probably dealing with the builder." Avery caught Tom's eye.

"All builders are the same. She's probably miserable dealing with that fat, old guy who thinks building a couple houses a year is enough." Sterling didn't see Tom smirking.

"I think you may have described him perfectly. Don't you need to get home?"

"Fine, I can see that you're too busy for your friends now." Sterling whined.

"Go cry on the shoulder waiting for you at home. You remember the one that got you into this mess. Goodbye Ster." She kissed him on the cheek. Sterling was exhausting and needy.

The minute the door shut behind Sterling, they both started laughing. Tom spoke between laughs. "Why didn't you set him straight?"

"He'd be jealous if he thought she was hanging out with a hunky builder. He agreed to the divorce, but he still thinks he controls her."

"I didn't like him and his weak handshake. A strong handshake shows character."

"That's okay. He didn't like you either. He'll really dislike you when he finds out you're from Maine. I couldn't care less because I like you." When Tom raised his eyebrows, she added, "A lot!"

The meeting with his attorney was horrific. He wanted Sterling to tell him why she had filed for divorce, but he refused. He would not tell a stranger their personal business. Did Jennifer tell Betsy Yates? He hoped not.

Then he said the divorce would be public record. Is anything private these days? He was desperate, so he went to see Avery because she knew how to calm him.

He forgot she had found a new man. He wasn't sure what he thought of him with his suit thrown across the back of the sofa. He was relaxed and too much at home. It was bad enough he was with Avery, but Jennifer was living there too. Still, Avery had said he was Columbia Law which meant he had potential.

Avery's publicist idea was perfect. He felt better already, so he called Jennifer on his way home in the cab. She agreed and insisted he include her. He couldn't cross her, because she could leave Dixon Designs and then he'd be leaving Manhattan.

She insisted he should tell his family, but his parents would make him feel miserable. His mother would cry and say something like I knew you should never have married her. She was never good enough for you. She might even say she'll never find anyone better than you.

Perhaps a trip home for some sympathy was what he needed. He would tell the truth; Jennifer left him and filed for divorce. Trevor would understand that he was going home. He'd book a flight for Memorial Day weekend.

Trevor was waiting for him when he arrived. "How was your appointment?"

"Humiliating."

"Did you tell the truth?"

"Of course."

"You're one step closer to becoming the man you are meant to be."

"I have to go home and tell my parents about the divorce."

"You'll be so much happier once you're honest with them."

Sterling had no intention of being honest with them.

"Did you eat? I'm starving."

Jen knew he wanted her as much as she did him. She was so close to kissing him, but thanks to the story that Tom told her, she knew he would retreat. She suspected he would retreat a little regardless, as she recognized his pattern. When they got too close, he backed off. She also knew he couldn't stay away for long.

Talking to Sterling with Alex there was surreal. He was not standing in the way of the divorce, because it petrified him she would leave Dixon Designs. Hiring a publicist was a perfect idea. The sooner everyone knew they weren't a couple, the sooner she could start living her own life.

Alex finally believing her divorce was real was worth having to talk to Sterling. With Alex there, she had no feelings for Sterling, because the feelings she had pulsing through her veins were for Alex and they were stronger than anything she ever felt in her life. She was jealous of Avery because she had her Goodwin brother and Jen may never get hers.

She didn't see Alex again that week and hadn't expected to. He no longer had a project on The Point which had to disappoint him. She continued to receive deliveries and work on her designs. On Friday evening, she went to Megan's for dinner. She enjoyed visiting her friends, and their life was exactly what she wanted. They were happy, and their children were happy.

Megan said, "We have a babysitter to celebrate that summer is almost here. We're going to The Beach House for drinks tomorrow around seven. Come join us."

"Isn't it a date?"

"No, this early in the season, the whole Point will be there."

"Okay. I love my folks, but they're getting boring."

She did some work for other clients on Saturday morning and walked on the beach. She sat at a table while customers buzzed in and out and sketched her father at work. She was lost in herself until almost five. Wanting to look respectable, Jen allowed for enough time to get ready. If Sterling knew what she had been wearing all week, he would have a fit.

Jen walked down to the beach and arrived after seven. She didn't want to wait alone for her friends and was glad that they were already there talking with a couple she didn't know. She learned that they lived in the house that Alex built with the Italian marble. Jen was halfway through a glass of wine when she saw him. He wore shorts and a nice shirt with shoes instead of work boots. He smiled as he made his way over to their table.

"Who else is coming?"

"Dan and Kristi were feeding their two. They'll drop them at our house to sleep. We get five kids in the morning." Megan rolled her eyes.

"I told you I'll take them all up for breakfast. You can sleep," Peter said lovingly.

Jen said, "We should have gone to the prom, then maybe we'd be married now."

Megan and Peter laughed, but Alex said, "What prom?"

Peter said, "Junior year, Megan, and I were just friends. She went with her boyfriend."

Jen continued, "Jake, a senior, and she wanted me and Peter to go together."

Megan said, "That's because I wanted my friends there."

"That was the closest I had to a date in high school."

Peter said, "You're lucky all the guys were jerks."

Jen and Megan said in unison, "Not you."

They shared stories and laughed. When Dan and Kristi arrived, they laughed harder. Jen liked the other couple and could see why they were friends. She sat across from Alex watching as he smiled all evening.

Glancing around she saw a face from their past. She whispered to Megan, "Isn't that?"

"Yes, ignore her, but pretend you're with Alex or he might become prey."

Megan made Peter switch seats with Jen. When she sat down next to him, he whispered in her ear. "What's going on?" she felt a tingle run through her body from his breath on her neck.

"Peter's old girlfriend is on the prowl. I'm just protecting you from her claws."

"So we're pretending."

She nodded and tried not to think of Alex, but it was hard. When she moved her thigh bumped into his. The night progressed, and they talked about the upcoming party. She struggled to stay focused, but it was nearly impossible. She felt as if her thigh was burning. She wondered what excuse she had to leave before the rest of them. She didn't have a babysitter at home.

She ordered water realizing that more wine would be a mistake. A few weeks ago, Alex would have been out with Julia, but now he was unattached. If only she were, then perhaps they could get each other out of their system and she could just go back to her life.

"Jen..."

She snapped back when she heard her name. "Sorry. What?"

Kristi asked, "Is your husband coming next weekend?"

She wondered how to answer. "No, we're not together anymore."

"I didn't know."

"It's alright very few people know, but it's not a secret either. In case you're wondering, it's not a mistake like some people we know." She looked at Megan.

Megan said, "How'd I get dragged into this?"

Kristi said, "I like her!"

She crossed her leg away from Alex and could concentrate better and join the conversation. The evening wore on and they left. Alex asked if she wanted a ride, and she assured him she could walk home. She walked most of the way with the two couples and a short distance on her own. When she reached The Landing parking lot, he was waiting.

"What are you doing?"

"I wanted to make sure you got home safe."

"You know I have walked these streets at night since I was ten. They're safe. Safer than where I live."

She wanted to say a lot of things to him, but knew she couldn't ─ things like what is it you really want? Do you realize how flustered you make me?

"I'm sorry you're right."

"I have a favor to ask you, but I understand if you don't want to."

"Tell me what you want," he said.

She wanted to say, I want to know what it feels like to be in your arms. Instead, she said, "I need an extra person to help hang pictures on the walls."

"When?"

"The end of the week."

"Okay."

"Alright, then. Goodnight."

She walked away knowing he would watch her until she was safely inside. She doubted she'd ever meet his mother, but suspected she was the reason he was well trained.