"No she didn't" Ken couldn't believe what he was hearing. Fulton was telling him, Connie and Julie about what Rebecca had said to him this morning.
"Yes she did. I thought it was best not to tell her that Portman was with you last night Cons" Fulton said to a very blank looking Connie.
"Portman was with me?" she asked, she had no recollection of Portman ever being there, just Guy and his terrible accusations.
"You had a dream, he stayed with you to make sure you were okay" Fulton explained.
Connie tried not to let the tears that were threatening to spill show "oh" she said softly turning her attention back to her coffee cup. She didn't feel like sharing the nightmares with anyone at the moment.
"Hey! There you are I've been looking everywhere for you guys!" Adam Banks came bursting through the Diner doors a grin on his face. He leant down to kiss his girlfriend of three months, Julie on the cheek.
"So what's up?" he asked sliding into the booth next to Julie.
"Hey Banks" Fulton said.
Connie looked up "Hi, you want a coffee?" she asked.
"Sure, I'll get it, you guys want anything?" Adam asked jumping up but Connie stopped him.
"Nah its okay I'll get it. My legs are starting to cramp up. Must mean I should get back to the gym soon" she said nudging Fulton's arm.
"Yeah I reckon, Luis is a good personal trainer but he cannot teach aerobics to save his life!" Fulton burst out laughing causing the rest of the group to laugh, Connie included.
"She okay?" Adam whispered to Julie when Connie had gone to the counter.
"Yes and no. She's sad but coping at the same time. Connie's tough though, we'll make sure she gets there" Julie replied snuggling into her boyfriend's shoulder.
Fulton smiled at the couple, they certainly would make sure Connie gets there, he thought.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Portman had walked for the past half an hour. No way in hell was he going back home he thought. He knew for sure Rebecca would still be there waiting.
He headed for Mickey's, that was where his friends would be.
He wandered in the door and spotted them in a booth, Adam had returned from Anaheim where he had a try out for the Mighty Ducks.
"Hey guys" Portman said approaching their table.
"Hey, you're alive I see" Fulton commented much to everyone's amusement but definitely to Adam's consfuesment
"Barely, I walked out and I honestly thought a knife would be thrown at my back and/or head on the way. She was pretty mad" Portman said taking a seat next to Kane.
"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault" Connie said giving Portman a sympathetic look.
"NO! Cons its not, its just Rebecca being selfish, she's mad about us not getting married. She doesn't even know about last night" Portman said.
"Oops sorry Banksie" Portman added forgetting for a moment that Adam was Rebecca's cousin.
"Don't worry about it, I of all people know what Rebecca's like but can you fill me in? I'm so confused!" Adam said and the group smiled.
Fulton filled him in on what Rebecca had said and done that morning. He got to the part where Ken brought Connie flowers
"Aw Kenny you never buy me flowers" Portman pouted.
"They were beautiful, just what I needed!" Connie interjected.
"Wow I can't believe she's being so idiotic" Adam said.
He was about to witness things firsthand.
"DEAN!" Rebecca screeched causing the entire dining car to stop what they were doing and turn to stare at her.
Portman's face fell.
"Obviously you care more about your friends than me, and what are you doing sitting next to HIM! Don't you even care about what happens to me" Rebecca whined and pouted.
"Oh shut up Rebecca" Adam blurted out earning himself several amazed stares.
He should have kept her mouth shut though
"And you Adam, you, my own cousin. How could you do this to me? How could you humiliate me like this by associating with that" Rebecca had struck a raw nerve with Adam and what he said next didn't sit to well with Rebecca.
"At least we've got friends Rebecca" Adam shot back sending Portman an I'm sorry it slipped out look.
"Urgh, argh" Rebecca was at a loss for words. She had no choice but to turn around and walk out but not before saying "Dean I expect you home in FIVE MINUTES".
That was it for Portman "No Rebecca, I'll come home when I want to. I am sick to death of you and all of your crap. Other people have problems you know, REAL problems and all you care about is yourself. You don't seem to realise you're starting to turn what's left of your friends away and to be honest I'm not sure if I can be around you right now either". There – he'd said it! Something he'd wanted to say for a long time.
It had the entire dining car stunned until someone in the back corner started clapping, it was Casey Conway. Then Cherie, the other waitress, joined in and soon everyone in Mickey's was clapping and cheering.
Rebecca stormed out, her face bright red. Portman sat back down and felt a little better but also felt guilty that he had to lash out in public.
No one noticed Connie slip out quietly.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
She felt as if she'd ruined everyone's lives. Portman and Rebecca were fighting, she was keeping all of her housemates up at night. She'd even ruined her own life, she couldn't bear to play hockey anymore – Guy was her strength and inspiration and now he was gone.
She could hear the whispers of "that's her, her husband was killed by his mother on their wedding day" and "oh poor Connie Germaine" by people who barely even knew her. People had no clue what to say to her. She'd never felt so alone in all her life.
She was sick of it. Sick of reliving the nightmares night after night, sick of sleeping in a bed that didn't have her husband in it. Sick of watching couples like Adam and Julie and knowing that's what her and Guy could and should have been like.
Before she knew it she'd reached the edge of the bridge where she'd laid Guy's ashes out to the lake below.