Jess growled in frustration as an unexpected accident and traffic barred his way.

He wouldn't make it home in time to change, so white tee shirt, ripped black pants and jean jacket it was. Hopefully his investors would find it whimsical and not completely unprofessional. He couldn't call Gillian, he felt like a moron. He had to talk to her face to face and tell her… tell her…

Maybe if he just stared at her face she would read his mind and he wouldn't have to say anything. But she was at least owed an apology for his assholery. He turned on some death metal to numb the pain and drown out the voice in his head. But it didn't work.

You're going to end up just like him. You left your wife with child and little girl this morning. That's a Jimmy move, you prick.

"Shut up," he said to the voice.

You're already disappointing everyone.

"DAMMIT!" he cried.

He did want to run away. He was in no shape to do an open house this morning. And that made a metric ton of guilt weigh on his chest. He gave his cheeks a little slap, cranked the Death Metal the highest decibel it could go in his sedan and drove straight to Truncheon.

Finally he pulled into a space and checked his watch. He had a half hour before the event. Taking a deep breath, Jess slammed the door and walked in through the back. He stopped in the hallway trying to collect himself and test out a smile. He felt like a complete phony so he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Fuck it," he whispered. He'd just have to get through this.

He walked through the hallway and paused. Several voices echoed in the lobby area. It was too early to start. He pushed the door open and froze at the sight of almost every woman in his life staring at him.

Liz and Doula were standing there, Liz's eyes wide and… pensive? Terrified? And his little half-sister about ready to bolt to him with concern on her face. Then April, wearing this week's weird hat with her hand on her chest.

The girl he saw last night, Jimmy's stepdaughter was staring at him like she wanted to be anywhere else. He supposed she was his stepsister.

Then Gillian, his wife with Lizzy on her hip as his little Bug reached out for him. His heart pounded at the sight of them. His wife was so beautiful, her hair still that red that took his breath away with a few silver strands the sparkled like starlight. But he could barely comprehend what was happening, the estrogen was so thick he could hardly breathe.

"Jess," said Gillian, her voice strained. It was a warning and he saw the caution in her green eyes. He didn't understand why.

Then he noticed him.

Jimmy, standing behind the women, looked pale and piqued. Gaunt and tense. Jess's stomach plummeted. No thought at all went in to what he did next. He turned around and somehow made it into his dark office and locked the door.

….

Gillian made it to Truncheon, with an hour to spare. She unlocked the front door and turned on all the lights, noticing the percolator's for coffee weren't on the table. She huffed. Lizzy ran straight to the children's section and plopped down at the kids table in the corner, opening a pop-up book. Knowing her five year old was completely engrossed, Gillian went down the hall to the break room.

Their interns were supposed to have prepped everything early this morning, but there was no sign they'd been there. She pulled out the coffee and wheeled it out to the lobby and started the machines. Then she opened all the boxes of crackers and cookies and spread them on trays and took out the charcuterie platters from the fridge. Thank God she did most of this yesterday, she knew they should have hired a caterer.

The door opened behind her and April walked through wearing some sort of fedora. "April, what are you doing here?" asked Gillian, balancing the trays on her arms. Her past limited experience as a waitress was not helping her.

"I thought I'd check it out, since you are publishing Ricky's newest book."

"Of course," said Gillian handing her a tray. That's how April and Ricky had met, at the open house from last year, when Jess had acquired him to write his travel memoirs. "It's been a morning. Run these out to the table would you?"

"Sure."

Gillian took a deep breath. She grabbed two more trays and walked out the door. When she entered the lobby, there was Liz and Doula, both in long skirts, peasant blouses and leather belts and pouches. Jess's family certainly was colorful.

"Gillian, Gillian, Gillian!" said Doula, dancing around her. "Look at my earrings, mom made them, they're little swords, and I have my sketchbook with me. Would you ever publish my sketches? Oh, Lizzy's here!" Gillian sighed in relief as Doula ran off to the kid section and picked Lizzy up, putting her on her lap. Lizzy didn't even bat an eyelash, she was so engrossed in her book. Like father like daughter. Gillian juggled the remaining two trays and checked her phone. Not even a text from Jess.

"Hey daughter of mine, you need some help?" asked Liz.

"That would be great, thanks."

She took the trays from Gillian's arms and set them on the tables and rearranged everything that April had done. In two minutes, the tables looked completely professional. Liz definitely had that eye for aesthetics. At least some good came from family pushing their way in. Liz ran to the back to find some vases and stands to make the trays two levels while Gillian got busy opening the conference room for their two author panels. Just in time as their speakers started to arrive. She and Jess had managed to snag Arthur Ruskin and Adrian Smith-McElroy, two prolific writers Jess had become friends with over the years. They greeted her with hugs and asked where Jess was. This was going to keep happening and she didn't know what to say. "Em, on his way," she said. They nodded without further questions, and walked to the front of the conference room, pulling out their laptops while her tardy- and soon to be former- interns turned on the projectors. Then she opened the press so the kids could tour the machinery and see how their books were made. And finally, she turned on the POS system for purchases. All seemed ok, everyone was in their places, and Jess's family of women were now crowded together, talking near the back hallway while Lizzy ran shrieking through April and Liz's legs with Doula trying to catch her. She was glad Doula was here. Maybe she could set them up in the back room with cookies and punch and some crayons.

The door opened in the front with a jingle and Gillian turned as a man and a girl entered. The girl had bleached hair with an inch of dark grow out, and her eyes were rimmed with black eyeliner under a pair of glasses. And the man. He was pallid with dark circles under his eyes. Gillian's breath caught in her throat. She would know those eyes anywhere. They belonged to her husband, the carbon copy of this man. A ball of anger gathered in her throat. Jess's father had just marched his square jaw into their press and their lives. Suddenly everything made sense. Jess's whole demeanor last night and this morning. Gillian just stared at the man who'd emotionally triggered the love of her life.

Liz gasped. "Jimmy? What in the name of all that is holy are you doing here?"

"Hey Liz. Good to see ya," he said. "You look good."

"You look…"

"I know." Jimmy turned his eyes and locked them on Gillian. "Gillian. You're Gillian," he said, his eyes lighting up. He pointed at her. "Gillian, wow."

She nodded.

"I'm Jimmy. It's so nice to meet you. I've seen your picture online." He took a step toward her. "I'm Jess's…"

"I know who you are," said Gillian. Somehow she'd found her voice. And she'd use it to protect Jess in any way she could.

"Yeah," he said taking a step back, a spark of pain in his eyes. "I'm sure you do. This is Lily." The girl next to him swiped her hand once through the air in a wave. It was weird, they weren't blood related, but she reminded Gillian of April. April who was staring at both of them with eyes narrowed.

"Can I ask why you're here?" asked Gillian, ready to physically push them out the door if she had to.

Jimmy's shoulder's slumped, and he looked even more pale than before.

"We came to talk to Jess," said Lily. "Is he here?"

"No. And even if he was, I'd tell you to leave," said Gillian.

Jimmy took a deep breath and steeled his shoulders. "If I could just talk to you privately," said Jimmy. "I don't want to cause any more pain."

"You've caused enough for a lifetime," said Gillian.

Lizzy grabbed onto Gillian's leg, and she picked her up, holding her daughter to her tightly.

"Oh my God," said Jimmy, his eyes softening. "Lizzy. Is that Lizzy?"

Gillian held her tighter.

Just as she was about to tell them to leave, she heard the door to the back hallway open. She turned around to find Jess looking completely shellshocked in the doorway. Her put-together husband, the one that worked so hard and had so many words had none now.

Lizzy reached for him in her arms.

"Jess," she said, imploring him to turn around.

Then she saw him see him.

His face registered something she'd never seen before. He looked like he was about to cry. Then Jess turned around and disappeared as the door slowly shut behind where he'd stood.