Ok, so I've changed the end of this cahpter 4 times now....I think I got it this time. I like this chapter more than the last two I hope you all do too. There will be one more chapter asfter this maybe two...we'll see how that goes....wish me luck (I also want to say with the last two chapters I had wanted there to be a steamy moment between Gill and Paul but my muse took it and went the opposite way)

Lunch passed quickly enough, without incident. Though Gillian was sure that Cal sensed the tension she felt every time Paul came into room. And the apologetic looks from Shirley.

The after noon passed quickly, they played Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly. Gillian guessed Cal only put up with the mindlessness of the games was because he was trying to figure out what had happened to her earlier. She was grateful that he was keeping to observation instead of getting up in their faces and being all Cal-ish.

The snow still hadn't let up by the time the sun went down which was early on a count of the winter hours. By four thirty the B&B was lit only by lamps, candles and fireplaces.

"It's all so perfectly romantic." Cal observed as they moved out of the dinning room into the cozy living room.

Gillian couldn't help but smile at him.

"It's making me nauseous, really."

"And you wonder why you're divorced." She replied. He shrugged.

"Not really, Zoe told me what I was doing wrong all the time." She shook her head at him.

There was a pause. Gillian scrambled for something to talk about before Cal could start asking questions.

"Did you call Emily?" She knew he was going to see through her. She prayed he would go along with her anyway but Paul came out of the dinning room. He kept going but cast a sideways glance. She tensed up before she could control her reaction to him. She lowered her head and looked away. It was something she always did when she wanted to avoid someone or an argument.

"So, he try and kiss you then?" It was an educated guess, while not entirely accurate he knew something. She didn't answer, "Well he did something', I can tell that much."

"I was alone in the hall upstairs…" she paused, wondering if she really was seeing a flash of jealousy in Cal's eyes, whatever it was he masked it with concern, "He approached me. I told him I wasn't interested." She shrugged.

Cal shifted from one foot to the other,

"Naw, that's not all of it. He put his hands on you?" She felt her face flush, she hated that she could play the deception game with Cal but never against him. "Better tell me or I'll go ask him." he started to move away but she grabbed him.

"You'll do no such thing."

"Oh, I think you know me well enough to know that I would."

She sighed.

"I was helping Lana with her baby." She gave him a warning with her eyes not to comment, "I had just come out of her room when Paul found me at the top of the stairs. He had heard me talking to Lana about Sophie." She lowered her gaze, hoping not to tear up again, "He used my pain to try and get close to me. I told him I wasn't interested but he still wouldn't let me go. Shirley saw us," she smiled then, "She told him off."

"Serves him right, he's just lucky I didn't see him manhandling ye. I'd 'ave punched the git." Cal replied flippantly.

"Funny, before you were so intent on pushing me into a bed with him."

"Ya, well that was before he turned out to be a tosser."

She smiled but then felt the melancholy from the thought of Sophie seep back in. it was almost two years but longing hadn't faded any. She still wanted a child.

"Oh, Luv, you don't really want that." She gave him a questioning look, "Her husband wants to cheat on her."

"Excuse me?" She was completely lost.

"He hasn't had sex in almost a year. Is that really what you want, a screaming baby and a husband that wants to cheat on you?"

She was always frightened at how astute Cal could be sometimes.

"I already had a cheating husband." She offered, she felt her lower lip quiver. "I'd take that again if it gave me a baby."

Cal reached out and cupped her face in his hand. His thumb brushed a tear she hadn't noticed had slipped out away. She felt her heart leap, she was sure she saw something in his eyes this time. He seemed to be moving closer, a question on his face. She opened her mouth to say yes, as her hand came up to cover his.

Then the lights flickered and went out.

It was impossibly dark before her eyes adjusted in the light from the fire place. She did notice right away that Cal had dropped his hand but she couldn't see his face well enough in the dark to gauge where he was emotionally.

Shirley came bustling in before Gillian could ask him.

"Don't panic. I'll get the candles." She opened cabinets in the living room and began handing out large chunky white candles. "Once we're settled if anyone is interested I have Pictionary and Head Bands"

Shirley's enthusiasm didn't quite cut into Gillian's confusion about what had almost happened before the lights went out. She checked Cal's face but he didn't seem bothered at all.

With whatever had almost happened, effectively ruined, Gillian decided she would rather spend the last few hours before night alone in her room. She slipped away while Cal was temporarily distracted by Sasha.

She went into the bathroom to change into her pajamas as soon as she was alone.

"There you are." Cal's voice startled her as she came out of the bathroom. He moved around the bed to his side and placed his candle on the dresser, adding more but not much light to the room. She watched him as he took off his suit jacket and tossed it onto his suitcase.

He moved to the end of the bed, facing her and she realised that she was alone in a bedroom with him again.

To Be Continued…