Dianne wasn't surprised when Jill came in the next morning, but she was scared when she saw how Jill looked. Her dress was torn and she looked dazed and afraid. Her arm had scratches and bruise marks, and though Dianne couldn't see them, she had bruises on her back as well. "What happened?"
"I'm such a fool. Why do I let myself get into these things?"
"Who did this to you?"
Jill sat down and put her hands on her head. "David. He went crazy."
Dianne knelt next to her and looked at her arm. "Why? What happened?"
"One of his friends tried to make a move on me while he was passed out, and when I told him, he went into a rage and thought it was my fault. I didn't do anything."
She put an arm around Jill. "I'm sorry. Now I feel like this is partly my fault."
"Don't be. I'm the one who got myself into this. I just want it to stop." Jill started to cry, and Dianne pulled her close. She felt sad for Jill, but a bit angry also. "I'll call work and then take you to a doctor."
Greg was sitting at his desk when Tracy came in. "We had a wonderful time last night. Your family is great. Thanks for inviting us."
"Well, they were happy to have you over. You really blew my mother away, Greg. Good thing you have a girlfriend, or my mother would want me to snatch you up for myself." She laughed and Greg smiled broadly at her. "I never figured you for the religious type."
"Oh, I guess I picked something up from all those times as a kid going to church with my grandparents. They were very devout."
"I don't think my father would've expected as nice a blessing from the Pope himself. He was shaking his head after you left. You did something no one has ever done, you left him speechless."
"Well, it's a gift I suppose." He smiled again.
"I think you're just too modest for your own good Greg. I hope Stacy understands what she's got in you."
"I can't speak for her, but I have a good idea what she thinks."
Greg stopped at the White Horse after work, he knew Stacy wasn't going to be home until later. He felt the butterflies in his stomach when he saw Maggie, but she gave him a warm hug. "How are you?"
"Doing well. How about yourself?"
"I'm doing fantastic. Busier than ever, but really good."
"That's great. How's the cello?"
She laughed. "It misses you, but it's fine. We have another recital in a few weeks, so I've been putting a lot of time into reheasal. And...", she looked down at the floor then smiled, "I met this guy. He's really wonderful, a lot like you."
"Good for you. He better be good to you or else."
"Oh, he is very good to me. Don't worry. How's your girl? Good I hope."
"She's fine. We are doing great. I'm really happy with how things have worked out so far."
"I guess we've done pretty well then."
He smiled at her. "I guess so. I'm glad we were able to help each other out. It still means a lot to me."
"Me too."
He went home and changed, then walked to Stacy's apartment. She had just gotten out of the shower and was wrapped in a towel when she met him at the door. "Hi there. Let me put something on. Sit."
He opened his paper and was reading when the phone rang. "Get that please."
He answered the phone. The voice was a man's. "Uh, is Stacy there?"
He handed the phone to her. "Hello? Oh hi. Really? Well, I don't think so. Its been so long and I'm involved with someone now. No, it's OK. Yeah. Bye." She hung up and looked at Greg. "I'm sorry. An old acquaintence. Sometimes they call, and I have to tell them I'm not available anymore."
Greg shrugged his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I trust you."
She moved over to him and put her arms around his shoulders, her wet hair brushing his arm. She smelled of soap and deodorant. "I wouldn't trade you for any of those other men. You're the one I want. I've made up my mind about that, and nothings gonna change it." She kissed him and he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"It's not like you haven't had a life before you started seeing me. It's OK."
"I just want it to be clear in your mind. Everything in the past didn't amount to anything as far as I'm concerned. We're going to have a life that's just ours. No one is gonna get in the way of that if I can help it." Greg was sure that she meant that.
Dianne saw him as the cab pulled up and looked at Jill. "Don't say anything to him. Nothing. Got it?" Jill nodded, and Dianne paid the fare and got out. David started to walk towards them and Dianne held her hand out. "You'd better go, and don't come back or else I'm gonna call the cops."
Jill didn't even look at him as he called to her. "Jill. Listen to me. I'm sorry."
"Just go David. Don't come here anymore. And don't call. You're lucky I haven't called the cops on you already" Dianne had an edge to her voice that forced David to heed her warning. He backed his way down the street and then turned and walked briskly. The women went inside and Dianne told Jill to try and get some sleep. Jill walked towards her room and then looked back. "Why? After what I've done, why do you still want to help me?"
"Because I'm your friend, and I care about what happens to you, even when you don't." Jill felt her humiliation was complete.
They walked into the arrivals area at LaGuardia, and Stacy wondered why Greg was holding her hand so tight. "Try and relax, before you break my hand, please."
"Sorry. Aren't you the least bit nervous?"
"No, they're my parents." She smiled at him in a mocking way. "You'll be fine."
They got to the gate and sat waiting for the flight to come in. Stacy had told him all about her mother and step-father; how she had always had something of an mature relationship with them, and how they had suported her in everything she did. Stacy regretted that she didn't get a chance to see them more than once at year. When the plane pulled up at the gate, Greg felt the butterflies, as he usually did when he was really nervous. He kind of pushed Stacy towards the door when she caught sight of them coming up the ramp, and the look of happiness on her mother's face was enough to make Greg feel as though his nervousness was going to be for nothing. She turned around and introduced them. "Andy, Mom this is Greg. Greg, you can figure out which is which." Her laugh was the final ice breaker for him.
They got the luggage and got settled in the car. Stacy was the one who made the announcement. "We've had a change in plans. Greg's boss offered us the use of his house on Long Island for a couple of days, so we decided to take you there." Her mother was surprised. "What about our hotel? We have reservations."
"I called and changed them. That's what you get for sending me the confirmation number. It's only for 2 days."
Andy spoke up. "Well, what's it gonna hurt Sam? It sounds good to me."
Stacy looked at her mother. "Did you come to see me, or sightsee? The city will still be there in 2 days"
Sam relented. "OK, OK. Does she do this to you too Greg?"
Greg smiled. "All the time."
Greg and Stacy arrived at the party a bit late, which was irritating to Stacy, as she was always on time for everything. Greg had told her to relax, it wasn't a big deal to not be the first ones there. It was Mark and Sandy's friends who were throwing this party, and Greg was a bit surprised to be invited, but decided to go anyway. It wasn't often they got a chance to mingle with the Upper East Side crowd. They were introduced to the hosts by Sandy, and then Greg went off into the kitchen and Stacy was shown the apartment by the wife, who seemed to enjoy being a tour guide. Greg saw Mark and was surprised when he realized it was Dianne he was chatting with. He made his way over and said hello. "I see they let anyone in this place."
Mark laughed. "I was about to say the same thing to you. Where's Stacy?"
"I think they were checking her ID. She's around here somewhere. How are you Dianne?"
Dianne smiled. "I'm fine, keeping busy. Mark, I need to talk to Greg for a minute."
Mark took the hint. "I guess I'll go see where Sandy has run off to." He patted Greg on the shoulder and left the two of them. Dianne looked serious now.
Stacy was impressed by the tour of the apartment. It was a big place, and was nicely decorated. Her hostess had brought her back to the living room, and then excused herself to greet some new arrivals. Stacy wasn't sure where Greg had run off to, and was looking around for him when she noticed someone in the corner. She went over, but felt awkward. "Hi Jill. What a surprise to see you."
Jill wondered how gracious she could be under the circumstances. "Hi Stacy. How are you?"
Stacy pulled a chair over and sat down next to Jill. "I'm good. It's been awhile. How have you been?"
Jill hesitated for a minute. "I've been better. Things haven't been so great lately."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope things get better for you." She leaned in, not sure that she should say what was on her mind. "Jill, I really miss you. You were a great pal. No one should be ashamed of things they do for what they think are the right reasons. Don't think for a minute that Greg has ever said a bad word about you to me."
Jill avoided eye contact, but put her hand on Stacy's knee. "Thank you. I wish I could believe that I made the right choice, but I'm certain I didn't. I don't have any hard feelings. My stupidity is your good fortune, I don't have anyone to blame but myself." She had a tear running down her cheek as the last words came out of her mouth, and Stacy looked around for someplace to go. She noticed the sliding glass door behind her and took Jill by the hand and led her onto the balcony. Jill sobbing increased as the door closed behind them. "I can't believe I'm so stupid. The only man who ever loved me, and I threw him away."
"Shhh. Don't beat yourself up over this." She held Jill by the shoulders. "You can find happiness Jill. It's not easy, but it's attainable. You can't let yourself get caught in a trap by thinking that you aren't good enough or worthy of being loved."
"Sometimes I think that I'll always have to settle for creeps and losers. I just don't want to keep making the same mistakes for the rest of my life."
She knew how Jill felt. She'd felt the same way herself in the past. "It's hard. I know. But you have to find that one thing in a person that you can't live without, and then work on it from there. You can do it Jill, because I know you are as strong as I am." She tok a tissue from her purse and handed it to Jill.br>"You know, when I heard about you and Greg, I really hated you. I couldn't believe you would move in like that. I felt betrayed. But I guess I was wrong. I hope you appreciate him more than I did."
"If I was in your place, I'd have felt the same way. I hope someone will be able to give you the happiness you deserve. Just keep believing that it will happen. You'll find it."
Jill wiped the last tears from her eyes and reached out to Stacy. "Thanks."
Stacy returned her embrace. "Don't mention it. Maybe we should go back inside."
"You go, I'll be in in a minute. If you see Dianne, tell her I'm out here."
"I will." She went back in and saw Dianne immediately, and motioned for her to come over. Dianne had a curious look on her face. "She's out there, she wants you."
"Is everything OK?"
"I think so."
They drove home from the party and Greg had listened to Stacy's account of her talk with Jill. "She's really in bad shape."
Stacy was curious. "What did Dianne say?" He told her what had been told to him. Stacy sighed. "That's terrible. I really feel bad for her. I hope our talk helped her some."
"Whether it helps will depend on whether she's willing to pick herself up and move forward. I hope she can."
"I do too."