Chapter 109

"I'm sorry Gavin couldn't make the trip with you" Dylan said.

"Yeah, well, he couldn't." said Grace

"That's all right, it gives you time to catch up with all your girls." said Regan.

"And their partners. It seems like everyone has coupled off." said Grace thinking of Stevie's call with James the night before.

"Stevie has been single for a while. Hasn't she?" asked Regan.

"I don't think it's a secret, but Stevie is seeing someone. He called her last night." said Grace.

"Well good on Stevie then. What do you know about him?" said Regan.

"I know it's pretty new, but they had their first date a couple nights ago. His name is James and his son and Xander competed against each other in rodeo. He lives far away. Stevie didn't give me tons of details, but she seems to like him." replied Grace.

"Good for Stevie" said Regan

"Gavin and I are getting divorced." Grace blurted out.

"What? Oh honey, what happened?" said Regan, shocked by her sister's admission.

"Things hadn't been great lately, but I felt like we were working through them, that we still loved each other, then I came home early from work and caught him in our bed with a woman." said Grace

"That bastard, I'll kick his ass, Grace, if you want me to." offered Dylan.

"No, that's not necessary. I threw him out, packed up his things and made him come get them, changed the locks on the flat. The flat I can't afford on just my salary, so I had to break the lease. My stuff is in storage, I have to find a new place to live. I guess I'm technically homeless at the moment. I've hired a solicitor and filed divorce proceedings." said Grace

Regan wrapped her arms around her sister. "Grace, why didn't you tell us sooner? I would have come out there to be with you. You don't have to go through this alone."

"It all just happened in the last month, and I'm kind of ashamed. Another woman whose husband couldn't keep his zipper up. This isn't the first time it's happened to me. I think that maybe, I'm just destined to be alone. I guess some people just don't get the storybook endings, I think that maybe, I'm just one of those people who don't get a happily ever after. I mean I've tried to have it. I wanted to find true love, but Heath cheated on me, Marcus chose Ingrid, and now Gavin cheated on me too. I really tried with Gavin. I think maybe it's me. I'm the common denominator in all of the failed relationships. I think I might just be unlovable. No one seems to love me back," said Grace without shedding a tear. She had cried enough last night and was now just feeling sort of numb.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of. You are NOT unloveable! Fucking Gavin," said Regan.

"Yup. That's what the woman was doing when I walked into the bedroom," said Grace.

"I'm so sorry. You are not unloveable. You are beautiful and so deserving of love, Grace. I'm so sorry he did this to you," said Regan.

"Please don't tell Jaz. This is a big romantic weekend for her and Ben. I don't want to ruin it with the news that my marriage is ending. I'll tell her a little later, but I couldn't keep it from you any longer. I had a total breakdown with Stevie last night. She had to put me to bed after I sobbed myself to sleep. It was pretty rough. I'm not in a great place right now, but I'm glad I have my sister with me," said Grace.

"You do have your sister with you now and we will get you through this. I'm so sorry Grace. I love you and I'm here for you. I hope you tell Jaz soon. She's here for you too," said Regan.

"Thank you. I love you too, Regan. I will tell Jaz, but just not yet. I don't want her memories of Ben's wonderful surprise tainted with the news that her big sister's life is falling apart. Please don't tell her, Regan," requested Grace.

"It's your news to tell. Dylan and I will keep our mouths shut. Right Dill?"

"Of course Grace. Do you want me to arrange an AFP raid on Gavin's home.? I would do that for you. I love you Grace. I'm sorry you have to go through this," said Dylan, feeling furious with his brother-in-law.

"Let's keep the Australian Federal Police out of the situation please," laughed Grace, appreciating the gesture from her brother-in-law.

"You know I couldn't do it anyway. I was just trying to make you feel better. I couldn't abuse my power as an officer of the law like that. I will help you however I can though," said Dylan.

"I know, but thanks Dylan." said Grace.

"What can we do for you?" asked Regan

"I don't think there's really all that much you can do. Just being here with me is helping. I have a lot of things to process and deal with and a lot of the feelings really aren't good ones. I just need you near me for now. I feel lost and confused, and ugly, and vulnerable and worthless. I'm just so angry. Angry I wasted eight years, good years on that fucking tosser. I wanted children, but he kept convincing me to put it off, until it was just too late. We were on the older side for kids when we got married to start with. Now I'm forty-five, single and childless. Fucking Gavin. I'll never get to experience that. I think I might have liked to be a mom," admitted Grace.

"I'm sorry Grace, so sorry, but if it helps to make you feel better, even if Gavin was onboard and wanted kids too and you started trying right away, there's no guarantee you would have had them. Dylan and I have been trying for the last four years, and still no kids." said Regan.

"You have? I thought you guys didn't want kids. I thought you were enjoying the childfree plan?" said Grace

"We are enjoying our life, we just thought it would be even more fun with a baby or two." said Dylan.

"Grace, there are other ways to become a mother if that's what you really want. You could get a sperm donor and try it that way, or you could try to adopt," said Regan.

"I guess that's true. It's certainly not how I envisioned it happening though. I doubt I could even get pregnant with a sperm donor at this point anyway. I reckon I'm too old for that, and my life is too much of a mess right now to involve a child right now anyway."

"If I've learned anything in my life, it's that life doesn't usually go the way you've planned it or wanted it to. Dylan and I have decided to adopt a child. We have been working with a social worker for a while and hopefully we will be matched to a baby soon," said Regan.

"That's wonderful guys! Such great news. I'll be an aunt again! I can still be an awesome aunt if I can't be a mother. Thanks for telling me that. It has helped me feel a little better," said Grace.

"I'm glad our news helped you feel better, Grace. I'm so sorry you are hurting like this. I'm here, and I will get you through this. You are my sister and I love you. We will get through this together. I promise," said Regan.

"When are you going to announce your big news? Jaz will be thrilled for a cousin for Kelly." said Grace.

"This is Jaz's big weekend, so we are waiting to share our news too." said Dylan.

"It looks like we both have some secrets to keep for the next few days. I'm glad yours is a happy secret at least." said Grace. "You guys will be great parents."