As Eva walked toward the café, she reflected on John's claim that he hadn't realized what they'd had together.  Actually, she hadn't realized, either, but her realization was considerably different than John's.  In all the years they were together, she had never recognized how little he actually gave to the relationship.  Everything, from their place of residence to their plans for the weekend, had always centered around what was best for him.  God, what had she ever seen in him?  Why hadn't she seen him for what he was? 

She couldn't help but compare his attitude with Frank's.  Sometimes she still found it difficult to believe how much Frank had given up to be with her.  John hadn't been willing to sacrifice his Sunday plans to watch football with his friends; Frank was willing to sacrifice, among so many other things, his birth family, his royal status, and the eventual rule of his home planet - just for her and their daughter.  Tears still came to her eyes when she thought of it.

And John's sexual performance, when compared with Frank's, didn't even bear thinking about.

She was still reflecting on the differences between John and Frank when she arrived at the café.  She spotted Frank already seated at one of the tables directly facing the river.  As if he could feel her eyes on him, he pulled his gaze away from the water and looked over at her.  A smile lit up his face when he saw her and Faye.

As Eva hurried over to him, he stood up to embrace her.  She threw herself into his arms with even more enthusiasm than usual, and, heedless of their fellow diners, gave him an extremely lengthy, passionate kiss that would have been more suitable for a bedroom than a public place.

When at last they pulled apart, he looked at her with a combination of surprise and amusement.  "That was certainly a more heartfelt greeting than I was anticipating."

She smiled and blushed.  "I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have you."

He laughed, pulled Faye out of her stroller, and put her on his lap.  "A lovely sentiment, to be sure, but what led to that particular train of thought?"

Eva laughed in response.  "You won't believe who I was talking to when you called."

He smiled.  "Perhaps not, but tell me anyway."

"John."

For a moment, Frank looked puzzled.  Then, suddenly, his eyes widened.  "John?  The John?  The 'sleeping with your sister' John?"

She smiled grimly.  "The very one.  Your phone call couldn't possibly have come at a better time."

"What on earth did he have to say?"

Eva shook her head.  "Nothing worth repeating.  He actually whined that I hadn't given him a chance to 'explain' his cheating on me with my own sister.  Like there was anything he could have said that would have made everything all right."  She reached over and caressed Frank's cheek.  "The only thing that made everything all right was meeting you."

Frank smiled, leaned across the table, and kissed her.  As she returned his kiss, gently separating his lips with her own and slipping her tongue into his mouth, a sudden realization came to her.

When she had been in that darkened bedroom, alone and in tears, she'd thought her years with John had been a complete waste of time.  Now she saw those years for what they were…something she had to go through in order to bring her to the place where she would meet the man she was meant to be with.

It was time well spent after all.