“Bridget, you look lovely as usual” for just an instant her smile faltered. She quickly recovered and took her seat. “You look great too. Jason before anything else is said tonight, I want to apologize. I never should have left you the way that I did. I was just so frustrated with how things were going between us. I didn’t know what else to do. I felt I needed to somehow get your attention”. Bridget tossed her beautiful hair to one side, reached out to hold Jason’s hands and looked at him longingly. Jason felt slightly guilty as Bridget continued on “What is going on with us? Lately, you’ve seemed so withdrawn, distracted even” the waiter came over to take their order. This gave Jason a moment to gather his thoughts as they placed their order. He waited until the waiter left to say what needed to be said “Bridget, there is no need for you to apologize. This time has given both of us a chance to really think about our relationship. In the beginning after you left I was angry. But then those few days gave me a chance to really think and put things into perspective. I realized you deserve so much more than what I can give you”. This conversation wasn’t going at all as Bridget had envisioned it. “What are you talking about Jason?”. Bridget was starting to get nervous “After talking with your father, I now understand the stress you’ve been under at work. You could have talked to me about it. I would have understood. We’re cut from the same cloth. I’ve had to watch my father run a business as well. I understand that sort of stress. I could have even helped you. Jason, damn it we are a really good team” She talked to his father? When? His dad hadn’t mentioned that when they’d talked this afternoon. It took everything within Jason to remain calm “Bridget, all those things are true. For the past three years we have made a good team. But, did you notice that not once did you mention that we love each other? Getting married is not a merger. We should not get married because it is the next progressive step in our relationship. Getting married should be about you and me vowing to love one another for the rest of our lives and nothing else”. Bridget didn’t know what was happening Jason was supposed to have missed her like crazy not have destructive epiphanies. He was supposed to be begging her to come back to him. She would then forgive him and then he was supposed to give her that damn ring he’d been carrying around for the last few months. She’d hoped that tonight would be the night that everything she’d worked so hard for would happen. It all seemed to be falling apart right before her eyes. How could this be happening? It just didn’t make sense unless Jason had met someone else. Was that it? Had he met someone else? “Jason, I don’t understand any of this. It is all such a shock. One minute we’re about to get married and next you’re breaking up with me? It doesn’t make any sense. Is there someone else?” Jason looked guilty “That’s it isn’t it? Who is she?”. Jason rubbed the back of his neck “Bridget we were never on the verge of getting married. We can’t blame the fact that our relationship turned into more of a business partnership a long time ago on someone else.”. Bridget had to keep her cool or else she was going to lose the man whom she’d been planning to marry for the last 3 years. “Ok Jason, I see what is happening now. This kind of thing has happened to lots of couples. Anytime you’re in a long term relationship sometimes men can have a wondering eye. I’m sure that is what this is. Sebastian and Jaime went through something similar last summer. Do what you have to do with this woman to get her out of your system so that we can start planning our future together. I can overlook this little indiscretion this time but after we are married, I won’t tolerate it.”. Bridget took a sip of her drink as if the matter was settled and then asked if he was ready to order dinner. What the hell just happened? Jason needed to be really clear “Bridget, let me be perfectly clear so there is no misunderstanding. We’ve both been going through the motions for awhile. It is not fair to you or to me. We don’t love each other.”. Jason enunciated each word slowly “And, we are..Not.. Getting.. Married”. Bridget stared at him for just a moment. Then she stood up, tossed her drink in his face, and walked out of the restaurant.
Chapter 11
It was nice to be able to drive into work and not have to take the bus on Monday. Vicky didn’t have to return the car until 7pm Monday night. She was able to drop Angel off at the daycare and at lunch she would go and pay her electric bill. Vicky was so grateful for the rental car. And, for the millionth time, she wondered if she should have allowed him to let her borrow it. However, the bigger question was should she take a chance with Jason. He seemed too good to be true. They had talked over the phone for hours all weekend. Yet, it seemed like minutes. Vicky made the decision not to be her normal cautious self and
