It was a bitter pill for Peter to swallow, watching Ken dote on her as if she was made of glass when they came over to share the news of their impending arrival. He tried to do the same for his own wife and came up woefully short because his heart wasn't in it. It irked him how easily Jessica slid into the dutiful and loving wife role; it made him wonder if she had been lying to him all along too.

Three weeks later, the DiLaurentis' hosted a block party and cookout to announce they were moving back to Georgia. Peter felt sick as he watched her gracefully accept good wishes and congratulations, her eyes only straying to his when Veronica dragged him over to the couple to hug them both and wish them well. He wanted to ask her why she was avoiding him, why they couldn't bury the hatchet and part as friends, but he refrained.

Then it occurred to him one afternoon after her assistant informed him for the umpteenth time she was out of the office for the rest of the day, this time for a doctor's appointment, it was just as painful for her to see him.

He stopped trying to pin her down or force any kind of situation where their paths might cross. In those last days, he left her alone, instead focusing on school and closing on his remaining properties. The day before she was set to leave, Jessica's assistant appeared at his office door, asking if she could come in.

Smiling, Peter responded, "Sure, Donna, come in. How's life treating you?"

"I can't complain." She smiles and lowered her eyes to the plain white envelope in her hands, growing serious.

"It's okay, Donna. I never was the greatest salesman anyway."

"I'm sorry, Peter. But with Mrs. D so far away, she wants to scale back a bit so the office will be a little bit more manageable."

"She's keeping it open?" This information surprised him.

"Yeah, I'll run the day-to-day operations, but she'll still be the boss. She wants to talk every day or so and will fly me down if something big comes up."

"Congrats, Donna," he said sincerely, "You deserve this. You do great work."

"Thanks, Peter." She fidgeted for a moment and stood, holding out the envelope. "If you ever need anything, let me know."

It hit him like a blow to the head. She knew, or strongly suspected at the very least. He smiled too brightly, accepting it. "Thank you, that's really great of you."

She left quietly, closing the door behind her. He had a sick feeling he wouldn't like what the contents held. He sat down hard, opening the envelope, pulling out a handwritten letter. Unfolding it, he began to read.

Dearest Peter,

You have irreparably broken something in me, but it isn't only your fault. I knew better; married men rarely leave their wives, they offer empty promises to keep a girl coming back for more until she wises up and accepts the truth for what it is.

I am carrying your child, but this is only a technicality. It is my hope that things have worked out for the best. I have you to thank for giving me the gift in my womb. Ken will be his father in every way that matters, he has become the husband I always knew he could be and I thank you for that too.

I want you to know I will always love you. Our better angels demanded we let go for the sake of the commitments we made before we ever met. I can't lie and tell you I'm happy because we both know Ken will never be everything I need. Instead, I will think of you and mourn what that could have been. I will hate you for showing me Heaven and leaving me in Hell. I will carry you in my heart for the rest of my life.

Always,

J

*the end*