Part Twelve

The food comes then, and the women settle back into their seats. There are a few minutes of silence as Kerri drizzles dressing over her salad and Sydney pours ketchup over her fries. Sydney has just bitten into her sandwich when Kerri speaks.

"So, Mike made you eggs this morning, huh?" she asks, a devilish grin playing about her lips. "Did Mikey get thoroughly laid last night?"

Sydney nearly spits out the bite of sandwich she has just put in her mouth. "Kerri!"

"Don't act all shocked," Kerri says with a smile. "I remember when the four of us used to go on vacation together and the two of you would come down for breakfast, you'd have Mike practically kissing your feet. I always wondered what the hell you knew how to do in the bedroom that I never learned."

"I don't know how to do anything special," Sydney murmurs, feeling her cheeks grow hot.

"So how was it?" Kerri presses.

"It was good," Sydney says, nibbling a French fry and wishing Kerri would just let it lie.

"Good? Sydney, please, you've gotta give me more than that, I haven't had sex in a year."

"A year? Ker, you and Eric have only been apart eight months."

Kerri gives her what can only be described as a Look, and Sydney can't help but laugh. "Oh, Kerri."

"Fine, don't give me details," Kerri says, reaching over and snatching one of her fries. "But you didn't even eat the eggs? Syd, you've got to be more appreciative than that, it's not everyday you find a guy who'll bring you breakfast in bed."

"I didn't say it was in bed," Sydney says, wishing that the heat in her cheeks would go away.

"But it was," Kerri says knowingly.

"It was," Sydney admits with a smile. "I know, he's the best."

As soon as the words are out of her mouth, she wants to apologize for them. Kerri seems to sense this. "Syd, seriously, you don't have to feel guilty because I didn't marry the best."

"But I don't have to brag about my husband bringing me breakfast in bed, either," Sydney points out.

"Syd, I was the one who brought it up," Kerri says.

"Seriously, though, Kerri, this is part of the reason I haven't called so often in the last few months," Sydney admits. "So much of our friendship was based on--"

"Our husbands being friends?" Kerri finishes her sentence. "I know, Syd. We met because of them, we hung out together at their office parties. But I mean…Eric has other friends, Syd. I was never this close to any of their wives."

"I wasn't either," Sydney says with a frown. "I miss you here, Kerri."

"And I miss having you in LA," Kerri says with a shrug.

"Seriously, how have you been the last few months?" Sydney asks, frowning with concern.

Kerri smirks. "Well, I got a huge settlement from Eric, so that was nice."

"I'll bet," Sydney says.

"His leaving me was really the best thing," Kerri says firmly. "This way I get the bastard's money, but I don't have to deal with him screwing around on me."

"And the boys are really okay?"

"Sure, they're fine," Kerri says. "And like I said, Francie still talks to me, she's really busy with the restaurant, though. Have you talked to her much lately?"

"Mike and I went out to dinner with her and Will when we were in town for Christmas." Sydney feels a wave of guilt. Why didn't you call me? "They seem like they're doing great. I'm so happy for her that she was finally able to get pregnant."

"Yeah, she's so excited," Kerri says with a smile. "They'd finally stopped taking the fertility drugs and started looking into adoption and it just happened. She's going to be a great mom."

"Yeah."

There is another moment of silence before Kerri asks, "Does Mike talk to Eric much, Syd?"

Sydney sighs. "Not really, Ker. I mean, they keep in touch, but--" She shrugs. "He hates what Eric did to you, you know that, don't you?"

"Syd, I know that Mike knew about it for years."

Sydney looks away. "What would you do if you were in that position, Ker?" she asks. "He didn't know whether it was his place to tell you, he didn't even tell me until yesterday."

"I'm glad for that," Kerri says quietly. "I can accept that Mike didn't tell me, he was Eric's friend, not mine. But I don't know if I could have accepted knowing that you had been letting Eric play me for a fool."

Sydney nods. "Then I'm glad that Mike didn't tell me."

The two sit in silence for a moment. The waitress brings the check and asks if they want her to wrap up their mostly untouched food. Both women decline.

"I need to go pick up my stuff from the hotel and catch my plane," Kerri says. She starts to rummage in her purse, and Sydney shakes her head.

"I'll get the check, Kerri."

"I'll let you," Kerri says with a smile. "It was really good to see you, Syd. Call me, okay?"

"I will," Sydney says. She doesn't know whether she's telling the truth. Despite what Kerri said, she can't help but think that so much of their relationship was based on what they had in common. All they have in common is their kids now, and it's not like Kerri can drop over with them and go with Sydney on walks to the park. "You should come back when you can spend more time, come out and see the house."

"I'd like that," Kerri says, but Sydney thinks that both women know it will never happen.

"Bye, Gracie," Kerri coos to the little girl. She smiles at Sydney one last time. "Tell Mike and the kids hi, okay? Although Emily probably thinks of me as 'that scary lady from the store that made Mommy cry.'"

"Nah, she forgot all about it after she got her new Barbie," Sydney says with a smile.

"Good." Both women rise from their chairs and hug. Sydney feels a little misty as she watches her friend walk away.