Thanks for the comments and such. Your reviews, no matter what they are, let me know we're invested in the journey together; you as the reader and I as the writer. You care what happens to Paige and Emily and that makes me happy.

So let us continue…

Chapter 29

Emily drove through the streets of Midtown Atlanta on her way to Paige's condo. When Paige gave her the address Emily was relieved it was not the same place she lived years ago in Roswell. Emily wasn't sure she could go back there. True, it was the place of many great memories: the first time they made love, the first time they said I love you to each other, and many more. But it was also the place of the most devastating thing that's happened to her in recent past: the site of their breakup.

Emily's place in Buckhead isn't too far from here so the drive is relatively short. If not for the fact that Paige was out of the country for the past year she's sure they would have eventually run into each other. Truthfully, she's not certain she would have been receptive to running into Paige a year ago. But that was then and this is now. Now it feels right. They are in a good place, a better place.

The condos at The Empire were touted to be some of the best in Midtown. Many had spectacular views of Piedmont Park and were built out by some of Atlanta's premiere designers. Emily left her vehicle with the valet and walked into the modern lobby.

She quickened her pace up to the security desk and announced she was there to see Paige McCullers. As she waited for the security guard to connect the call to Paige, Emily thought about the night ahead. She is excited about the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with Paige but a little nervous about it too. There were no expectations for the evening; just two friends, or former friends, getting together for a relaxed evening. Paige is making dinner and they'd see where the rest of the night went. Maybe they'd watch a movie. Maybe they'd sit and talk for a while. Or maybe they'd call the evening short after dinner. Emily was open to any of those possibilities.

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Paige rushed around her chef's kitchen trying her best to prepare an edible meal for her and Emily. Perhaps she was a little too boastful about her skills in the kitchen. She thought it'd give Emily the extra push she needed to agree to dinner. In hindsight Paige was second-guessing her ability to sell her cooking mastery. The kitchen is state-of-the-art and rarely used. In fact, when Paige does cook she has to get the instruction manual out to decipher how to use the convection oven. Is an oven not simply an oven anymore?

She just wants tonight to go perfect. Paige has yet to define what "perfect" might mean for the evening but she knows perfect isn't bad. She doesn't want bad. She wants good. A good dinner, a good evening, a good experience between two people who are trying to get to know each other again.

The condo is wired with Bose speakers throughout and Paige has her chill music on. It's a playlist of instrumental compositions that helps Paige decompress. And that's what she needs now. No pressure. No expectations. No over thinking. Just synchronicity; the two girls, hanging out, having a good time, enjoying each other's company, simply being.

Tony, the doorman, rang Paige to let her know that her guest had arrived and he'd buzz her up. Within a few minutes the doorbell chimed letting Paige know Emily was here. She ran to the hall bathroom, checked her reflection (whew, no food on her clothes) and went to the door.

Emily looked casually beautiful in boyfriend jeans rolled at her ankles, a slim fit white V-neck t-shirt and grey Sperry's. The girl could make even the most relaxed of outfit's runway worthy. Paige was relieved. Neither she nor Emily overdressed. Paige was dressed similarly in jeans with a small rip at the knee, a black tissue tee and her cheetah print house slippers.

Both girls smiled brightly at each other when the door opened. "Hey, Em. Come on in," Paige greeted. "Take a look around. I'll give you a proper tour later, but I need to run and finish the salad before the oven timer goes off."

Emily walked around the condo taking in her surroundings. The floor plan was very open. Along one wall was nothing but windows facing Piedmont Park and the Midtown skyline. It's beautiful now during the early evening. Emily can only imagine what the view looks like in the darkness of night with the lights reflecting off of the lake in the park.

Most of the walls in the living room area are paneled in a gorgeous dark-stained wood. The décor is colored in neutral tones of beige, white, and grey which may come off as boring in any other setting. Here it makes sense. There is such beauty looking outside through the floor to sky windows that anything too busy inside would compete with the view.

As Emily continued to explore she heard a beautiful instrumental composition filtering through the surround speakers. The composer captures a multitude of emotions throughout. The instrumental piece is tragic in some parts yet uplifting, or hopeful, in others. Emily can't help but consider this a musical representation of life in some ways. There are ups and downs, peaks and valleys, good days, bad days- and all of that is what makes life rich and adds depth.

Emily walked to the kitchen to find Paige cutting up carrots and cucumbers for the salad. Paige turned to her, "Would you like something to drink? Wine perhaps?"

"Sure, wine would be great." As Paige opened a bottle of Moscato Emily asked, "What are we listening to?"

Paige blushed. She enjoys a wide range of music that many of her peers probably don't have an affinity for. "You can change it if you want."

Emily smiled at Paige. "No I like it, it's beautiful. What is it?" Just then the song ended.

"Symphony No. 5 Adagietto. You remember Michael, the owner of the agency?" Emily nodded her head in recognition. "Well, he always has music playing like this in his office when I'm up there. I've acquired a liking for it," Paige said, giving Emily that crooked grin that always made (or rather still MAKES) her knees weak.

Emily regarded Paige while she spoke of her new found taste in music. The girl has changed. She's matured, come in to her own. This really is a new, different Paige before her. "You're different now, you know?"

Paige looked at Emily with a serious but casual expression. "I'd like to think we both are, Emily." Paige waited a second to that the settle. Having Emily in her home felt good; having Emily back in her life felt even better. "I have my iPod docked in the entertainment system by the television. You can choose a new playlist if you want."

Emily took her glass of wine to look through Paige's musical selection. It was definitely unique. She had about every kind of genre imaginable. About a quarter way down Paige's selection of playlists one caught Emily's eyes, it was titled "Em." The curiosity won out and Emily opened the playlist. It was songs Emily gave to Paige on the thumb drive all those years ago: the hearing gift for the senses. Emily couldn't believe Paige still had this. Admittedly, Emily still has the playlist too, but she'd never imagine that Paige would. Does that mean something?

Emily decided not to press the issue or bring it up at all. Best to leave things unsaid for right now. This is their first evening connecting again as friends and she doesn't want to muddy the waters. Instead she scrolls through the artists section and selects London Grammar. Emily quickly stops the music at the opening chord knowing what song is starting: "If You Wait". They DO NOT need to hear a song with the lines, "If you wait, I will trust in time that we will meet again." Nope, not this song. Not right now. Instead Emily scans again and selects BANKS.

Paige is taking the lasagna out of the oven as Emily rejoins her in the kitchen. She sets the pan on the hot pads on the center island and stares at what smolders before her. Paige is pretty sure this isn't what lasagna is supposed to look like. The noodles on top are shriveled and dry and burnt. The cheese on top is burned black instead of the ooey, gooey white mozzarella. "I don't understand what happened. I followed directions," Paige said, almost in a surprised whisper.

Emily picked up the recipe on the counter. "Did you cook it at the temperature and time this says?" Paige nodded her head yes. "Oh, I think with these types of ovens you're supposed to reduce both."

Paige tapped on the top of the lasagna with a fork. It was hard as a rock. She turned back to Emily, "Pizza?" Emily laughed and agreed that pizza was definitely the better option.

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The mishap with dinner was probably a blessing in disguise. Emily and Paige got a good laugh out of it and it broke the ice so to speak. From that point on the evening progressed naturally. They shared salad, a margherita pizza and a six-pack of Stella while watching, or rather laughing at, a cheesy B level horror movie about rogue kitchen appliances.

Emily looked around the condo again from her perch on Paige's couch. The space was very modern but not in a museum hands-off kind of way. No, it was homey and lived in. She could see Paige here. She could see her on the balcony on summer nights or crisp late-fall evenings with a glass of wine looking into the park. "You have a great place here, Paige. I love the way you've decorated."

Paige smiled at Emily's compliment. "Thanks, but I'm afraid I can't take the credit for it." Emily furrowed her brows in question. "I didn't decorate it. This place isn't mine."

"What? Whose is it," Emily asked.

Paige held up her hand. "I should explain. It is my place…for a while anyway. I'm renting. I sold my townhouse in Roswell when I moved to the UK. At the time I didn't know how long I'd be gone. Rather than renting it out I decided to go ahead sell it." Paige then fanned her arms around her gesturing towards the rooms. "I'm staying here until I find a new place. I do like it here. I've thought about looking in this building. I don't know; I haven't decided what I want."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. In the meantime, it seems like things are where they should be," Emily said, feeling like her words and Paige's might have held a double meaning.

Paige caught Emily looking at the view of the park several times. Once they could take the terrible movie no more, Paige muted the sound and asked Emily if she'd like to take a walk in the park to work off some of their pizza and beer.

Emily eagerly agreed. Before they left Paige grabbed a bag from the cupboard. Emily pinched her nose as Paige walked by. "Oh my God. What is that, Paige? It smells awful."

"Duck feed pellets," Paige said pointing to the label on the bag. "I always take them with me to the park."

Paige grabbed a hoodie from the hall closet. She offered Emily one of her cozy sweaters since a chill had settled in the night air and Emily was only wearing a t-shirt. "It looks good on you," Paige said. Emily appreciated the offer and secretly loved the way the cashmere settled on her skin. And it smelled like Paige. Something she tried not to think about. Friends don't react that way.

They walked around the park for a while people watching and talking. None of conversation got too serious or treaded on topics they weren't ready to discuss. It was a comfortable walk and even more so with the company.

Eventually they made their way to the bridge over Lake Clara Meer. A gazebo lit behind them offered a glow on the water that swayed with the ripples on the lake. They were surrounded by weeping willows, maples with big green leaves, and evergreens that touched the sky. To them it felt like they were the only people there in the park and they may as well have been. No one or nothing else could have held their attention in that setting. It was intimate and meant for only two.

As soon as Emily and Paige stepped up to the ledge of the bridge a group of ducks paddled over. They knew what was coming. Paige hoisted the bag of pellets onto the edge and reached for a handful of feed. Emily followed and they both threw the food into the water. They laughed a few times when two the ducks raced each other to a pellet or dove underwater to retrieve a sinking piece. Emily and Paige settled into an unspoken contest of who could throw their pellets the farthest.

They were silent for the most part. No words were necessary. They were just enjoying each other's company. Emily had really enjoyed herself tonight and wanted to make certain Paige knew that. As they walked back to Paige's condo Emily said, "Thanks for inviting me tonight, Paige. I've had a great time."

They had just reached the entry to Paige's building. "I have too, Emily. I'm glad you were free." Paige hadn't realized how easy it would be for her and Emily to settle back into a budding friendship. Their connection was organic.

Rather than push things Emily decided to leave. "I think I'll just go ahead and leave since I'm already out here." She walked over to the valet stand and handed the attendant her claim tag.

When Emily walked back towards Paige she started to take off her sweater to give it back. Paige placed her hand on Emily's shoulder to stop her movement. "Hang on to it for now. It's too cool out for you to be in just a t-shirt. I'll get the sweater another time."

"Are you sure," Emily asked. Paige nodded her head with a smile. "OK, I'll give it back the next time we get together."

With that they went their separate ways: Paige back into the building and Emily to her idling vehicle. Both girls smiled as their doors shut. There would definitely be a next time.