CHAPTER 13

(GIDEON)

I open my eyes and look around, I am momentarily disorientated by my surroundings, and then I remember, I am at the beach house at the Outer Banks, it's Sunday and we will be leaving today to return to New York.

I glance around at the bedroom, Eva had loved the bedroom furniture so much the last time we were here I had specifically asked for it to be included when I bought the house and after Eva had suggested coming here this weekend I had got someone to come and clean the place and prepare for our arrival and put fresh linen on the bed which I had also asked to be left. The rest of the house is completely bare, but Eva and I are going to furnish it and decorate it as we want to, that pacifies me slightly after Eva refused to change anything about the Penthouse when I was prepared to totally refurbish it.

My gaze moves to the empty bed beside me, I frown wondering where Eva is, I had gone to sleep on the couch in the corner of the bedroom which I'd had brought in for this weekend but slid into bed beside my wife early on this morning. But now she isn't here and a slight feeling of panic fills me at her absence.

I think back to the conversation we had on Friday night, and the subject we studiously avoided all day yesterday, the fact that I'm going to be a father, which had completely knocked me for six at first. I wasn't expecting it although I suppose I should have realised that it was more than a possibility.

Before Eva I'd never had sex without a condom, I'd religiously protected myself against the risk of disease and an unwanted pregnancy, even when the women I screwed assured me they were on the pill. It was different with Eva we had only used a condom twice, and I had accepted her assurance that she was clean and protected without question.

I often question why I so easily allowed myself to be persuaded, it was reckless to the point of stupidity, considering who I am and yet I know without a doubt the answer as to why I did it, it wasn't as simple as my own pleasure it was something more... something deeper, more profound, and certainly more complicated. I had felt a connection to Eva from the very first moment I saw her and the very first moment I laid eyes on her I knew deep down somewhere inside me that I needed her, that I needed to be inside her without any barrier between us.

I realise now it was a primal thing as nothing turns me on more than to feel my semen inside her, when I push my dick inside her when we have been at each other for hours, that feeling knowing I had marked her somehow with my very essence, that I've left a part of me inside her, it is a mixture of conquest and surrender all rolled into one.

I've always known it was a risk relying on just her pill to protect us, considering the number of times a day I take her, significantly reduced the odds should a contraceptive malfunction occur, and now the consequences of that risk I regularly took have come to pass.

I think about it for a moment, I am going to be a father, another human being, one who I am responsible for creating, is going to be totally reliant on me for everything. That thought overwhelms me for a second and then I consider it further, materially my child will want for nothing, and I will make sure they will get the best of everything, but emotionally... I have no point of reference, my own father killed himself when I was young and before then I just have odd snippets of memory like when he taught me to ride my bike and that day on the beach building sandcastles, I don't want that for my child, I want them to know without any doubt that they are loved, I want them to feel secure, safe and happy.

Then a memory I had long since forgotten pops into my mind, a memory from not long after my mother had married Chris, he was with me holding my hand and we were walking through Central Park, he was talking to me, telling me he didn't want to take my father's place but that he would always be there for me and that I could always count on him. Then I see a memory of Angus appearing and protecting me against a group of boys who had cornered me as I was coming out of school.

A sense of crashing clarity settles on me, this baby is relying on me to protect him or her and not only them but their mother, how can I do that if I can't even spend the damn night with my wife without fear of hurting her, I was almost there, more or less after the events on Thursday, I was coming around to the idea of sharing more and telling Dr Petersen more and accepting I needed to do so, but I was still holding back, I was still unsure of actually taking that step, but now... this is the wake-up call I needed to solidify those initial thoughts of acceptance and erase the lingering doubt that I have, I am going to be a father and as such I need to do whatever it takes to get my shit together, I cannot risk my issues to be transferred on to my child, I am going to call Dr Petersen and tell him everything, and do whatever it takes to fix myself so I can be the father this child deserves and the husband my wife certainly deserves.

I had already promised to be more forthcoming with Eva, but this cements it in my mind and makes me determined to see this through and do whatever it takes. I feel goose bumps cover me and I shiver at my epiphany and I suddenly need my wife, desperately. I leap out of bed and look around the beach house but I can't find her and the fear and panic start to rise from deep within me.

"EVA!" I call as I move from room to room, and then I stop dead, as I look out of the window I see her, she is outside on the deck gazing out across the water. She turns as she hears me calling her and smiles as she sees me, the blanket she has wrapped around her falls to the ground.

In a moment I am beside her and pulling her to me.

"Angel," I say, relief filling me at finding her.

"I just came out for some air," she says and then she shivers suddenly.

I immediately reach for the blanket, wrapping it back around her and I pull her close.

"You're cold," I say as I fuss with the blanket, and I take a good look at her and see she looks very pale.

"Are you alright?" I ask, worry piercing me.

"I just feel a bit sick," she says with a rueful smile, "I originally got up to throw up and then I came out here so I didn't disturb you," she says.

I smile, "Morning sickness?" I say and she nods.

"Yes, I felt a bit sick yesterday morning and I realise I have done a few other times previously but dismissed it, but today it was the first time it's actually happened but I'm sure it won't be the last," she says.

"Oh Angel, I'm sorry, can I do anything to help?" I say and I pull her close, there is a cool sea breeze and I shiver a little as it brushes over me.

She shakes her head, "No, now I've been sick, the feeling of nausea is starting to fade, I'll be ok again soon I think" she says.

I am relieved at that but I don't say anything and just hold her close to me.

"Is everything ok?" she asks me pushing away slightly and looking closely at me and I smile, I can't hide anything from my Angel, she can see right through me, and always does.

"I had somewhat of an epiphany when I woke up," I say my hands running restlessly over the blanket shrouding my wife.

"Let's go inside," she says and leads me back inside we go to the bedroom as that is the only room furnished and we sit down on the bed.

"Ok, I'm listening" she urges.

"I am going to call Dr Petersen when we get back, I am going to do whatever it takes to fix me, I need to be the husband you deserve and I'm going to be a father god damn it, I need to be a good father and how can I do that if I can't even sleep in the same bed with my child's mother?" I stop and Eva reaches for me.

But I take a deep breath and then continue to speak, "I am going to tell him everything, I am going to do this, I am going to make you and my child proud of me, I think I was already pretty much ready to accept this after Thursday and now this news it makes me all the more determined to do whatever it takes" I say.

"Gideon I am so proud of you," Eva says her eyes shining as she looks up at me.

I swallow hard, I still find it difficult to accept the praise she heaps upon me.

"I have an idea which I think may also help," she says carefully.

"Oh?" I ask.

She nods, "I wasn't going to bring it up yet but it's something that I have been thinking about for a while now," she says.

I wait for her to continue.

"Anne Lucas," she says and I freeze, and she tries to reassure me as she sees my reaction, "Don't, just hear me out," she says and she reaches for me again.

I wait, and Eva squeezes my hand and then runs her other hand up and down my arm, she always does this to try and calm me down or to comfort me when she tells me something, which she thinks will upset me.

"The idea started forming in my mind a while ago, but after our therapy session Thursday night and after I saw Anne outside our apartment building, it solidified and took shape" she begins, "I didn't want to say anything at the time as I thought you'd been through enough and shared enough to be hit with anything else, I was going to put together a plan and present it to you at a later date and see what you thought" she adds.

I nod, I'm still silent and wait for her to elaborate.

"You see, I see it like this" she begins and she shuffles closer to me, "I believe that you feel a degree of guilt for the way you treated Anne, and I think that guilt you feel manifests itself in your parasomnia, It wasn't until I realised that Dr Petersen was treating each part of your night time... activities separately, that the idea came to me, you see I had lumped everything together because I wasn't totally aware of all the facts, but now I can see things a whole lot clearer," she pauses.

"Go on," I say wondering what is coming next, but my interest has certainly been peaked by what she has said so far.

"The idea which I have, will I hope, get Anne Lucas off our backs once and for all, get you some real revenge for what her husband did which I think you need for your acceptance and healing and hopefully it will get some closure for her as well, and I believe that if you get that closure with her... It will go some way to making your nightmares and your parasomnia recede".

I give her a slightly incredulous look as I can't see it myself but I am intrigued to hear more.

"The way I see it is as I've already said, you feel guilty for what you did with Anne, you said yourself that what you did with her was twisted, for you it was all down to revenge, and in some recess of your mind that eats away at you, because you know it wasn't the right thing to do, as she was the wrong target, she wasn't the one to blame for what her husband and brother did, and I think that is why you still play out your revenge on Hugh in your dreams, if you could get this closure with Anne which will also result in a suitable and acceptable revenge on Dr Lucas, I think that will go some way to helping with that night time hell you act out, not to mention the nightmares of Hugh attacking you".

"What do you have in mind Angel?" I ask, I even though I am sceptical I can't fault her logic and am interested to hear what she is planning.

"Confront her" she says simply, "tell her what her sick bastard brother did and what her husband did, apologise to her for your behaviour towards her but also make it clear that what you did was down to the actions of her brother and husband," I say.

I let out a little snort, "That sounds all very good Angel, but how do you expect her to believe me?" I say.

She smiles serenely, "Ah now that's where I come in, I believe that I could get a confession out of Lucas if I know what buttons to press," she says an evil smile on face.

"Explain," I say.

"I go and see him, much like I did last time, he was on the verge of telling me, it was written all over his face, all it would take is a few well-placed questions and I believe he would trip himself up somehow, I just know it, as he is desperate for me to believe you are some kind of monster so I could use that and all the while I would be recording our conversation, I got that idea from when you told me you had recorded your conversation with my dad, we will then have the proof, we go to Anne and let her hear it and we could also use it to out Lucas as the lying slimeball he is, and let the world know exactly what he is capable of, and make sure he doesn't practice as a paediatrician any more, and I think that would also go some way as proof for your mother and get you some kind of closure there as well, as I believe that hurts you more than you would ever let on," she stops and looks carefully at me.

"You appear to have thought about this a great deal," I say, I am actually quite impressed at the detail of the plan she has in mind.

"I think about you constantly and I want you healed so of course, I have," she says with a shrug.

"I would say yes, but…" I stop and glance at her stomach, realisation dawns on her face.

"Because I am pregnant you don't want me to do this," she says and then sighs, "Gideon, listen to me, I am doing this for us, nothing will happen, what if I take Chris with me, as I'm sure he is desperate to confront Lucas and it would also help him with the guilt he is feeling?" she offers.

I consider that and nod, "Alright, I'm happy with that scenario you will wear a receiver so Raul can hear everything, he will wait for you outside, and you will follow his lead if he thinks you should let it go and leave you will do so immediately" I say.

Eva beams at me and nods, "alright" she agrees.

I watch as Eva reaches for my phone which is on the nightstand and scrolling through my contacts she calls my stepfather, as I watch her she puts the call on speaker so I can also hear.

"Hello Gideon are you alright?" he asks when he answers, he is obviously surprised at the unexpected call.

"Hi Chris it's Eva actually, but Gideon is fine and so am I," she says brightly and I smile unconsciously at her.

"Oh ok, hello Eva, what can I do for you?" he says.

I listen to Eva quickly outline everything, leaving out the part about Anne and my nightmares, concentrating only on the part which involves getting a confession out of Lucas. Chris listens without saying a word until she is done and as she predicted he is definitely up for the idea of accompanying her to see Lucas.

"Count me in," he says darkly when Eva has finished speaking.

"Thank you," Eva says.

"Not at all and if this works, it might also help Gideon with his relationship with his mother?" Chris suggests.

"I had also considered that possibility," Eva says looking at me hopefully.

I watch Eva as she thanks Chris and then hangs up, she has a hopeful glint in her eyes, and I can tell she is totally up for this and can't wait for it to happen.

"Ok then, Chris is on board and I'm more than ready to do this – so bring it on!" She says.

oooOOOooo

The rest of the day is blissful, and I really don't want to return to New York, unlike the last time we were here we have internet connection and phones, and I make sure we spend some time browsing the internet for furniture for our new home.

Eva is excited about this and I watch as she quickly plans and decides what she wants and where she wants it, I offer some suggestions on particular pieces I like, but for the most part I leave the decisions to her and by the time we leave on Sunday we have a large delivery expected for our little beach home.

I make the necessary arrangements with Raul for someone to be here to accept the delivery when it arrives and to ensure everything is as Eva wants it to be. I have a feeling we will be spending a lot of time here.

"Can I bring my dad here as I think he'd love it?" Eva asks me as we are locking up to leave.

I smile, "You can bring anyone you want here, your father, your mother, Cary," I say.

She hugs me tightly "thank you," she says.

I live for those smiles and hugs and nothing gives me greater pleasure than knowing I have made her happy.

"Are you going to tell your parents about the baby?" I ask as we walk to the waiting car.

She shakes her head, "No not yet, it's too soon, most couples don't say anything till after about 12 weeks as the risk of miscarriage is so high in the early days," she says.

I nod, I'm ok with that, "Cary knows" I state.

"I know, but he won't say anything" she says confidently, and I know she is right, Cary may be a royal pain in the ass and I believe Eva's life would be far easier if he wasn't in it, but he is loyal to her and won't divulge anything she tells him in confidence.

As we leave I see Eva looking longingly at the beach house, and for a moment I want to turn the car around and go back.

"We will come back whenever you want to, we can come back next weekend if you like, and then you can see all the new furniture in place and you can see if you want to change anything?" I say.

I watch her think about that and she smiles brightly and nods enthusiastically "I'd like that" she says.

It's a quick flight back to New York but Eva falls asleep as soon as we take off, I am concerned about this extreme tiredness but from what I have learnt from the Google searches I have done on pregnancy symptoms it appears to be quite normal.

Eva opens her eyes just as I stand to fasten her seatbelt around her, as we are coming to New York to land.

"Sorry I nodded off" she mutters rubbing her eyes.

I smile at her, sitting back down again, "Put your seatbelt on Angel we are coming in to land" I say, she complies and soon we are back on the ground.

"Gideon," she says and I look towards her, "I had a lovely weekend," she says and smiles at me

"So did I Angel" I reply.

oooOOOooo

(EVA)

I sigh and glance at my watch my stomach is growling. It is nearly 1 pm and I am surprised, I have powered through my morning and feel very accomplished, not only at the amount of work I have completed but also the personal tasks I have also managed to get done, I have organised an appointment with a gynaecologist at Gideon's insistence, I have talked to Chris about the plan to see Lucas and I managed to quite quickly get over this mornings bout of sickness which now seems to be a regular factor in my day.

Thankfully, I have discovered that I feel sick and when I actually manage to be sick the feeling passes quite quickly and I am ok then for the rest of the day. I am still quite tired, exhausted would be a more appropriate term and I am now sadly having a complete aversion to coffee which for me is not a good thing.

I stand and stretch, ready to go and get some lunch.

"How are you feeling Angel?" I turn in surprise at the familiar voice.

"Gideon, what are you doing here?" I ask as my gaze falls on my husband leaning casually against the corner of my cubicle.

"I have come to take my wife for lunch," he says.

As he moves, he makes the cubicle wall shake a little. He looks at it with distain and I know he is probably thinking once again about me working with him at Cross Industries, as he seems to be making a point of bringing up with increasing regularity and I have to say it is becoming something I am actually starting to consider.

"Excellent plan," I say and after grabbing my purse from my drawer I walk towards him, he puts his arm around me, placing his hand at the small of my back and leads me out of the office.

Megumi watches us leave and once we are outside I shake my head.

"What is it?" Gideon asks noticing my reaction.

"It's not very nice there anymore, there is an atmosphere, after what Megumi did, Will doesn't speak to her now and Mark has made it clear he wasn't happy with what she did," I say.

"Leave then, and come and work with me," he says with a shrug as we wait for the elevator, and I smile inwardly, and there it is, another little comment, casual but done to focus my mind on to that train of thought.

I bump my shoulder against his, "I'm actually starting to consider that" I admit.

I feel him stiffen at my words and look up at him to see the hope shining in his eyes.

"Look, don't get your hopes up, but I have thought about it ok, but you know that I want to progress on my own and have a career which is about me and what I am capable of, not what my surname is and who I am married to, but I also have to face the fact that is probably not going to happen now at Waters, Field and Leaman" I stop.

"Why?" Gideon asks, he looks genuinely surprised at that comment.

"Well since it became common knowledge that I am married... to you, I have noticed that I have been treated differently, Christine Field had no idea who I was, she barely recognised me at the gala until I spoke but now she greets me as if I'm an old friend, and also I have to consider that what career I do manage to build will come to an abrupt halt soon anyway" I say with a shrug.

"Why?" Gideon asks again.

"Because I'm pregnant," I say with the tone of voice that screams Durr! I stare at him incredulously that he is being so obtuse about this.

"That should make no difference," he says calmly with a dismissive shrug, "It wouldn't if you worked with me" he adds.

"And that is why I can't," I say.

"Why?" he asks again. I stare at him, that one word he keeps repeating is starting to irritate me.

"Because of what you just said, I will be getting preferential treatment because I am your pregnant wife," I say and I step away from him and into the empty elevator as the doors open.

Gideon sighs and stepping in behind me he plugs his key into the elevator and presses a button suspending it. The doors close giving us total privacy and he turns to face me.

"Angel, you have this all wrong, you would get exactly the same consideration as every other female employee I have, I make sure everyone who works for me who chooses to start a family but who also wants to continue working for me gets looked after, they get a full, comprehensive and very competitive maternity package, and unlimited use of the company daycare facility once their child is born," he says.

"Really?" I ask.

"Yes, really," he says, slightly exasperated at my reluctance.

I had no idea he offered all that and it makes me stop and think seriously for a moment.

"I do want to concentrate on starting my own foundation, and I know that would be easier if I worked with you" I say thinking out loud.

"Then do it" he replies as if it is the simplest thing in the world, I pause and think about that, am I making this more complicated than it actually is?

I bite my lip as I think about everything, "Can I think about it, I mean really think about it?" I say.

Gideon smiles, "of course you can," he says he pauses and then continues, "On a separate issue but related, I'm actually thinking of asking Mark Garrity if he wants a job at Cross Industries," he says.

I freeze, "what?" I ask.

"Not to force your hand," he adds quickly, "I was going to discuss this with you anyway as I have waited longer than I normally would in these circumstances, but now seems a good a time as any to bring it up as we are talking about employment issues, it is something I have thought about since I first met him, as he handled that first meeting well, he is bright and he would progress much quicker at Cross Industries than he would where he is, I could offer him significantly more than he gets now and I was going to ask you how you felt about it if I was to ask him" he says.

"Mark's good, you'd get a solid employee," I say stiffly.

He nods, "I already know that and that is why I want him at Cross Industries, but I need to know how you would feel if he accepted?" he says.

I shrug, "I don't know, if I'm honest he is all that's keeping there at the moment, I love working with him and we work really well together, he has taught me a lot and we bounce off each other well," I say.

"Do you think he would ask to bring you with him?" he asks.

I shrug, "I have no idea."

"If he did, would you do it?" he asks.

I look up at him and realise I would "Yes I probably would as I would be coming to the company with Mark as his assistant and not because of you," I say.

Gideon nods and I immediately know for sure he will try and make it happen.

"Are you going to approach him?" I ask.

He nods, "yes I am" he replies but doesn't say anything else and I realise what he has just done he has manoeuvred me without me realising it, I feel resentful all of a sudden and move away from him.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"You have just manipulated me into agreeing to come to work for you," I say.

He stares at me in shock, "I have not" he splutters.

I nod and quickly go through everything pointing it out to him.

His face drops as he sees what I am saying and he shakes his head adamantly.

"Angel that was not my intention, yes I want you to come and work at Cross Industries, I have made no secret of that fact, but I would never be so underhanded as to do something like that, we were discussing it and I felt that was the right time to bring up my proposal in line with me being more open and honest with you, I have been thinking about it for a long while, you know I was impressed with him, I made that very clear right from the start, I admit have held off longer than I normally would in cases like this, and that is because of you and how his departure from Waters Field and Leaman would affect you and your position there" he pauses and lets me process that.

I take all that in and he suddenly sighs and reaches for me, "Yes I admit I approached Waters Field and Leaman as an excuse to make contact with you, but he was competent, far more so than I first imagined and he would be an excellent fit for my company, and that is what I do, when I see talented people who I believe will be a good fit for Cross Industries, I approach them and try and hire them away from where they currently work, with a more competitive package than they currently have, I have always done it and will continue to do so, because I want the best people working for me. If that facilitates an acceptable reason for you to also join me – for that very same reason I might add, then it's a win, win situation all round as far as I can see," he stops and I can see I have upset him.

"But what if he doesn't ask you if he can bring me along with him?" I ask mildly.

He stares at me and doesn't say a word and I think he realises what I am getting at.

"You would manipulate him into making that request wouldn't you?" I say.

He continues to stare at me, "if you didn't want me to, then no I wouldn't" he says eventually, and I can see how hard that was for him, I'm sure he was thinking about doing just that but in that moment I realise how much he loves me that he wouldn't do it.

I try and read him but he is giving nothing away, "Really?" I ask.

"No, I wouldn't" he says, "I admit I considered the fact I could perhaps push Mark to ask to bring you, but I won't if you don't want me to, you have my word that I won't," he says firmly his blue eyes boring into me challenging me to disbelieve him.

"Alright, I'll believe that," I say carefully.

He nods his head and I know he is still hurt by my accusation and I'm certain he believes that I think he still will try something and he is determined to prove me wrong.

There is a slight atmosphere between us which lasts through lunch, and it is bothering me as I leave Gideon when we get back from lunch, he gives me a swift but insistent kiss as I leave him and I pause.

"Don't let me leave like this" I whisper to him and he grips me tightly.

"Believe me then," he says sharply, "I only ever have your best interests at heart but more than that I only want you to be happy, but I won't stop being who I am," he says fiercely

I melt at his words, "I know that" I say.

I touch his cheek and he closes his eyes and the next thing I realise he has pulled me close and is kissing me desperately. I return the kiss and the lingering resentment and doubt I didn't even know I was hanging on to leaves me in a rush.

I gasp as he lets me go, and he looks intently at me, and I know he has something he wants to say.

"I will ask him, as I want him at Cross Industries, but I won't force him to bring you, and I won't force you to come and work for me either" he says.

I nod and go to step away from him but he grabs me and holds on to me.

"Eva, I don't want you at Cross Industries because you are my wife, this is not a question of nepotism, I don't operate that way, if you weren't so damned smart and gifted I wouldn't be pushing for this as hard as I am doing, I want the best people working for me and with me, I think you fall into that category, that is the only reason why I want you at Cross Industries," he says.

I swallow hard at his words and nod, "ok, I'll bear that in mind," I say quietly.

Gideon nods and kisses me again, I pull away as the doors open and I step out of the elevator, I watch as the doors close and takes Gideon away.

oooOOOooo

I know as soon as Gideon has made the initial approach to Mark, as he comes to tell me.

"Eva can I have a private word with you?" he asks.

I nod and follow him into his office and he closes the door.

"Eva I need you to know something," he says nervously, "Please sit down" he adds gesturing to the seat in front of his desk.

I sit down and wait, "Eva, Gideon Cross just called me and asked me to meet with him at 5 o'clock this afternoon," he says.

I nod but don't say anything, and I wait for him to continue.

"I am concerned that he's not happy with the work we have done on Kingsman, what do you think?" he asks anxiously, and I am shocked he is even considering that scenario. I silently curse my husband for putting me in this situation.

I shake my head, "I have no idea, but don't think it has anything to do with that" I say.

"Then what could he possibly want?" he asks then his eyes brighten, "unless he has another account he wants to discuss?" he says.

I quickly change tack and decide to let him believe that, "He might have" I say evasively.

Mark nods his head, and then realisation dawns on his face at what he has done and he looks at me apologetically.

"Oh God Eva, I'm so sorry, I realise I've just put you in a very awkward position, just because Cross is your husband doesn't mean you know what his every business decision is, and I just made assumptions I shouldn't have, I'm so sorry about that," he says.

No, it's not you who did that but my husband I think as I smile at Mark.

"Look I have no idea why he would want to speak to you" I lie again, "but I do know he is very happy with the work you have done on the Kingsman account so I don't think you have anything to worry about there" I say.

"Ok," he says, "also I will correct you on that, I don't have anything to worry about on the work WE did" he adds with a smile.

oooOOOooo

I am just powering down my computer at the end of the day as Mark walks up to me, "Do you mind hanging on a while?" he asks.

I frown and then remember that Gideon wants to see him.

I hesitate as I really don't want to be drawn into this any more than I already am.

Mark looks at me apologetically, "Look I realise this is all kinds of weird and awkward and it was totally wrong of me to question you earlier the way I did, but if it is a new account I want you to be the first to know, and if there is a problem I also want you to be the first to know" he says.

As I know exactly what is going to happen, I nod and sit back down again, Mark smiles gratefully at me.

"Thanks, if I'm up there any longer than half an hour just go, and I'll talk to you in the morning," he says.

I think about that, I don't think Gideon will take long, he will see him say what he wants, give him the information and send him on his way, I estimate 15 minutes tops.

I don't put my computer back on but instead, check my phone, and call Cary.

"Hi Cary," I say when he answers.

"Hey baby girl, how did it go with Cross?" he asks.

I realise I haven't told him about what happened when I told Gideon about the baby.

"It went very well, he was completely shocked to begin with, but he was so sweet when the shock wore off, but he is pleased, that's the main thing," I say.

"Good, glad to hear it," Cary says.

I laugh and go through what happened on Friday evening with him and then I go on to tell him all about our weekend at the Outer Banks house.

"You'd love it there Cary," I say.

There is a silence, "Cary?" I say.

"I've made a decision," he says warily.

"Oh" I start to panic slightly at his tone of voice.

"I'm not taking the apartment, it's just too weird, plus Stanton and your mom said I could stay where I was and they would continue to pay for the place," he says.

"Oh ok," I say I feel slightly upset about that but I try and push it out of my mind, it is, after all, Cary's decision.

"But I turned them down," he says.

Ok, now that has thrown me, "Where are you going to live then?" I ask, panic rising significantly thinking that he is considering going back to San Diego.

There is another silence, and I hear him take a deep breath, "I'm moving in with Trey," he says and my heart leaps at that.

"Really? Oh Cary I'm so pleased for you" I gush.

"You are? Oh thank god, I was scared you would be upset" he says.

"Of course I'm pleased for you Cary, I love you, and to hear you are taking that step and letting someone else in, it's huge and I couldn't be happier for you," I say with total sincerity.

"I really think he's the one" Cary mutters.

"Good, then you grab him and don't let go," I say.

"I won't, but you will always be my best girl, you know that don't you?" he says earnestly.

"I know that Cary, you will always be my best friend forever," I reply.

We chat for a few moments longer and I am really happy for Cary, we are both moving on with our lives and leaving the shitty pasts behind us. I say goodbye to Cary and glance up to see Mark walking towards me I automatically glance at my watch - 15 minutes and I smile, I know my husband so well.

"Well?" I ask a little concerned at the shell-shocked expression, Mark glances around and then points to his office.

I follow him in and he closes the door.

"Cross has just offered me a job," he says.