CHAPTER 28

"Can I just say that this is a new Madeleine Casey that I'm seeing and I like her. She is confident and seems very happy. I hope I helped with that in some way," said Dr. Jenkins. She had spent the better part of the last year pouring her heart out to him and he had been concerned that she would never find the way forward. But here she was, sitting in his office looking healthy and more radiant than he had ever seen her.

"You did, Dr. Jenkins. You guided me through a very difficult time and I will always be thankful for that. It feels good to know exactly what I want out of my life and the time has come for me to start living it. No more indecision, no more anger, no more regret…and most of all, no more tears," said Maddy.

"Unless they're happy tears," replied Dr. Jenkins.

"I've cried many of those over the last few weeks and it feels good," said Maddy, her bright smile beaming.

"It became clear to me early on in your therapy that your happiness would be with him, but you had to figure that out for yourself," he said.

"Thank God I did. I don't know how much longer I could have lasted in the turmoil, to be honest. It was all getting to be too much to deal with. It was doing my head in."

"I had some concerns that you might have a breakdown and that's part of the reason I wanted to talk to Jackson and Matt together. They needed to know the toll it was taking on you."

"It helped a lot, Dr. Jenkins. They called a truce shortly after their session with you. But now…" Maddy's voice trailed off, but she was determined not to shed another single tear in sadness.

"How has he been doing since you made your decision?"

"He's upset, of course, but he told me he wasn't surprised. He said he knew it in his heart all along," said Maddy.

"He'll always have a place in your life," said Dr. Jenkins.

"Of course he will. We still share so much together."

"And you still have feelings for him."

"I do, but I'm emotionally strong enough now to handle that. In fact, I feel very lucky that I have the love of two very special men."

"You're about to go through a lot of changes, Maddy. Are you prepared for that?"

"I feel more resilient than I ever have, Dr. Jenkins, and I'm confident that I can handle whatever comes my way."

"Have you considered that there will finally be a dissolution of one marriage and the resuming of another, a custody agreement to work out, living arrangements. It could get a little overwhelming for you," said Dr. Jenkins.

"I've dealt with being overwhelmed for a long time, Dr. Jenkins. I'm more than prepared for this. I know it will be hard, but I know in my heart that I've made the right choices and I have the man I love to support me. And you're always a phone call away."

"That, I am. How are the children doing through all of this?"

"They're still so young, they don't really understand it all. They will both still have their fathers in their lives. Not much will change, except for where we'll be living."

"In the new house he built for you?"

"Yes, it makes the most sense to live there. He built it for us and our family. It's a beautiful house. He and his team did an amazing job. Both of the boys have already adapted to their new surroundings."

"What about Harper?"

"She'll be starting at Northwestern this fall, so she'll be staying on campus. She'll be with us from time to time, dividing her breaks from school between us and her father in Texas. It's important to her to keep him in her life."

"It sounds as though everything is falling into place, Maddy. I am genuinely happy for you."

"It's been a long time coming, Dr. Jenkins, but it was worth the wait, every frustration and the millions of tears I seemed to shed since Wyatt was born," said Maddy. She meant every word she said. As heart-wrenching as the last twelve months had been, the happiness she now felt lifted her up to a higher plain and she could see everything clearly. She felt as though nothing that the world could throw at her would upset the amount of love, security and joy she was experiencing.

"You're finally at peace, Maddy," said Dr. Jenkins, pulling off his glasses and laying them down on his long yellow pad. It was the same pad he had been writing on since Maddy first came to him, seeking his help, almost a year ago.

"Yes, I most definitely am."