Chapter 7

Elaine waited for what felt like hours and hours for Alex to show up. It was driving her crazy wondering where he was. She couldn't help but wonder if he was hurt or in trouble or something. Finally she had had enough and walked over to Louie's cage and asked, "Louie, have you heard anything from Alex? I'm really starting to get worried."

Louie looked up from the paperwork he was looking through, "Oh yeah, he called about an hour ago saying that he couldn't come in today."

Elaine was furious and glared at Louie, "You mean you're telling me that he called an hour ago and you didn't tell me?!"

"Sorry, sorry. You were over there talking and crying over baby pictures. I didn't want to disturb you."

"You could have told me after Simka left! Come on! You know that I have something bothering me. You know that I want to talk to Alex! Did he say where he was?" she asked anxiously.

He shrugged, "No, he just said he wasn't up for driving today."

"Okay," she groaned, "he must be at home." She quickly grabbed her coat and purse, left the garage and headed for Alex's apartment.

When she arrived at Alex's she took a moment before knocking on the door. This was the last of her friends she had to talk too. And out of all of them, she respected Alex's opinion the most. She always had. Once she talked to him that was it. The decision would be up to her- well other than Jennifer and Jason. She fought back the tears that came from the thought and knocked on the door. "Who is it?" Alex shouted from inside.

"Alex, it's me. I really need to talk to you." She stated. Alex paused for a moment and thought, Elaine's here? I thought she'd be with Arnie. Unless… maybe he didn't propose. Did they break up? He couldn't help but feel somewhat relived. The reason he hadn't gone into work was because he was upset about Arnie and Elaine getting engaged. He knew why he was feeling relived but at the same time he didn't. He knew why he was because he had pretty strong feelings for Elaine. He didn't know why because he never acted on those feelings. In fact, he had done the opposite at times. He figured that there would always be a chance for them, even if they were with other people. Because, well let's face it. The both of them were pretty bad at staying in a long term relationships- which was one of the reasons he feared acting on his feelings. But marriage was different. Marriage was permanent or most likely permanent- forever. When Elaine told him last night that she thought Arnie was going to propose it officially hit him; he had missed his opportunity to be with Elaine and that they would never be together. He realized that he had yet to let Elaine in and then swiftly opened the door, "Oh hey, come on in." Elaine obeyed and timidly walked in. Alex could sense that something was really bothering her. "Is everything alright?" he asked as he sat down on the couch, motioning to her to join him. Elaine slowly sat down next to him while taking a deep breath. She began, "Remember last night when I told you that I thought Arnie was going to propose to me?" Alex nodded, trying to hide his dismay. Elaine carried on, "Well… he didn't exactly ask me to marry him… he asked me to do something else though."

Alex looked at her with confusion, "What did he ask you? Did he ask you to move in?"

Elaine shrugged, "In a way I guess… he asked me to move to Chicago with him." She said wearily, she was tired of having to say it because it just made it seem even more real... which it was.

"Chicago?!" Alex reacted, "Why is he moving to Chicago?"

"He received a job offer as Vice President at the bank in Chicago. You see, the bank he works at now is branching out, and one of the locations is Chicago. It's a wonderful opportunity for him."

Alex was silent for a moment before speaking, "So… I suppose he took it?"

She nodded slightly, "Yeah."

"Did he at least talk to you about it first?" he added.

"No… he shouldn't have needed too anyway, despite my initial reaction. It's not like we're married or even living together." She sighed.

Alex nodded even though he didn't fully agree. But he didn't want to bring that up. Instead he asked, "Do you know what you're going to do yet?

Elaine gloomily shook her head, "No. That's the problem; I'm completely conflicted by everything. I've asked everyone today what I should do, but their answers haven't been the most helpful…"

"Well what do Jason and Jennifer think?"

"I haven't asked them…" she admitted.

Alex was a bit surprised, "You haven't asked them yet? I'd think they would be the first you'd ask seeing as it involved them too."

"I know…" she sighed, "but I didn't want to ask them over the phone. They're at their father's house this weekend."

"Oh, I see."

"So, I need to know…" she paused and took yet another deep breath, "what do you think I should do?"

Alex was quiet. He honestly didn't know what to say. He definitely didn't want her to leave, but it wasn't about him and what he wanted. He had to think of what was best for Elaine- even if it meant that she'd leave New York and move to Chicago… with Arnie. "Elaine, I… I don't think I can answer."

"Come on, Alex. Please… It's not like I'm telling you to tell me what to do. I just want your honest opinion."

"Do you love Arnie?" it pained him to even think those words, now he was saying them. Even worse, he knew the answer and he'd have to hear it anyway.

"I really do."

Alex closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he didn't know if he'd be able to breath after saying what he was about to say. "Then it's not worth giving him up. You should go with him to Chicago."

It was taking Elaine everything she had to fight the urge to cry. "You really think so?"

Alex nodded, that was all he could manage.

"There's one thing that really worries me about going."

"What's that?" he asked weakly.

"When he asked me, I brought up the possibility of marriage."

"What did he say?"

She turned away, "He got such a strange look in his eyes… one I've never seen before." She was staring into space. Almost as if she was replaying the scene from the night before in her mind. She then turned back and looked at Alex, "Alex, I don't want to make the move if there's a chance I won't be marrying him. If I move I will be giving up almost everything. My job, my friends… I'll be starting over in a whole new place. It'd be different if I were going for me. Like, if I were the one who got the job offer. Alex… I'm scared."

Alex looked at Elaine sympathetically and took her hands, "I know it's scary. I know that there's a lot on the line. But I know you, and I know that you run on love. And you really appear to love Arnie. So isn't it worth the risk for him?"

Elaine just looked at Alex, unable to speak. After a minute or two Alex asked, "Are you alright?" Elaine shook her head as if she had been awoken from a very deep thought. "Um… I guess- I guess so." She stood up, "Thanks Alex… This has been very helpful." She began to head for the door.

Alex stood up as well and followed her. "Have you made up your mind?" she was terrified to hear the answer.

"I think so."

Trying to hide his frustration he asked, "What is it?"

Elaine bit her lip nervously, "When Jennifer and Jason come home tomorrow I'm going to ask what they think. Whatever they decide will be what we'll do."

"Sounds like a good plan." He smiled. She half smiled back and gave him a quick hug, "Thank you so much, Alex."

"You're welcome…"

Elaine went on her way. Alex shut the door behind her and sat back down on the couch. He was desperately trying not to cry himself, but he couldn't help it. He had a pretty good idea what the kids would decide. They adored Arnie and wouldn't give him up for the world. He knew that his days with Elaine were limited and it broke his heart.