A couple of weeks into January and Debbie sat across from Tammy for coffee.

"The kids are finally back in school, thank god. Also, I love your scarf!"

"Lou got it for me." Debbie smiled and snuggled into the scarf.

"She chose well, that color looks amazing on you." The waitress brings their order to the table. "So, how are you two doing?"

"Tammy. Tammy, I'm so happy. I haven't been this happy in…. I don't think I've ever been this happy if I'm being honest. Not even with Claude."

Debbie's ex husband, Claude Becker, was the man of her dreams. Tall, handsome, a writer and English. Or so she thought. Their relationship was the stuff movie scripts were written about. That is until he committed identity fraud, framed Debbie and ran away. Debbie was facing serious jail time, but luckily he was caught. Tammy's husband served as Debbie's lawyer and was able to prove that Claude was alone in his criminal activity. The divorce was almost ten years ago and ever since Debbie hadn't let anyone truly get close to her for fear of having something horrible happen to her because of one of her relationships again.

"It shows. You smile at nothing and your skin is positively radiant. If I didn't know any better I'd think you were pregnant."

Debbie snorted, "ok."

Just then Lou walked in. She stood just inside the door looking for Debbie. She found her and quickly made her way over.

"Hey, Babe, hey, Tammy." She bent down and gave Debbie a quick kiss. "The keys?"

"Here you go, I'm gonna need those back though."

"You'll get them back tonight, I promise." She waved bye to the two of them and ran out of the coffee shop.

"What was that all about?"

"She locked her keys in her apartment so she came to get mine to get in."

"You have a key? She gave you a key?"

Debbie nods. "Right after our midnight New Year kiss she slipped it in my hand."

"You guys are getting pretty serious then."

"Yeah, I know and I'm a little bit terrified."

"Oh, Debbie, don't do this to yourself. She's a good person."

"I thought Claude was too."

"Debbie, look at me. Lou isn't Claude. She's a good person that is so into you it's almost annoying. You have nothing to worry about. You can let go and just let yourself be happy."

"Thanks, sometimes I need to be reminded."

"Ok, I've gotta pop into the bathroom."

As Tammy walks away Debbie looks through her emails and one stands out in particular. She received an email from Danny's former realty group. They wanted to meet with her and discuss a potential business opportunity.

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Later that week, the day she was supposed to meet with Danny's old team, Debbie arrived at Lou's place completely agitated. And Lou noticed immediately.

"Hey, Deb, what's wrong?"

Debbie had barely walked in, left the door open and was pacing behind the couch.

"I met with them. You know what they want? They want me to fill Danny's spot. They said Danny always spoke so highly of me and they only waited because they wanted to respect my time of mourning. Then, when I was leaving the meeting I walk past a bookstore with a giant poster of his fucking face on it-"

"Danny?"

"What? No, Claude. Can you believe he's writing a book? Yeah, turns out he got out early for good behavior and now he's playing the fucking victim and writing a book about it. I cannot BELIEVE THIS." Debbie was furious.

"Deb, honey, you're not making any sense." Lou was now standing in front of her worried.

Debbie stopped pacing and looked at her. Everything was happening so fast. It felt like the walls were closing in on her. She felt like she couldn't breathe. Everything happened so fast with Lou and then her late brother's company wanted her to fill his position and now her criminal ex-husband wrote a book about his whole ordeal and undoubtedly would make himself out to be the victim while Debbie would be painted to look like the villain for turning on her husband. Debbie needed to think. She needed time to sort through this hurricane that her life had suddenly turned into.

"Lou, I need some time to myself."

"Ok, sure, I'll go pick up some take out and you stay here. Take a hot shower, it'll make you feel better." Lou goes to pick up her purse.

"No, Lou, I need some time to myself…. from us."

"What?" Lou's mouth went dry.

"Too much is happening too quickly and I….I don't know anymore."

"You don't know what?"

"I just….don't know."

"Debbie…"

Debbie started backing away. "I'm sorry, Lou. I just need time to figure everything out. I'm sorry."