Part Three

They'd met at a dinner party of a mutual friend, Sydney and Michael. She'd been twenty-three, a year out of college and just finishing her first year teaching high school English. Michael had been twenty-nine, four years out of law school and working as an attorney at one of the city's top law firms. They'd both come to the party alone and had ended up seated next to each other at dinner; later, they'd both wondered if it had been a set-up, though neither of them had been told anything about the other before arriving and the hostess had never admitted as much. Regardless, they'd hit it off during the meal and had spent hours afterwards talking over coffee and dessert. He'd asked for her phone number, and they'd gone out to dinner a few days later.

Three days after their first date, he'd called her up saying that his friends Eric and Kerri had two extra tickets to a hockey game, and would she like to go? The four of them had gone out to a bar after the game and had all had a little too much to drink, and at the end of the evening, Michael had told her he didn't think he had better drive.

"It's okay," she'd responded. "I can take a cab home." And then, in a moment of wild spontaneity, "Do you want to come over for awhile?" It was one of those questions you asked impetuously, when you were having so much fun you didn't want the night to end, without realizing what the invitation meant. The realization had hit her in the cab on the way home, that he would think she wanted to sleep with him, and really, was that what she wanted? Because they'd known each other less than a week and--

He'd leaned over to kiss her, and all of her reservations had left her. They'd made love that night, and she'd been proud of the way they'd handled themselves in the morning. Like adults. Neither of them had blurted out a panicked, "This was probably too soon," or "That was great, but we probably shouldn't have done it." Instead, she'd woke to find him pulling on the hockey jersey and jeans he'd worn the night before.

"Trying to slip out unnoticed?" she'd asked sleepily.

He'd laughed in response, then moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Morning, beautiful."

"Good morning," she'd said, pulling the sheet with her as she sat up so he could plant a kiss on her lips.

"I have to go home and shower and change and go in to the office for a few hours," he'd said apologetically.

"What time is it?" she'd asked, even as her eyes moved to the digital clock on the bedside table.

"Almost ten."

"I'd better get up soon, too," she'd said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "I'm meeting my friend Francie for lunch."

"Mm," he'd responded, giving her another light kiss. "Can I take you out to dinner?"

"Yes," she'd said, face lighting up in a smile she found hard to wipe off her face for the rest of the day. The second date probably was too soon to sleep with someone, yes, but it had felt so right, so amazing. He'd said as much as he'd paused on his way out the door to her bedroom.

"Syd, last night was…" he's said, his voice trailing off as a slightly shy smile had spread over his face.

"I know," she'd replied, her own smile growing. "Have a good day, Michael."

"See you tonight, Syd. Around seven?"

"Great."

They'd been practically inseparable after that night. He'd proposed six months later, and they were married six months after that. It had all probably happened too fast, but just like that first night, it had felt so wonderful, so right.

Now, more than a decade later, she sits up in the bed they share, thumbing through a magazine while he brushes his teeth.

"Syd, about before," he says, emerging from the bathroom. "I didn't mean to make it sound like I don't want you to go back to work. I was just surprised. I know you said that someday you'd like to get your master's and teach a few college courses, but I assumed you meant when the kids were a little older."

"Oh, don't worry about it," she says, tossing her magazine to the side. "I was mostly just thinking out loud. I don't think I could stand leaving Grace and Emily with a stranger. I just…" she pauses, struggling to put her thoughts into words. "In my dream last night, you were the only thing that kept me sane, and the thought that I'd lost you--" she shudders. "It just scared me, Michael. You and the children-- you're all that I have."

He climbs into bed with her, cupping her chin with his hands. "Syd, you and the kids are all I have, too."

"You have your job," Sydney points out.

Michael rolls his eyes. "Do you really think that would matter to me if I lost you?"

"I guess not," she sighs. "I don't think it's even that I want a job, Michael. I just feel so-- disconnected from everything since we moved here. In LA we had so many amazing friends, Kerri was always dropping by with the boys, I knew everyone at all of your office parties, felt comfortable."

"We'll make good friends here, too, sweetie," he assures her. "Things have just been so hectic since we got here. Getting settled, Gracie being born."

"I know," she says with a smile, beginning to feel a little better. "I just need to find my place here."

He returns her smile, then leans over to kiss her. "Don't forget we have that party at Jake Hansen's tomorrow night."

"That's right," Sydney says, eyes lighting up. She doesn't know the people from Michael's new law firm yet, but it'll be fun to get dressed up and be social. She used to hate that sort of thing, but now she rather likes looking perfect and playing the adoring wife. "Ooh, maybe I'll go buy a new dress."

"You really feel like dragging Grace and Emily on a shopping trip?" Michael asks with a smirk.

Sydney lets out a peal of laughter. "Maybe I'll drop Emily off, let her spend some quality time at the office with Daddy."

"Mm, I wouldn't get a lot of work done, but it'd be entertaining," Michael says with a grin.

She leans over and plants a kiss on his lips. "I love you, Michael."

"Love you, Syd."

She snuggles up next to him, confident that tonight the nightmares won't bother her.