Chapter 9

As Lizzie walked, she realized that her heart felt lighter than it had in years. There was a bounce in her step. She had a smile on her face. She was meeting Patrick at the coffeehouse. The very idea of it gave her butterflies in her stomach. She recognized now that she had not felt this way with Davey. Oh, she had loved him. But just the thought of Patrick's smile now made her weak in the knees. Lizzie felt like it had been an eternity since that night he left them. Now, the anticipation of seeing him again made her feel exhilarated. She silently reprimanded herself for feeling like a schoolgirl. She was a grown woman, after all, with a son.

She was grateful Marie had let her leave early. She had the opportunity to shower and change. Lizzie carefully selected a midnight blue long-sleeved blouse and a long beige skirt. She chose boots with heels considering his height. She had hurriedly dressed, brushed her hair; leaving it down, tucking the strands behind her ears. She applied the mascara wanting to accentuate her eyes recalling his comment. Lizzie had never found her eyes to be anything but ordinary.

She slowly approached the entrance to the coffeehouse. Lizzie brushed her hair back with her fingers. She took a deep breath and opened the door. "Just breathe, Lizzie," she told herself.

She checked her watch and saw she was early. She considered for a moment waiting outside for him but decided to go inside and wait. Slowly she walked to the area where they had their first meeting; the meeting about Frankie. She smiled remembering her nervousness then about asking a complete stranger to pretend to be her son's father.

She looked over and saw the back of his head. Directly across from him was an attractive woman with red hair and light blue eyes. Lizzie froze in her tracks. She felt as though she was paralyzed and could do nothing but watch the two of them.

The redhead was wearing a short, red dress and showing too much cleavage. She leaned in towards him; holding a cigarette and laughing. He was laughing too. She put her hand on his knee in a flirtatious manner and winked at him.

Lizzie began to wonder if Marie had been wrong and if she had been a fool for believing her.

The redhead felt the penetration of Lizzie's stare because she sat up and saw her standing there, watching.

"Can I help you with something?" the redhead asked Lizzie.

Oh. She's American. Lizzie thought and started to feel her cheeks flush and heart pound. Lizzie shook her head in response and turned to run. Patrick had just turned around in time to see Lizzie before she darted out of the room.

"Lizzie? Lizzie," he called out to her.

She was almost out the door when she heard the redhead say, "Oh, so that was Lizzie?"

Once outside the coffeehouse Lizzie ran off to the right as fast as she could in heels. She wiped away tears as she ran.

Patrick ran and quickly caught Lizzie but she would not look at him.

"Lizzie…" he said out of breath. She slowed her pace so that she was walking now. "Lizzie, please...it's not what it looks like."

Lizzie halted and turned to face him. This is not how she wanted it to go.

"How do you think it looks?" Lizzie's voice shook.

Patrick looked saddened. He reached out to wipe away her tears and she pushed his hand away.

"She's my agent, Lizzie," he told her quickly.

"Yer agent!" she asked him incredulously. "An then yer arse fell off?" Lizzie responded with hands on hips.

"No, Lizzie...she is my agent. I'm a freelance photographer," Patrick insisted.

Lizzie calmed down slightly but looked up at him with suspicion. "Yer agent, Patrick? Ya have an agent that looks like that!"

"She gets me assignments worldwide, Lizzie. The woman's got connections and she's the best out there."

"Well, not the best but pretty damn close," the redhead remarked seeming to appear out of nowhere and standing beside Patrick.

"Lizzie, I'd like ya ta meet Rhonda Sterling, my agent."

Lizzie stood there in disbelief. Rhonda extended her petite hand and Lizzie shook it.

"This is Lizzie Morrison," Patrick told Rhonda.

"This man here is my most successful client," Rhonda stated.

Lizzie still stood there, mouth open. Words would not come out.

Rhonda looked at her watch. "Gotta run, Patrick. Thanks so much for rescheduling with me. I'll be in touch." Rhonda gave Patrick a wink and strode off.

Lizzie and Patrick stood there gazing at each other not even acknowledging Rhonda's departure. Lizzie felt like she had overreacted. She certainly did not own him. She didn't even know him all that well. Jealousy was a foreign emotion to Lizzie. She knew she would have to keep herself in check.

"I'm so sorry, Patrick…" Lizzie told him feeling foolish.

"Lizzie, can I just say something?" Patrick asked her with a serious expression on his face.

Lizzie winced. Maybe Patrick had changed his mind about her. "Yes?"

Patrick took her hands in his. "I'm so glad yer here." Lizzie smiled with relief. "Now, let's see. It's 3pm exactly, let's start over." He put his arm through hers.

The two walked arm in arm back to the coffeehouse.