Michael clicked off the phone and got into the car. He helped Maria fasten her seatbelt and started to take off. Even though Maria had had a few drinks she was still able to talk.

"Michael why are you doing this?"

"What do you mean Maria?"

"Why are you suddenly in my life again? Giving me advice about Kyle, and taking me home like this."

"Because I care." After a long pause he asked, "Maria are you happy with your life?"

"Yes, especially now that I saw my boyfriend kiss another woman."

Michael winced at the term boyfriend. "I mean before Kyle. Why didn't you ever marry anyone?"

"I was never asked by the man I loved. So you and Jenny are happy together?" Maria asked changing the subject.

"I guess," Michael answered.

"What do you mean Michael? You're either happy or your not."

Michael wasn't sure if Maria would remember anything they said to each other tonight since she was under the influence. So he spoke truefully and knew she would have no choice but to do the same.

"I guess I'm not."

"Then why are you still with her?" Maria asked confused since Kyle told her they were happy together.

"After what happened to my mother, I could never hurt someone like that. You know you're the only one I've ever told about that."

In high school Michael had told Maria about his mother's attempted suicide. She had been deeply in love with his father and when he left her for another woman she went over the edge. Michael had found her in the kitchen slitting her wrist. His mom survived and attended therapy but he would never forget how his mom's life had almost been taken by her depression.

Sometime during the ride home Maria had fallen asleep. Michael arrived at her house and carried her inside using the keys he found in her purse. He found her bedroom with ease. He laid her down on the bed and removed her shoes. Michael put her under the covers and just stared at her for a while. Michael was about to leave when he heard Maria cry. He had thought she was still asleep.

"What's wrong Maria?" he asked sitting down on the bed next to her.

"I don't understand it Michael. I mean I think I look alright, I'm not ugly am I?"

"Your beautiful," he smiled brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

"I have a job, I'm educated and I'm a nice person, so why don't men want me? What's wrong with me?"

"There's nothing wrong with you Maria." Michael's heart ached for her seeing her in so much pain. All he wanted to do was put his arms around her and promise her everything would be okay. That he would make it all better.

"Then what is it? In high school no one ever asked me out."

"I don't know why Maria."

Then she asked him the last thing he expected. "Why didn't you ever ask me out? Why couldn't you see me as more than I friend?"

"I was shy, I didn't think you would accept," he said honestly.

"Michael how dumb are you? I loved you, I still do," Maria cried. "Why couldn't you love me?"

Michael stared in her eyes. He couldn't believe how stupid he was. Why couldn't he see that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her? If only he had gotten over his fear of rejection this all could have been avoided and he would've been with her not Jenny. Maria's life would have been filled with love not loneliness. He would have made sure everyday she knew how much he loved her. "I did Maria and I still do."

Maria hurled herself in Michael's arms and sobbed. "I love you so much Michael. I've thought about you all the time we were apart. I needed you so much. I missed you."

Maria pulled away from Michael and looked into his eyes. She had stopped crying and Michael used his thumb to wipe away her tears. Maria grabbed Michael's hand and slowly climbed closer to him. She gently touched her lips with his. When Maria tried to pull away Michael held her too him. Then just as quickly as the kiss had started Michael pulled away and stood up.

"What's wrong Michael? Why did you stop?"

"Because I'm married and you're drunk."

Michael's words sank in and she lay back on the bed. "I'm sorry Michael."

"Don't be. It's all my fault. You need to go to sleep," Michael said leaving her room and her life.

The next morning Maria woke up early and was instantly sorry. Her head felt like it was going to explode. She quickly grabbed her trashcan next to the bed and proceeded to vomit. "Oh my god," Maria thought she had the flu and then she remembered last night she had a few drinks. She couldn't even remember how she got home last night. She just prayed she didn't do anything to stupid.

Maria climbed out of bed and cleaned herself up. She was off from work today but she didn't see her car out in the driveway. She made her way to the phone when she heard a knock at the door. She was surprised to see Kyle standing there.

"Can I come in?" he asked. Maria stood back and let him enter. "Are you alright"?

"No I feel like I'm dying. But I guess I deserve it for drinking to much."

"I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about last night. I really didn't mean to hurt you and I want to make it up to you. I want to earn your trust back. Anyway I stopped by to get the keys to your car. I'll drive it back to the house for you and I'll have somebody pick me up here. It's the least I can do."

Maria went to get her keys and then looked at Kyle confused. "How did I get home last night?"

"You don't remember?" She shook her head no. "Michael was at the restaurant and he drove you home. Actually he hit me for kissing that other woman. I deserved it though for hurting you. I really lo..."

"So Michael brought me home?" Maria interrupted.

"Yes, well I'm going to go get your car so you'll have it when you need it."

*Michael drove me home last night! Oh god, What if I said something to him. Why can't I remember? Think, Maria. Ouch my head! Why did I have to drink! Stupid Maria,"* she thought.

"Michael there's someone here to see you," Michael's secretary announced to him as she opened his office door.

"Can you get rid of them? I'm really busy."

"That's all right I'll come back another time," he heard a female voice say.

Michael dropped what he was doing and walked quickly over to the door. "Maria, wait."

"It's alright Michael. I'm sorry to have bothered you," she said turning around to look at him.

"Come in my office," Michael demanded not taking no for an answer.

She walked into his office. "Michael I'm sorry about last night," Maria started.

"It's alright. I told you it was my fault."

"What was your fault Michael?" she asked.

"You mean you don't remember?"

"Michael I don't remember anything after Kyle and I fought. I'm sorry you had to see me like that. What did I say? I didn't say anything wrong did I? You know people say stupid things when they're drunk and they don't always mean what they say."

Michael couldn't believe she had forgotten about the kiss. And them admitting their feelings for each other. *What if she didn't mean what she said?* "No Maria you didn't say anything wrong. You pretty much passed out in the car," he lied.

"Well I'm sorry anyway. I hope I wasn't too much trouble."

"It's alright Maria. Just please promise me you won't drink like that again. I won't always be there to save you when you do."

"Believe me that's the last time I'm going to get drunk. Thanks again for driving me home," Maria said leaving Michael's office.


Michael continued his work throughout the day thinking about everything that has happened to him over these past months. Maria came back into his life only to date one of his best friends. Then she admitted that she loved him. Michael was so unhappy with his life. *I can't live like this anymore. It's crazy! I keep thinking about what could have been between Maria and me. What if I wasn't married to Jenny? Would Maria want to be with me after all this time? Then Jenny would be free to find someone who would love her like she deserved to be loved.* Michael then noticed the time on the clock. It was getting late and he was sure Jenny was up waiting for him to come home. *I need to talk to her tonight. This can't go on. Things have got to change before I lose my mind.*

Michael arrived home and rushed in the front door. He was surprised to see Jenny waiting for him on the couch. She was dressed in a robe and had apparently fallen asleep waiting for him. He tried to walk past her without waking her up but he failed.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's all right I just wanted to see you before I went to bed," Jenny smiled.

"I'm sorry I'm so late. I got swamped at work. Jenny can we talk?"

"Sure Michael," she said patting the sofa inviting him to sit next to her.

Michael wasn't sure how to start. After a long pause Jenny asked, "What's wrong Michael?"

"Jenny are you happy? I mean in this marriage," Michael asked her.

"Michael I'm not stupid. I know the reason we got married was because I was pregnant. I know you didn't love me then. But through the years I've felt us growing closer or so I thought, but now I feel us drifting apart."

"I didn't mean for us too," Michael said.

"I know you didn't Michael. It's not your fault if you don't love me. I just want to know if you ever did. I mean did you ever have a moment where you were truly in love with me?" When Michael paused she said, "Please don't answer. I don't want to know. I know how hurt you were when we lost the baby and I still feel like it was all my fault. I mean I was drinking the night I got pregnant. Maybe that's why the baby didn't survive."

"No, Jenny it wasn't your fault. I was drinking too. If anyone's to blame it was me."

Michael put his arms around Jenny while she cried. Finally she pulled away and looked at him in the eyes. "Michael I went to the doctor today. I found out why I've been so sick. Michael I'm pregnant."

TBC...