Jill was a bit surprised a month later when she heard that Greg and Stacy were dating. She couldn't imagine what he saw in her, much less that he would start seeing someone so soon after they had broken up. She felt a sense of betrayal about the whole thing, but vowed to herself that she wouldn't let him get the satisfaction of having someone while she didn't have anyone. It took exactly two days for her to remedy that, when she accepted a date with a good looking man she met at work. He was a sales rep for one of the suppliers to the company, and she had one of the guys from purchasing introduce her to him. His name was David, and he found Jill to be quite attractive and charming. Before he left, he asked her if she wanted to get together for a drink that evening. Jill tried not to sound too eager in her acceptance, but suggested a time, and they agreed on a place that was close to the building she worked in. Jill felt like she was finally moving on after being so depressed about her and Greg.
She was waiting at the bar when he came in. She wished she had gone home and changed before coming, but when he commented on how nice her dress was, she thought maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all. They moved to a table after getting drinks and made small talk about themselves. When David mentioned he had a motorcycle, Jill's eyes lit up. "I haven't been on a bike in so long, I've forgotten what it was like."
"Well, maybe I can take you for a ride sometime."
"I'd enjoy that."
"Maybe this weekend, if you're not busy."
"I don't think I have any plans." Jill thought that this was her lucky day.
Greg and Stacy had gone on the trip to the Bahamas that Greg had booked before Jill left him, and he had come back feeling better about their relationship. She had coaxed him into trying all sorts of things he had never done before, and her love of the sand and ocean had made her even less inhibited that she already was naturally. On the night before they were to leave for home, she laid on top of him and spoke in a soft whisper. "Oh God Greg, I love you. Promise me we can come here again. Maybe for our honeymoon."
"Sure. Anything you want." He held her close and whispered in her ear. "I love you too."
Dianne saw Jill's demeanor change appreciably as soon as she started seeing more of David. She hoped Jill was making clear-headed decisions, not just jumping into something she might regret later. She wasn't sure what it was, but she had a strange feeling about Jill.
Jill was finding that David was a different sort of guy from Greg; she was going to different sorts of places with him, places she never imagined herself going to. His friends all seemed to have uncertain sources of regular income and thought nothing of staying out all night, every night. Through it all, Jill never questioned what she was doing. She had control over her life, and she was going to exercise it to the fullest. But the pace at which she was going was starting to take a toll on her physically. She always felt run-down, and when she mentioned it to David, he told her he knew how to fix it. It was her introduction to what would eventually bring her world crashing down around her.
Greg thought it was best that Stacy not move in for the time being. He was afraid of a repeat of what happened with Jill, and Stacy respected his reasoning. The fact that they lived so close to each other made it an easy choice.
Lisa decided she needed to have a heart-to-heart talk with Greg and called him at work to see if he was free for lunch. She had a worried mother's tone to her voice as she spoke. "You know Eric and I are happy for you. We just don't want you to jump into something you'll be sorry about later."
"No, I'm comfortable with this. I had some reservations at first, but I've worked through them in my mind."
"I like Stacy, I may not agree with everything she's ever done, but I don't think she's a bad person. Do you have confidence in her?"
"I believe what she's told me. She's quite upfront about herself, as you know."
"Yes, she is that. Obviously, she's looking for something long term with you, because I know you, and if she wasn't, you wouldn't waste your time."
"I think we want the same things, and those things are long term."
"You know, I've had a suspicion about how she felt about you for a long time. It came to me recently, but in retrospect, I guess I should've put it together sooner. I always wondered if she was right for you, but if you are certain in your mind, then I will trust that she must be."
"I get the feeling everyday that I spend with her that I'm in the right relationship with the right person, for the right reasons. If I don't feel like that at some point in the future, then I'll have to step back and re-evaluate. Maybe I should've done that with Jill."
"Well, she sort of blindsided you, with the bit about controlling her."
"Yeah, I guess so. I have no idea where that came from."
Jill stood up and walked out of the office, barely able to contain her anger. She couldn't believe they had just told her she was fired. She hadn't done those things they said she did, it was a misunderstanding, she was sure. She got her purse and left the building, not knowing where she was going, but certain they were wrong.
When she got home several hours later, she gave Dianne a piece of her mind. "How could you? Why would you let them say things like that about me?"
"Jill, you aren't seeing the point here. I didn't do anything to you, you brought this on yourself. People do notice the things you do, as much as you might like to think otherwise."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Jill, you used to be a dependable worker, but you turned into something that you used to criticise all the time. The person who called in late, or called off altogether, without really having a good excuse. When you did bother to show up, you weren't accomplishing anything. There's only so much smoking weed, and popping pills, and staying out til all hours of the night you can do before it catches up to you."
Jill's face reddened at the last accusation. "You don't have any right to tell me how I should live my life."
"No, but I do have the right to tell you I don't like what you do. Is living the way you want worth losing your job? Now you have all the time in the world to get high."
"You make me sound like a crack fiend. I don't need to be made to feel like a shit."
"Maybe you do. It might wake you up and help you see what you're doing to yourself. Do you think you could go a whole day with taking any pills? I doubt it."
Jill stared at her. "I'm not going to stand here and listen to this anymore." She turned towards the door.
"If you come back here on something, you might as well start looking for someplace else to live."
Jill slammed the door.
Tracy popped her head into Greg's office. "What are you doing Sunday evening?"
"I don't think I have anything planned, why?"
"My parents want you to come to their house for dinner. Our family always has Sunday dinner, and they've heard so much about you, they want to meet you. And Stacy can come too, of course."
Greg smiled at her. "Tell your parents it would be our pleasure to be their guest. What time?"
"Usually we eat around 6. Depends on when eveyone gets there. Let's say 5:30, so they'll have time to visit before."
Greg shook the hand of a short, slim man that Tracy was the spitting image of. "Nice to meet you Mr. Berardinelli."
"Call me Angie, everyone calls me Angie. Hello young lady, glad you could come and join us." Stacy shook his hand and soon Mrs. Berardinelli had come from the kitchen to greet the guests. Greg held out the gift he had brought. "We didn't want to come empty handed, so we picked up some wine." Her mother was was all smiles. "You didn't have to do that, but that's sweet of you. I can see why Tracy says such nice things about you." Greg, Stacy and Angie went into the living room, the two women going back into the kitchen, and Angie asked about their drive out. Soon, a young man came into the house, and Angie introduced his son Frank to the guests. Frank excused himself and went into the kitchen and Angie shook his head. "That boy, he'll be the death of his mother yet. Got such a head on his shoulders but wastes his life away on painting."
Greg was curious. "Like pictures? Not house painting, right?"
"Exactly. He's got talent, but he'll never make a living doing it."
"You'd be surprised at what people can make a living doing these days Angie."
Soon, a man and woman came in, and this was the other daughter, Mary Ann and her husband Jim. They took seats in the living room, and within a few minutes Tracy came from the kitchen to say that it was time to eat. Everyone made their way to the dinner table and Greg and Stacy were given the seats closet to the head of the table where Angie sat. When everyone was seated and food on the table, Angie asked if Greg would give the blessing. Greg was nervous, not wanting to offend his hosts, but after he paused for a moment, he began. "Lord, bless this food we are about to receive, and bless the hands that prepared it, that we may use it to nourish our bodies to continue to serve our savior, your son Jesus Christ. These things we ask", he paused for a second then in almost one breath he continued, "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen." He peeked out the corner of his eye until he saw Angie make the sign of the cross. Angie gave him a slight smile, and then he felt Stacy's hand pat him on the leg. He guessed he had done OK.
As they drove home, Stacy turned in her seat to face him. "Very impressive there, I didn't know you had that in you."
"That was the prayer my grandfather used to say. I remember it well. Had to modify it at the end though."
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "He would've been proud of you. You know what Tracy's mother said to me?"
"I can only imagine"
"She said 'you'd better marry that boy, he's a keeper'"
Greg smiled. "Am I now?"
"Well, I think you are. I might just have to keep you now that it's been confirmed."