The girls did well in their studies as the end of the year approached. On the last day of school they had a virtual summer going away party with their new teacher. They promised to call each other during the summer and Caitlin made a reading list for both of them.
"Let's get some wine and sit on the patio. It's a perfect spring evening," Charles said. The girls were in bed and school was over for the year. Pauline was picking them up in the morning, and they would stay with her and Tim for two weeks, back to their alternating joint custody schedule.
"Ok, be right there. Let me grab my phone." Liza heard it ringing on the counter.
It was Pauline. "Hey, how are you?" Pauline asked.
"Good. Just one thing before you get here. Charles called for Bianca's allergy medicine at the pharmacy for you to pick up, " Liza told her.
"I saw that in my email. Thank him for doing that for me. I'll pick it up on my way out there," Pauline said. "So, is our arrangement working out for Caitlin getting her teaching hours? The girls just loved her. They couldn't stop talking about her when they called every night."
"It is. Thanks for being on board. It really helped Caitlin out of a pickle," Liza shared.
After discussing what the girls were up to this evening, Pauline jumped in. "I have a big ask. Well two, really. " Liza felt herself tense up a little. She never knew what to expect with Pauline.
"As you know, Tim and I have been seeing each other for a while now. We decided to get married, and wanted to in the next year."
Liza thought about the ring she saw on Pauline's hand a month ago. So she was engaged. "Oh my gosh, congratulations!" Liza gushed.
Pauline continued, "But now that there is no end in sight with the quarantine, we want to get married this summer. And we have a place in mind. We need your help making it happen."
"Ok, how can I help?" Liza felt happy for her unlikely ally, but also a little uneasy. What did Pauline getting married have to do with a favor from her?
"You know, the patio at the townhouse would be perfect. We have the girls living there already. We would have two adult witnesses. It would be perfect." An uncomfortable silence elapsed. "Are you still there?" Pauline asked.
"I have to say, what's the rush?" Liza was confused.
"I'm pregnant! We never expected this. Tim has adult children who live abroad. And you know, I'm around the same age as you, Liza. No one ever plans this in their forties, when you have older children. But we see it as a gift. "
"Wow." Liza sat there holding the phone in shock as Charles walked back in with their drinks, signaling her to join him outside.
"I feel bad asking, but you know it's the perfect place. If you'd rather we not, I mean, maybe you two wanted to have your wedding there one day. I don't want to make you feel like you can't now," Pauline pleaded.
"I don't know. But I do really have to go. I'll discuss it with Charles."
"Could you? Thanks! You can tell him why. It might be better coming from you. With everything happening in the world during this time, I just don't want to wait to get married any longer."
"Sure. Was there a second thing?" Liza was really needing that glass of wine right now.
"Yes. I've reworked my novel. I included Karl's affair with the assistant. I didn't want to rewrite too much. But, don't worry, in the book, Kate and her end up being friends and I left out all the lying stuff. No revenge plot needed," Pauline laughed nervously.
"Um, I'm...happy for you. Thanks, I guess?" Liza was completely at a loss for words.
"Ok, here's what really happened. I was dropped by my publisher. The truth is, I just kept rewriting and revising. They didn't want to wait. But I'm good now, and I'm ready."
"What made you have trouble meeting the deadline? If you don't mind my asking. "
"So, the rewritten book is about Kate - you know, that's really me - meeting an amazing social justice warrior. He's in immigration - just like my future husband. He's based on Tim, actually. This helps her bring new opportunities to the women in Thailand that Kate helped on her marriage vacation. It's really a great story, Liza, I'm sure you'll love it and relate to it." Pauline rambled more details of the story, starting in on what she thought needed editing expertise.
"So you want us to consider publishing it?" She guessed.
"Yes! What are friends for! We are friends, right? I think we are, anyway," Pauline flattered her.
"This is a lot to process, but I'll bring both of your ideas up to Charles. I'll get back with you tomorrow. "
"Ok. Bye bye now. Love you like a sister! " and with that, Pauline was done.
Liza walked through the patio doors feeling hit with a hurricane of information and requests.
"What's up? You look stressed," Charles said.
"I have a lot to tell you. Good thing you're sitting down already."
Liza proceeded to tell him all of it; the engagement, pregnancy, and the new book. After getting it all out, she added. "I guess since the passport thing, Pauline feels like we're friends."
"What passport thing?"
"Oh, I never told you." She shared details of how in their past, Pauline had been the one to steal his passport so he couldn't go on a trip with his now ex-girlfriend in a misguided attempt to reunite Charles with Liza.
"I thought you found it in my office between the couch cushions?" He was confused.
"I lied. Sorry. I didn't want to get into it at that moment. It didn't feel like the right time to tell you a crazy Pauline story." She looked at him. He was upset. "I will tell you every little lie I told since you've known me if that helps."
"I didn't think there were any other lies." He looked down, trying to hide his hurt feelings.
"Ok, whatever Freddie Mercury."
"I'm sorry, what?" he laughed.
"You know, Mercury. That secret venture you started and then acted all innocent about." She decided she wasn't letting him think he had the high ground.
"You're right. I have no room to talk," he concluded.
"We have enough instigators in our lives, let's try to not let them influence us too much. Can we do that?"
"Yes. I don't want to have this same fight again either. We said we would get past our fears and insecurities. Once again, I just want to clam up and say nothing. But I'm not going to do that. Just say the word when I'm shutting down."
"The most important thing is we are thinking about each other's best interests. Let's not fight," Liza reached out and held his hand.
"I have to admit, even though I don't like fighting, making up is always a high point with you." He smiled. "It's ok. I'm not upset with you about this passport business or anything else. I promise," Charles leaned over and kissed her. "I just don't understand why she would want to get married in the home of her ex-husband. Doesn't that seem a little presumptuous? And messed up."
"It does. But, you know how Pauline is. Expect the unexpected." They both smiled.
"As for the book, I don't know. Maybe a different editor can take it this time since you are so busy now. Unless you want to?" he inquired.
"I really don't." She shook her head for emphasis, remembering the last time. "But you know, it could be a bestseller like her last one, as much as I dread the idea of what could go wrong. So maybe it could still be published with us."
"Alright. Tell her to send some chapters and we'll do a pitch meeting as always. We do have a few new editors so you're not stuck with it," he said sympathetically.
"I better tell her that detail now, because she already wants me to look at it. She has all these expectations. Now, what about the wedding? Having it here?" Liza asked.
"How do you feel about it? Would you be okay with it? She's intruding on our shared space, after all," Charles stated factually. Liza loved that he was being protective of her territory.
"Maybe we should try to be friends. It would be good for our family," She smiled, realizing she referred to him and the girls as 'our family'. Charles had noticed too, and softened his attitude.
"Tell her we can have her wedding here then."
"Ok. Also, I think we are the witnesses," she sighed.
"Of course we are," he rolled his eyes. "Never did I think I'd be the best man at my pregnant ex-wife's wedding. "
"Well, we lead strange lives. In case you didn't notice," She teased. He poured them each a second glass of wine.