"Thank you for coming Jenny" Catherine said as she sat down across the table from their dinner guest. Jenny smiled politely at Catherine and let her eyes roam over the table. "I'm happy that you agreed to come. I wanted the two of you to meet…officially" Heather said with an acute level of anxiety and apprehension. Jenny took a big gulp of her wine and placed the glass back on the table. "Let's just cut to the chase. How long is this going to last before you walk out and break her heart?" Jenny asked with an edge to her voice. "J!" Heather gaped but Catherine touched her hand, "It's okay Heather. Nothing is definite and the only thing that is certain is death. I don't plan on walking out or hurting Heather at any time in the future. I love her a lot more than I ever expected to. I have a horrible track record with relationships. I'm snarky at times, bitchy, and cold when I want to be. When I first met Heather, I was simply amused by how uncomfortable she made Gil. As the case continued, I started to see her in a different light. Sure, she was this powerful force that could make just about anybody fall to their knees…but she was so much more. There was so much life in her eyes and smile when she talked about Zoe. After I wrapped my case up, Heather surprised me by asking me to have tea with her. I did and it was then that I saw Heather in a different light. I couldn't handle the unsuspecting attraction that I had to her. I never thought that I would be sexually attracted to a woman…but I was. I have a checkered past. I'm the former stripper daughter of a casino boss and a showgirl. I married young to an abusive coke addict and developed a habit myself. By the time that I met Heather, it had been 8 years since a busted my ass to create a healthier and safer life for me and my daughter. I wanted to have Heather as a friend and not a lover because I'd only screw it up in the long run. I tried to distance myself from her as much as I could. I was developing feelings for Heather while already being in love with one of my best friends. She was immensely close to Gil, so I pulled away. Warrick and I had a son. He was so perfect with his bright green eyes and freckles. He looked just like Warrick. Lindsey used to tell me that all I did was carry him. The night he died Heather called me. I'll never blame her for his death because an unstable woman wanted to kill me—not him. I never knew that the two of you had grown apart as we grew closer. If I had, I would've forced her to talk to you because you are as much a part of Heather as Zoe was. You knew her way before I did and share memories with her that I couldn't have if I tired. My rock through most of my ups and downs has been Nick. Gil and Warrick knew things but Nick was the only person that I told everything to. Everyone needs that one person and I hope that my relationship with Heather doesn't take that from the two of you. She loves our children more than I thought someone could. It's as if she's been here from the very beginning rather than just now. This pregnancy threw me off completely. I've been and still am so scared that I will lose this baby. I'm too old and far too stressed out by Chris to think that this pregnancy will be smooth sailing. I took in two little girls because their mother was an employee of mine and killed by their father. They had no one and I didn't even think before I agreed to raise them. I am afraid that I will fail my children as a mother. I am terrified that I will fail Heather in our relationship. I deserve a lot of things and Heather's love is not high on that list. I can't hurt her because she is the last person that I can give all my love to. I am running on the fumes of heartbreak and heartache. I can't walk out on her because I don't think that I can live without her." Catherine hadn't realized that she talked for so long or that she was crying until Heather reached out and wiped her tears away. Catherine looked down and avoided everyone's eyes.
Jenny grabbed her napkin and wiped away the tears that escaped her eyes as Catherine spoke. Heather kept rubbing soothing circles on Catherine's back as she used the other hand to wipe her own tears away. She looked over at Jenny and cleared her throat before speaking, "Jenny, I am so sorry for shutting you out. I never meant to hurt you, but I was so lost without her. You were there for my overwhelming morning sickness. You were there for the first kicks and all my ultrasounds. I dislocated one of your fingers when I was in labor. You cried the first time you held your goddaughter. You were there when I finally left Jerome. You were there for so much…yet I wanted to be so isolated. It was selfish of me to push you away and I'm sorry for that. I didn't know what to do and for that I am so terribly sorry. I never took the time to understand how bad I hurt you. I'm also sorry J…about what I said to you at the boutique. It was cruel and insensitive." Heather reached a shaky hand to touch Jenny's hand. She was surprised to feel Jenny squeeze her hand back.
Catherine was still trying to compose herself and stop her silent tears. "It was true" Jenny whispered out as she raised her watery green eyes to Heather's. "I am in love with Jethro. I love him with every fiber of my being but I'm no good to him. I walked out on him once and he never really got over it. I guess I didn't either, but I'm better at hiding it. I can't have children. You know that but he doesn't. He wants to be a dad again so badly and I can't give that to him. It's easier to just be his boss and not cross that line again. He deserves someone that can give him everything he desires in life. That woman is not me. I was truly hurt when you stopped talking to me. I lost her too. I missed her laugh and her jokes too. I missed the secret conversations we had before I always convinced her to talk to you. I miss seeing the little girl that I was convinced would become a ballerina. I will always miss her and a big piece of me died when she did." Jenny let go off Heather's hand, "I missed my best friend too. You've always been the sister that I never had H. I missed the unwanted vocabulary lessons you gave, the tea times that made me feel like an old woman sometimes, and even the speed dating that you always set me up on that were disasters. I just missed you. When you told me about Catherine, I was pissed because I felt like you only told me because you had to. You knew at some point our paths would cross. It hurt that you cut me out of your life and let her in." Heather had fresh tears rolling down her face as Jenny continued talking, "I came here with every intention of hating Catherine. I can tell when someone is spouting bullshit and for a small moment, I hoped that she would. What I see here is a woman that is giving her all to you. She's giving you the good, bad, and the ugly and expecting the same from you. She loves you far more than Jerome ever did and for that…I don't have a problem with your relationship. Now can I have my friend back?" Jenny asked in a tear-filled whisper.
Catherine finally looked up with a brilliant smile on her face as Heather and Jenny hugged each other. They stayed that way for a while before pulling apart, "Do you want to meet our daughters?" Catherine asked as she stood up. Jenny rubbed her belly softly and smiled, "I'd love to."
