Avery and Tierney looked at each other, clearly puzzled, "You two know each other?" Tierney finally asked
After a moment Jonathan spoke, "Yes, we do." He replied not taking his off Jennifer, "We, uh, we were married."
"What?!" Both girl exclaimed in unison, "When?!"
They turned to look at the girls, "It was a long time ago." Jennifer said softly
"Wait a minute, you were married before Daddy?" Avery asked, "Did he know?"
"Yes Avery, he knew."
"And Mom?" Tierney added
"Your mother knows, too." Jonathan confirmed
Avery turned to Tierney, "This isn't going according to plan."
She just shot her a look, "Why didn't either of you tell us?"
Jennifer and Jonathan eyes locked again, "It didn't seem to matter. We'd both moved on." Jonathan explained
"I don't believe this." Tierney muttered
"Dinner's ready." Marie brought in the salad plates
"Maybe this isn't a good idea after all." Avery said
"Well, Marie went to all this trouble. Why don't we just sit down and try to enjoy it." Jonathan said, "What do you say?" He asked Jennifer with that familiar smile
She smiled back, "Okay."
Avery whispered to Tierney as they headed to the dining room, "Awkward."
Tierney just rolled her eyes.
Jonathan sat at the head of the table, the girls on either side and Jennifer took the other end, "Well, how are you seems a silly pleasantry, doesn't it?"
She smiled and suddenly he was transported back in time twenty five years, "So, I heard Max finally retired." She said not knowing what on earth to say
"Huh? Oh yes, he did. He's up in Palm Springs with Doug and his family. Eight Five years young." Jonathan replied, "But how did you?
Marie came in and poured wine for them and iced tea for the girls, Jennifer took a sip nervously, "Max and I wrote to each other every now and then and last year the return address on his Christmas card was Palm Springs. He said he was enjoying it but he missed you."
"Well, we stay in touch. Marie is actually a friend of his and she's a gem."
"But it's not quite the same is it?" She observed
Jonathan took a sip of wine, "No, it's not."
The girls sat there, mouths agape, "Hello, remember us, do you all mind telling us exactly what is going on? What happened?"
"Not now, Tierney." Jonathan said
"We have a right to know." Avery insisted
"No, actually you don't." Jennifer corrected, "Our past is our business."
"But..."
"Why don't we just eat and get this over with." Jonathan suggested
/
After an awkward dinner the girls excused themselves to Tierney's room having no interest in studying at this point.
"Can you believe that?" Tierney asked
"I don't know what to think." Avery replied plopping down on the bed beside her, "But isn't it kind of romantic? I mean we brought them together again after all these years."
"Romantic? I want details." Tierney insisted, "It's like my dad had this whole secret life. They didn't just date, they were married."
"I know but wouldn't it be so cool if they fell in love again? What if they married again? We'd be like sisters!"
"You don't care that they never told us?" Tierney asked incredulous
"Yeah, but come on, you have to admit them meeting like this so many years later is pretty unbelievable. That they both have daughters at Columbia, who are in the same class."
"You really are a hopeless romantic."
"It was your idea to set them up in the first place. Now you think it's a bad idea?"
"I don't know but I would love to know what's going on out there." She said, "I mean they were cordial enough at dinner but now that we're out of the way who knows what they're saying."
"Well, I don't hear anything breaking or yelling so it can't be that bad."
/
Back in the living room the situation was still just as awkward. They sat on opposite sofas, neither knowing where to begin now that it was just the two of them.
"This is a lovely apartment. How long have you had it?"
"Not long, I bought it after Tierney decided to go to Columbia. I wanted to be here more and I didn't want to stay in hotels."
"She's lovely...your daughter I mean." She replied
"My greatest business deal to date." He said with a wink, "And yours, God Jennifer, she looks so much like you."
"My greatest work to date as well."
"Tierney said your husband passed away last year, I'm sorry." He said
"Thank you." She replied, "It was very sudden. A shock."
"Is Avery your only child?" He asked
"Yes, I was thirty eight when she was born and at forty I found I was pregnant again but I had a miscarriage."
"Oh, I'm sorry." He said
"Well, things happen for a reason." She replied, "Avery tells me you've been divorced for several years and your ex-wife is an architect."
He nodded, "We met through a number of charities we supported. She's a good person." He paused looking intently into her eyes, "Just not the right person. It turned out."
Jennifer exhaled sharply and stood up, "I should go. Avery has her car so she can drive back in the morning." The girls had later decided to stay the night there.
He stood up quickly, "Please stay. The night is clear and crisp. Why don't we go for a walk?"
"I don't think so." She said softly
"Jennifer, maybe this happened for a reason." He replied, "Besides, it's just a walk."
She sighed heavily, that Hart charm hadn't changed, "Alright."
"I'll just let the girls know." He walked over and called down the hallway, "Girls, we're going for a walk."
All at once you heard the door open and the girls appeared in the doorway out of breath, "Wait, wait, please tell us what happened." Tierney asked again
"No, now go back and study." He pointed down the hall
"Alright." They muttered and turned away
"Those two aren't going to let up." He said fighting the urge to laugh
She shook her head with a smile, "I know. But you can't blame them after they had this bomb dropped on them."
"We can tell them in due time. But not right now." He said, "Shall we go?"
She nodded and they walked to the foyer and he helped her on with her coat. The elevator ride was filled with an awkward silence and it wasn't until they got outside did they speak again.
"It's a beautiful night. I love how the city lights up." She remarked
"I remember." He said softly
She looked at him and smiled, "I guess a part of me will always be an East Coast girl."
"You know, I never asked, what about your father?"
"Oh, he's still in Maryland. Also eighty five years young."
"Sounds like Stephen."
She sighed and suddenly stopped, turning to him, "Jonathan, what are we doing?"
"Taking a walk?"
"No, I mean all this small talk and pleasantries. Like we're just two old friends."
"Would you rather we rehash the arguments we had twenty some odd years ago?"
"No, but I have to know. I need to know. When did you stop hating me?"
"I never hated you." He looked at her intently, "I was hurt and angry."
"I never..." She began
"I know. That was a long time ago."
She nodded as tears formed in her eyes.
"So do you think, what I mean is, do you think us meeting again like this could be more than coincidence?"
"Jonathan, what we had was over long ago." She replied knowing the real meaning of his words
He moved closer to her, his lips just inches form hers, "Was it?" He leaned in and kissed her