Part 14



Dixie clutched the robe tightly as she stepped closer to Liza and Tad. Tad nervously bit his bottom lip.

"The more things change," Liza looked at Tad. She approached Dixie. "So how's Edmund?" she asked sarcastically.

"Feels different to be on the receiving end of things, doesn't it, Liza?" Dixie said. "Hurts, right?"

"Do you know how many lives you're destroying, Dixie?" Liza smirked.

"You put a lot of though into that yourself, didn't you?"

"My choice didn't affect children."

"Your choice... tore apart a family."

"You know, Adam was right about you, Tad," Liza said. Tad remained silent. "He told me that you wouldn't change. And I was just too blind to see it coming I guess. You'd better run, Dixie. While you still have the chance."

"Funny, Liza," Dixie said. "I was just about to tell you the same thing."

"You are one... twisted individual, Tad," Liza said. "You're just going to throw away everything we had?"

"What we had Liza, was a relationship of convenience. You know that's the truth."

Liza let out an unconvinced laugh. "Where do you two seriously expect your little romp to lead? Especially seeing that Dixie is still very much engaged to Edmund. Who, might I add, is going to be broken hearted. And those poor, poor, children."

"That's enough, Liza," Tad said.

"No, this is really far from over."

"This is over." He swung open the door. "And you'll have my resignation on your desk this after noon."

"You're making a big mistake, Tad." Liza said, stepping out.

Tad shook his head. "No, Liza," he said. "This is the one thing I'm doing right. See you around." Tad shut the door and spun around to face Dixie. They both remained silent for a while. Dixie's face was long as she thought about what Liza had said, twisting the engagement ring on her finger. "You have regrets," Tad said, approaching her.

Dixie took a deep breath. "I should," she said, looking down at her hand. "But..."

Tad took her hands and Dixie looked up into his eyes. "I wish I could tell you that were no strings attached. That... I could just let you walk out that door and forget that any of this ever happened. But that would be the second biggest mistake in my life."

"The second biggest?" Dixie said. "What was the first?"

Tad cupped her cheek. "Letting you go the first time." Dixie remained silent. "I love you Dixie Cooney. I don't think... there's ever been a moment in my life when I didn't love you. And I know that your feelings for me are the same. No matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise, there will always be... two people who know the truth."

"Us," she said softly. Tad nodded.

"Last night, I felt whole again." Tad said. "A way a haven't felt in a long time. There had been a piece of me missing, and... after last night, I finally think I've found that missing piece." A tear streamed down Dixie's cheek. "Don't cry, sweetheart," Tad said, thumbing the tears from her eyes. He kissed her forehead.

"I just have so much to sort out," Dixie sniffled.

"I'm not going to make the decisions for you," he said. "That's not my call. You handle this... however you want to handle it. But just remember this, Dix. Remember how you felt last night in that attic, and when you woke up this morning." He paused. "And remember that I love you."

Dixie wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head up against his chest. A few seconds later, she looked up at him. There eyes met just briefly before Tad lowered his head, meeting her lips with his. After a moment, Dixie slowly pulled away a tiny smile on her face and her eyes still glistened from tears. She rested her hand on his chest. "I should go get dressed." she said softly. "I need to get going." Tad's head fell slightly, but Dixie lifted her hand and cradled his cheek, gazing up at him. "I think I know what I have to do."