Two weeks earlier, one day after the official divorce:

Elizabeth let her eyes wander along the path, unsure how to begin. Her eyes caught on a pigeon hopping along the park in front of them. As they approached it, it flapped its wings and lifted itself into the air. Her gaze followed it and only when the pigeon was out of sight did she lower her eyes back to the paved ground in front of her. She sighed.

When she noticed a hand on her arm, she raised her head and looked at Isabelle, who had stopped. In her eyes she could see concern, as well as sympathy. "Bess?", Nadine lowered her voice and looked at her, "What's going on?"

Bess twisted her mouth into a smile and expelled air in frustration. "What could be going on?" She had already started moving again when Isabelle's firm grip stopped her. "That's what I'm asking you. Come on, spit it out. We've been walking side by side through the park for 20 minutes surrounded by your bodyguards and I have to listen to your sighs," she followed up a little more gently, "Come sit on the bench with me here."

Determinedly, Isabelle, Elizabeth in tow, headed for the nearby park bench. At first Elizabeth tried to resist, but quickly gave up her resistance. Isabelle was right. After all, she had asked for a meeting and was determined to keep her promise of an update. But where should she start?

Isabelle took the decision from her. "So you're an Adams again?" It was more of a statement than a question. Still, it had the desired effect on Elizabeth. She released her gaze from her hands folded in her lap and looked at Isabelle. "Yes," there was a sound of tiredness and exhaustion in her voice, "it feels strange."

The barrier in her mind had loosened and she began to spill it all out. "I mean, the public doesn't know anything yet. At least I haven't commented on the rumors, according to this, although on paper I'm 'Adams' in the office again and to the public I'm still 'Munsey'. This afternoon I will officially announce it." She paused briefly and let her gaze drift over her surroundings again. Lost in thought, she continued speaking "I called Konrad from the car yesterday."

"What did he say when you announced to him that you had just gotten out of court?"

"Oh well, I had already informed him," she looked at Isabelle from the side, "I even asked him if I should resign. Because of all the press attention and the reelection..."

"But aren't they two years away?"

Bess smirked, "What are two years in Washington? Anyway," Bess threw her arms in the air, "tell me what you want to know." She didn't know what Isabelle already knew, didn't know where to start or in what detail Isabelle wanted report.

"How are you?" Bess pursed her mouth. She was asked the question all the time. And each time she gave the same answer, "Fine." And each time it was followed up, made clear that they were really interested in her feelings.

Isabelle sighed. "I mean, how are you really doing?" Bess looked at her with a serious expression. "Isabelle. I've been divorced from the love of my life for a day and, and," Bess fought the tears that inevitably came to her eyes immediately. With a rough wave of her hand, she wiped her eyes, "Do you know what that feels like?" It was a rhetorically posed question, which is why it went unanswered by Isabelle. "No matter what he's done to me and what I've been through, it feels like being a failure. It feels like shit."

Isabelle swallowed, but didn't dare interrupt Elizabeth's flow of words just yet.

"I mean I haven't been able to sleep very well before, especially with him in the room, but with the way I feel now? I haven't slept a wink tonight, haven't had anything except coffee this morning, and," Bess closed her eyes, exhausted, to keep herself from continuing to talk and to keep her heart from racing. She wanted nothing more than for everything to be okay.

The soothing voice soothed her and made her open her eyes again after a moment. "Bess. It's okay. It's okay to feel all this. It's okay." As the eyes of the both women met and an encouraging yet apologetic smile was exchanged, Isabelle leaned over to Bess. With deliberation, she formulated the question that was burning on her tongue. "What did he do?"

Bess' humor had returned and so she answered half seriously and half ironically "You mean what broke up the dream couple, and I'm quoting you here?" Isabelle smiled wryly "If you want to put it that way. Bess thought for a moment and then replied "Alcohol, greed, jealousy and a broken nose?" When she looked Isabelle in the face, two big disbelieving eyes met her. "Yes, I think that describes it pretty well."

"Excuse me. WHAT?" She was horrified. Or aghast. Bess couldn't put her finger on it.

At that moment Elizabeth seemed to be above things, dryly telling her friend how she hadn't slept at home for nights on end, always afraid Andrew would overdo it with the alcohol. How he found her one night anyway and beat her up in hospital. From the FB Investitation, which had finally remained without result, because she had not yet been ready to go to court and accuse him. Especially since the outcome of the trial was out of her hands and she wasn't ready to attract public attention. She told about the endless negotiations with Andrew about 'who gets what' and that she eventually kept her parents' farm, as well as the townhouse, and would pay Andrew his share.

When she finally concluded, "And here I am now," and lifted her gaze, she looked into a shocked face. "What?," Bess almost had to suppress an amused laugh. "I'm fine."

Isabelle shook her head. "Bess. Bess, you should have said something." Bess looked at her with raised eyebrows, "I wasn't home anyway." Sarcasm had become her new shield, behind which she hid with all her might. Later she would scream into her pillow, as she had done many more times, until not a sound passed her lips and all tears of despair, fear and loneliness had dried up.

"No, Bess. This is wrong. You should have said something. To Anyone." Isabelle shook her head now more determined and bewildered.

"You know, Blake knew. From the very beginning. He helped me and was there for me. He...," she swayed her head back and forth, "And Mike. Mike... So Nadine, Daisy, Blake had helped me. With the press and stuff. Mike took care of the divorce...," She looked up into the treetops, "Conrad and Russell I told too. They know about it..."

She felt Isabelle's gaze rest on her "You have friends too, you know."