How did everything get so messed up? One minute she was leaning into him telling him they shared this incredible feeling. The next he was forcing her to tell him her most private secret. He was a jerk for not trusting her. He should have believed her, but he'd heard the line, my marriage is over before. Now she was gone, and he felt empty inside.

He was just as glad when Tom took Avery to meet their mother. Based on how serious they were it only seemed right and he wasn't sure he could stand another day of them touching. It was painful how happy they were. They were as bad as Peter and Megan, he thought with a sigh.

Tom and Avery couldn't stop talking about the house. Even Kate, who was also visiting said, "It was impressive from the outside."

Avery said, "The inside was incredible, but most of that was the very talented designer."

Hank said, "Designer, huh!"

"Don't say anything about designers, this one is Avery's best friend," Alex said.

Kate spoke up and said, "Wait a minute, Avery's friend, Jen is it? Was the designer? You worked together, but I didn't think you knew her."

"What do you mean," he asked, trying to sound innocent.

"You never once talked to her all day."

Avery jumped in. "I thought you talked to Jen right before she left."

"I did because although I wasn't thrilled to work with her, we got the job done."

Kate said nothing else to him. Luckily she didn't know what happened after she left.

He went home and moped. He liked to be productive, but he had no initiative. The Sox lost which depressed him more. He thought about driving over to see Rick and Alice because they were missing her too. Then he realized he couldn't go admitting to her parents how he felt.

He did something he hadn't done since he moved in. He went for a walk on the beach. It was low tide so there was plenty of beach. He knew this was something that Jen liked to do and he understood why. It was peaceful and therapeutic, but not enough for what ailed him.

On the way back, his next-door neighbor, who he knew only to wave to, was replacing some boards on his porch. Alex asked, "Could you use a hand?"

"You handy?" the older gentleman asked.

Alex laughed. "Have you seen my truck?"

The man looked over and read the Coastal Builders sign. "I guess you are. Maybe I should hire you."

"No, let me help, because that's what neighbors do."

He spent a few hours, helping Frank who was strong and able for a man who had to be close to seventy. His wife, Pat brought out beers. They were crappy light beers, but he was thirsty. It felt good to keep his mind off his own troubles.

When they finished, Frank said, "It's nice to have a helpful neighbor like you Alex. I hope your wife doesn't mind."

"No wife, just me. Truthfully, I think I'll be selling soon. I bought it to renovate and never meant to keep it."

He felt the need to get rid of the house. He went home and called Marcy. He told her he was ready to sell it and wanted to find something that needed more cosmetic than structural work. Something he could live in while he did the work. Tomorrow he would call Sydney and ask about the couple who was interested in a house at Higgins Beach.

At ten o'clock, he couldn't stand it any longer. He texted Jen, sorry for upsetting you. What he did is no reflection on you. I miss you already. She didn't respond, but he'd already figured she was asleep.

When she didn't respond on Tuesday, it disappointed him. When he didn't hear from her on Wednesday, he worried. His patience was thin, and he almost lost it with his difficult clients.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "I know I came recommended so you've seen my work. I'm happy to give you several other references. You may see inside my house if you'd like. I have a phone full of pictures of the house I just built. I am more than competent to do this job, but you have to trust me. If you don't trust me, you will never be happy even if it is perfect."

As he said the words, he knew he had to let Jen know that he trusted her. The question was how? When he got home, he opened an envelope in his mail. It was a picture she drew of him full of detail. She must have spent hours on it, but it was as if she were saying, have a nice life.

He couldn't imagine being without her. She had infiltrated his life for the last three months. He could only think of one thing to do about it. He texted his brother, need to talk.

Jen

She woke to see Alex's text message. She knew he was sorry, but they still had no future. She delved into work hoping to keep busy. On Tuesday afternoon with Trevor working at a client's, she went into the office for the first time. She and Lexi worked together on the pictures from Sydney's house. They put together a sample and sent them out to several magazines. It felt strange being back in the office and Sterling insisted on talking to her.

She was exhausted on Tuesday night and hid in her room. Wednesday came and in the afternoon they met with the publicist. Jen liked her. She suggested one press release and damage control as necessary. Jen could tell that this was a small job compared to what she was used to. Still, she took them seriously.

Jen said, "I've been using terms like partners in business versus partners in life."

"I like that, you probably didn't need me, but I'll take care of you. We may want to do a second release after the divorce is final. We can tie them in with projects and it may become free advertising. What big project have you done lately?"

Jen told her about Sydney's house and told her she'd ask for a release to publish the photos. Sterling wanted to get dinner, but Jen declined "Go home to Trevor."

Jen watched Sterling leave and walked back into the publicist office. She looked up and Jen said, "I wanted to let you know that Sterling is not being honest and there may be damage control down the line."

"There always is. What about you, do you have a hottie waiting in the wings?"

Did she? She wondered. "There's a potential, but he's not a New Yorker so no one will care."

"You'd be surprised."

Avery and Tom were there when she came home. "So how did it go?" Avery asked.

"Fine, except Sterling will never own up to what he did. You're the only person he's admitted the truth to."

Tom was distracted with a text and she remembered she needed to call Sydney. Sydney answered and Jen patiently listened as she told her how much she loved the house. "The minute school lets out we're going for the entire summer."

"Sydney, I'm calling to ask your permission to mention publicly and use pictures of your house in a press release."

"We already discussed contacting magazines."

"Yes, and we've done that. This is about my career and personal life."

"What information are you releasing?"

"Sterling and I are in the process of divorce. It doesn't change our business relationship, but..."

"Jennifer, I'm so sorry. Are you sure?"

"Yes, we want different things in life. In retrospect, we always made better friends and business partners than spouses."

Sydney granted permission, and she texted the publicist. She went into the living room and asked, "Where's Tom?"

"He went to get food. He'll be back. Are you alright? You can talk to me about Alex."

"There's nothing to talk about. I'm here and he's there."

"And if you weren't apart?"

"Then I'd still be married."

"And after the divorce?"

"Then I'd... I'd probably want to be with him like you and Tom, but I don't plan to leave Dixon Designs and Alex..."

"Yes, I know Alex could never live in New York, but I want to see you happy and who better than a Goodwin brother to make you happy."

"Av, I know you care, but it's not meant to be." Jen went back into her room.