This is an extension of my story Observations.

Enjoy!

This is dedicated to my lovelies, Kate, Maggie, Allison, Melinda, Amie, Ashley, and Melissa! Don't ever say I don't do anything for you! Lol!

~~~~~~~ERSL21~~~~~~~~

The day is breezy and warm. Perfect for a California Friday. She got the call yesterday and decided that it was better to tell Andy afterwards. She didn't know what to expect. She hadn't seen him in six months. Last she heard from her daughter was that he had just completed a 3 month rehab stay. Emily had also told her that he had planned to move to San Francisco at the end of the year to start over. Sharon listened to her daughter, intently, but she wasn't sure she could fully believe everything Jack said was true. She had been lied to so many times by him, she expected it be another ploy to get the kids on his side again. Her daughter was excited about her father's turnaround and what kind of mother would she be to rain her parade. Her son on the other hand knew better than to believe Jack, instantly. He understands that everything sugarcoated isn't sweet. Emily deep down inside is still a Daddy's girl and wants badly for her dad to be the kind of man and dad he should be. But who could blame her, Sharon mostly shielded them from his misgivings, but as they got older they saw some for themselves.

So, when she got the call to meet him for coffee at a shop down the block from PAB she hesitated, but her interest was piqued. She wanted to see was everything true, or was he just spinning another web of deceit to trap his all too forgiving children.

As she walks in she spots him, as he stands up and walks toward her. He looks better, but looks can be deceiving. He has lost a considerable amount of weight. He has grown out a beard and looks rather refreshing on him.

"Hello, Sharon." He greets her. She offers him a light smile and says, "Hi, Jack." He pulls the chair out for her, and she takes a seat.

"You like nice." He says as he motions for the barista to come. "Thank you, so do you." She says as she gets comfortable.

"How have you been?" He inquires as the barista walks up. He orders an espresso and orders her a mint raspberry tea.

"I've never been better." She replies dryly. At this point she is on high alert. She feels the wheels in her head spinning because she wants to know what angle he is pulling at.

"That's good to hear." He replies.

"So, Jack what did you want to meet with me about? I have a lot of paperwork I need to finish so I get home tonight." Sharon says swiftly deciding she doesn't want to play ring around the rosy today.

"Well," He starts but stops when the barista returns with their orders. He waits for her to walk away before he starts again, "I just wanted to apologize to you in person for all of the horrible things I did to you and the children. I also wanted you to know that I completed my 3 month inpatient rehab successfully. I am 127 days sober. I no longer work for the Law Firm of Reese and Jones. I just really want you to know how sorry I am for the way I treated you and how unfair and ungrateful I was to you in our marriage. I am sorry that you had to endure my drunken stupors, my thieving ways, my manipulation and worst of all my cheating. I honestly, never meant to hurt you or the children. I was selfish and only thinking of what I wanted. Sharon, I want you to know that I truly did love you with all of my being, but I just didn't know how to do that correctly. I wasn't the man I thought I was when I married you. I changed for the worse. Part of that was because I was insecure and the other part was because I resented you. I wanted to be just as confident as you. You worked a full time job, put me through law school, raised our kids and never let any of that tear you down. But I couldn't handle the stress of it all, so I let the bottle become my trusted confidant. For that I am truly sorry, you were supposed to be that for me, but I wouldn't open up to you. I would only be rude towards you, when all you wanted to do was be my wife, but most of all my friend. Listen, Sharon I am not asking you to forgive me, I just wanted you to know that I sincerely understand and regret everything I ever did to you and our children." He has tears in his eyes from his confession and he can see her jade eyes misting over.

"Umm, I don't know what to say, Jack." She says before taking a sip of her tea.

"You don't have to say anything." He says reaching across the table to grab her hand.

She moves her hand quickly, and says, "See, I want to believe you, but I feel like you are trying to be your old charming self and I do not have time for that."

"I apologize." He stammers out and retreats his hand from the table. "Sharon, I can promise you I'm not trying to charm you or run game on you. I meant every word of what I said. I know that we are over and I hope that we can at least remain friends."

She looks at him and searches his eyes, she can see that the truth that lies within them. She had seen that look before years ago. It was almost unrecognizable, but she vaguely remembered the intensity of it and what it meant all those years ago.

"Well thank you. I appreciate your apology and hope that you continue successfully on your road to sobriety. I know that it will be hard, but you can do it. You have Emily and Ricky, standing behind 100%." She says before taking another sip of tea.

"Hopefully, you too." He says quietly.

"Jack, I'm sorry, I can't. I can be a distant supporter but I can't be there every step of the way." She says.

"Oh, I know that. And judging by the rock on your finger you have a wedding to plan for." He expresses as she looks down at her ringer and starts fidgeting with it.

"Yes, I do." She says turning her attention back to him.

"Well I'm happy for you and Andy. You deserve someone who will cherish you like the gem that you are. I hate that I had to lose out on my own treasure. But it was my fault and I accept that. You deserve all the happiness that he gives you. I've never seen you glow like this before. It is very becoming of you." He expresses as she stares at him in shock.

"Thank you very much." Is all that she can say. He smiles and nods before taking a sip of his now lukewarm espresso.

"For what it is worth, Jack, I don't hate you. I'm no longer in love with you and I haven't been in a long time. But I still have love for you because you gave me two biggest treasures of my life. I will always cherish the good times we had together. I will also remember the bad times. But all in all, Jack you taught me a lot, some good, some bad, but they were lessons I needed to learn. So, thank you for that. I really do appreciate that." Sharon says smiling at him.

"You are welcome, Sharon. I will also regret the moment I stopped being the man that you deserved." He confesses.

"Jack don't regret it, learn from it. Grow from it." She says.

"I do and I have. I appreciate everything you ever did for me." He says with one lone tear streaming down his face.

"That's good. Hopefully, one day you will find love again, and treat her the way that she deserves to be treated. Cherish her Jack, don't let her endure what I did. We women are only so strong and we are only willing to tolerate so much." She says before finishing up her tea.

"I hope so to. Believe me, I will do everything in my power to make sure, that I be the best man I can possibly be." He says.

"Well, thank you Jack. I have to get back to the office." She says as she stands up.

"You are welcome, Sharon." He stands up and walks over to her.

She gives him a parting hug and says, "Stay well and keep your head up."

"I will and congratulations on the engagement." He says as she releases him from the hug.

As they were saying their goodbyes, they didn't notice Andy had walked in and saw them hug. He stormed out of the shop and left his sponsor confused. They had went to grab a cup of coffee, because he wanted to talk. Andy didn't expect to see his soon to be wife, hugging her ex-husband. His sponsor didn't see what had disturbed him, but he knew it had to be something serious, the way Andy stormed away. Charles was glad he was there, because this situation could turn ugly quickly.

{TBC}

~~~~~~ERSL21~~~~~~~~~

So, tell me what did you think? What do you think will happen next? Will they make it to the altar? Will Andy flip out?

Leave me some nuggets.