Here it is! The one you have been waiting for! In more ways than one. Hope you like it!! :angel:
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The next two weeks were admittedly some of the worst of my life. All the happiness I’d been feeling up until the death of Nonno was now completely gone. I was starting to understand that it was Sean’s friendship that made me happy and by sending him away, I’d sent my reason to be happy away. As the days had passed, I realized just how much a part of my life Sean was.

Household chores took me twice the time to finish without his helping hands.



Cooking was dull without his happy voice sharing stories while he chopped vegetables.



Dinner was a little less lively without his laughter.



Bedtime was the hardest because I couldn’t hide from my feelings in the darkness.



Some nights, thought ran through my head so rapidly that I couldn’t sleep at all and would sit up by window all night crying. I began to feel like my life was an unstoppable current I was swimming against. I’d lost control and couldn’t fight against the water that was pulling me backwards. My goals were so far out of my reach I couldn’t see the point anymore.



And then there were my girls. My sweet girls were feeling the loss of our friend just as much as I was. Even play time was less playful now.



I was realizing that I couldn’t be all that my girls needed me to be. They needed a mother and a father. And I needed Sean. He was more than just a friend, he was more than just an ex. Sean was my very BEST friend, and I’d sent him away coldheartedly. I felt like such a coward.

I had to talk to Sean. I needed to apologize and take everything back. I did want him to be a part of my life. I didn’t know exactly what part, but I knew that I was miserable without his friendship.

Thanks to my stupid display of stubbornness, Sean was no longer taking my calls. He probably thought he was respecting my wishes and giving me the space I’d fought for only a week ago. Oh well, if I couldn’t reach him by phone, I would go to his apartment.

The next morning I made the drive across town to the familiar apartment complex. Swallowing my fears, I knocked on his door.



No answer. I knocked again.

And again.

I waited by the door for a few minutes.

Nothing.

Resigned, I walked back to my van. Maybe he wasn’t home. Right, I should probably have checked the parking lot. I scanned it now and was relieved to not see his car. At least he wasn’t just ignoring me altogether.



I grabbed a notebook from my floorboard, which must have fallen out of Gabriella’s backpack, scribbled down a quick apology, and headed toward the apartment office.

“Excuse me.” I said to the young man behind the desk. “My friend isn’t home. Could you leave a note in his mailbox for me?”



“Sure, I can do that,” he smiled. “Who’s your friend?”

“Sean Riley, in apartment C-2.”

“C-2? You sure?”

“Positive, why?”

“C-2 just moved out yesterday,” he said.

My heart dropped as I scrambled for words. “What? He moved?”



“Afraid so.” The office worker’s eyes moved over me. “I wouldn’t have moved without telling a girl as beautiful as you where I was going.”

My stomach shuddered when he winked. How easy did this guy think I was?

“Look, do you have a forwarding address or anything? I really need to get in touch with my friend.”

“Hmm. Sorry, I can’t give out that information.”

I turned to leave.

“Hey, wait a second. Maybe we can work something out… over dinner?” he said, coming around the desk.

“Fat Chance.”



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“Hello, Kat. It’s good to see you again.” Dr. Rink’s calming voice greeted me as I entered her office later that day for our second appointment.

I agreed and took a seat on the beige couch.

“So, why don’t you tell me what’s been going on in your life since we last met. Have you managed to de-stress?”



“Oh, not exactly. I really made a mess of things.” I sighed, and without any warning, the whole story came gushing out:

“After we met, I went home and told my ex that he was stressing me out and that I needed space from him. I haven’t seen him since that day, and now things are worse than before. I miss him every day and my daughters miss him too. I made a huge mistake!”

“Why do you think that you’ve made a mistake? What are you feeling now?”



“I feel…” I struggled to find the right words, “it feels like…. I can’t explain it, but I felt the same when… … … when I found out my marriage was over.” I could feel the shock on my face as I made this internal revelation. “Heartbreak. That’s the word. But… to feel heartbreak, I’d have to… love him.”

I sat up quickly. “Oh my god. I’m in love with Sean!”

I slammed my hand to my face. Hadn’t everyone been trying to tell me that I loved him from day one? Why was I the last person to realize it?

“Sean Riley?” Dr. Rink asked. I focused my attention on her and noticed she looked very uncomfortable in her seat.



“Yes, Sean. How did you know his last name?” I asked, surprised.

“Oh. You said it.”

“No I didn’t,” I said, replaying the conversation in my mind.

There was an awkward moment where Dr. Rink and I stared cautiously at each other.

“Kat… there’s something I need to tell you,” she said nervously. “This breaks all kinds of rules for me to tell you this. But I wouldn’t take that risk if I didn’t absolutely believe there is something you need to know.”



“Sean is a patient of mine also. He’s not as careful with names as you are, and he talks about you all the time. When I met you, I didn’t want to assume you were the same ‘Kat.’ But now that I’ve heard your story, everything lines up. Kat, that man is head over heels in love with you. He tries to hide it because he thinks his feelings are wrong, and that you don’t return them. But I am begging you, if there is any chance that you really love him, tell him. You two have another shot at true love, don’t blow it again.”

“Yes, yes I do want to tell him!” I wailed. “But he won’t answer his phone because I told him not to talk to me. I can’t blame him for not answering my calls. I was horrible and this is all my fault. And then today I found out he moved. I guess he’s just gone for good this time.” I held my head in my hands again and felt tears building up behind my eyes. Was I destined to lose him again?



A look of inspiration came across Dr. Rink’s face and she jumped up off the couch. Rushing to her desk she began flipping through some papers. “He updated his contact information with me last week. I know I have his new address somewhere... Ah, here it is!”

She walked back over to me and put a piece of paper in my hand. “I could get in so much trouble for this. But you have to do what your heart tells you to do. I hope I have helped in some way.”



“You have! Oh thank you!” I excitedly grabbed my purse, suddenly knowing that this was my chance to make things right with the man I loved.