Changed Roles, chapter 8

Francine stood at the door to Michael's apartment and looked down disapprovingly at the outfit that she was wearing. Michael had called her while she was choosing what she would wear for their evening together and he had asked her to dress "casually" because he wanted them to be able to be comfortable. Francine left a pile of designer dresses lying on her bed and put on a burgundy colored cowl neck cashmere sweater and gray corduroy pants. I could imagine Amanda wearing this outfit on a date but me…well she landed Lee when no one else could and I'm still alone so maybe I should take a page out of her playbook. Francine put on her best agent face, rang the doorbell and was surprised by how quickly Michael answered the door.

"Hello, I'm so glad that you accepted my invitation on such short notice. Come in; dressing casually really suits you," Michael said as he looked Francine over from head to toe.

"Thank you, for the dinner invitation and the compliment; I wasn't sure where we stood after you left town abruptly and then didn't call me or respond to the messages I left with your secretary." I'm in no mood to beat around the bush and I hope that you're going to be equally straight with me.

"That's one of the things that drew me to you from the beginning; you say what you're thinking and let the chips fall where they may," Michael said with a smile as the lines at the corner of his eyes crinkled. "This past week has been hell; why can't other women be as honest as you are," Michael said tiredly as he and Francine walked towards opposite ends of his sofa. "Why don't you take off your shoes; I want you to feel at home here. May I get you a glass of wine? I can get you something stronger but I don't want to go there myself tonight."

"Wine would be fine for me as well; I have to be at work early tomorrow morning," Francine replied as Michael walked to the small bar in the corner of the room. I just got here and he wants me to take my shoes off, oh hell, why not I took off more than that before dinner the last time I was here. Francine slipped off her shoes and made herself comfortable at the end of the sofa as Michael returned with their wine glasses. He handed Francine her glass and then proceeded to sit at the opposite end of the sofa to Francine's disappointment. Francine took a sip from her glass and then looked squarely at Michael, "I'm glad that you appreciate my bluntness because there is something that's been bothering me since you called me last week."

"I want you to feel as though you can ask me anything; what's bothering you," Michael replied sincerely.

"When you broke our date last Saturday you said that you had to go to New York to deal with a family emergency but whenever you've spoken to me about your family in the past you've talked about Boston." Michael opened his mouth to reply but the look on Francine's face told him that she wasn't finished yet so he allowed her to continue speaking. "As I told you when we spoke earlier when I hadn't heard from you after several days I tried to contact you through your secretary and she repeatedly told me that you were away on business and she hadn't heard from you. Michael, you're as committed to your career as I am to mine, it isn't like you to drop out of contact with your office for that long. What's really going on with you?"

"You're right, my career is very important to me, since I've been living all alone in DC I've let my career take over my life. The emergency I was dealing with was very private and my secretary didn't need to know the truth," Michael replied.

"What about me, Michael, do I merit an honest explanation," Francine asked with more emotion in her voice than she had intended.

"Yes, of course you deserve an honest explanation and you got one, I was dealing with a family emergency. I wouldn't lie to you; you are the first woman that I've let myself get truly close to since…Liza."

"You told me that you were married briefly; was Liza your wife," Francine questioned.

Michael emptied his glass in one long drink and then replied," Yes, I was happily married for two months but apparently she wasn't, I came home one night and she was sitting in the living room with two packed suitcases. She said that she was sorry but she realized that she wasn't cut out for marriage and she thought that the best thing that we could do was make a clean break." Francine sat silently as Michael got up, walked back to the bar, and poured himself a scotch. "I know I said I wasn't going to go this route but if you want your explanation I'm going to need this drink."

"I'm sorry that Liza hurt you but wasn't that a long time ago," Francine asked.

"Sixteen years ago, but sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday. I stood in front of Liza and begged her to tell me what I'd done wrong; I assured her that I could and would change for her. Liza told me that I hadn't done anything wrong; she'd simply concluded that she wasn't meant to be married and wanted to be free to see where life led her." Michael took a gulp of his drink and then looked at Francine who was waiting for him to continue his story. "Liza told me that she would have a lawyer contact me about the divorce and I didn't hear from her again until last Saturday."

"Has she changed her mind after all this time; does she want you back in her life," Francine asked incredulously.

"No, she called me because she's facing a life or death emergency and I'm her only hope, her daughter needs a kidney transplant and Liza isn't a compatible donor but the girl's father might be."

"Are you telling me that you have a daughter," Francine asked as Michael sunk down on the sofa next to her.

"That's exactly what I asked Liza; I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea," Michael confided as he looked at Francine intently. "I'm so mixed up, that's why I need your help, you're so together and I'm desperately hoping that you care enough about me to help me get through this."