Work started on the house in mid-August. He had a large crew working, so the upstairs went on quickly. The hardest part was Jen wanted to see it, but she refused to visit her parents for a weekend. Just before Labor Day, Megan convinced her to come to stay with them.

"How is that going to help?" Alex asked.

"Megan doesn't care if I stay out all night."

"Will your mother mind that you don't stay with her?"

"I hope not."

Alex felt bad because he was relying on Jen to do all the traveling. He promised her he'd come to see her in the fall. He didn't want to think about winter weather and how it could affect them. Never had he been so involved in a relationship as he was with Jen. She was on his mind constantly. He was always having thoughts like, Jen would like this, I can't wait to tell Jen, I wonder what Jen's doing.

When she came on the Friday of Labor Day weekend, he picked her up and brought her to Megan's house. Jen walked up to see her parents and Alex stopped in.

Rick called, "Alex, you're always around now. I like that. Look! Jenny's home for the weekend."

Alex nodded to her, and she said, "I'd like to see what you're doing?"

"Come and I'll show you."

"Mom, I'll see you in the morning." She kissed her father's cheek and Alex felt a stab in his heart, he was a part of the betrayal. Still, he knew Rick and Alice loved him and if they could pick a man for their daughter, he would be in the running if not the top spot.

He watched as she looked at what they had done in three weeks. She had seen pictures, but he hadn't sent any the past week. He took pictures now with her in each one. She was smiling just for him.

"What do you think?"

"You've done so much!"

She continued to walk around and then she walked through the backyard into Megan's backyard. The house was behind Megan's neighbors, but the friends' properties abutted each other. Alex drove around and arrived for poker night - it was the first Friday again. He enjoyed knowing she was there and occasionally he would look up and she'd give him a sexy smile. She was definitely going home with him.

Typically, he was the first one out the door, but he stayed. When it was just Jen with Peter and Megan, he pulled her into him.

Megan said, "Look at them. They belong together!"

Peter had already pulled Alex aside for his 'if you hurt her I'll kill you' threat. Alex assured him he had no intention of doing anything that would hurt her.

Peter said, "Let me make sure Kristi's not walking the dog. I ran into her plenty leaving here."

"Why? Were you two sneaking around?" Jen asked.

"No, we were usually fighting," Megan said.

"You were the one fighting with me," Peter said.

"He's right," Megan agreed.

Alex liked them much better together. He also liked him and Jen together.

He almost finished the ugly house. There were a few touch-ups left, but it looked like a home. John had commented again on how he had improved the neighborhood by fixing up that house. He wished Jen was staying with him all weekend, but he knew it was important she saw her parents. Because of him, she had been away from them again.

"I sleep so much better with you in my bed," he said.

"To think, you once hated me and now you don't hate me." She teased.

"I didn't hate you! I just didn't know you." Again he longed to tell her how he really felt but stopped himself. How much longer, he wondered.

Time flew too quickly when they were together. The weekdays crawled and then as soon as she arrived they were saying goodbye. He occupied himself with work and with the promise of talking to her every evening. It would have to be enough. One night, after he commented on how artistically talented she was, she said, "It's a good thing I was good at art, because I was a horrible student."

"I don't believe you. I was miserable in school. The only subject I did well in was math."

"You're making that up so I'll feel better." She laughed.

"No, I'm serious and if you are too, then we're in trouble."

"Why's that?"

"Between the two of us, our children won't have a chance!"

"Our children?" she asked.

"I didn't say that." He lied.

"You did, you did! They would be beautiful and artistic and good with their hands and..."

"And are we getting ahead of ourselves?"

"Maybe just a little, but it's still a nice thought."

He said, our children. Perhaps that was a dream they shared ─ a dream that could come true. She imagined what it would be like to be expecting and for Alex to put his hands possessively on her belly and feel their baby inside of her. She had seen him hold his nephew and imagined him holding their child. Anything short of that dream would break her heart.

Jen reluctantly talked to Trevor. She knew the future of Dixon Designs depended on Trevor honing his skill level and talent. He needed to make a name for himself much as Jen had. It was with great trepidation that she agreed to go to the largest charity event of the fall season with Sterling, Trevor, and Lexi. If Trevor would make a name for himself, he needed to be seen socially. The trick was trying to avoid any of the four appearing like a couple.

Thankfully, the event was on a Thursday night. She told Alex about it and his concern was it would be too difficult for her.

"I'll just think of you and spending the weekend with you."

"I wish you were dressing sexy for me."

"Any picture, know my smile is for you alone. Remember, I'm flying up the next morning so we can go kitchen shopping."

"I can't wait. It's my favorite date. I love watching you work."

Jen insisted on arriving at the event alone. She made sure she was seen talking to both Sterling and Trevor individually. She spent most of the evening walking around greeting clients. Later Sterling insisted on a Dixon Design photograph. They had donated two prizes for the silent auction. Each was free consultation services, but one was with her and the other with Trevor. Hers had raised a considerable amount of money. Trevor's was not as successful.

She left immediately after they announced the winners and she had posed with the highest bidder of her services. She didn't tell anyone, but Lexi that she was going. She arrived home in time to call Alex which was all she had thought about the entire night.

She was talking to Alex when Sterling beeped in. "Oh great! It's him. Let me see what he wants... Sterling?"

"Jennifer, dar..."

"Don't say it!" She ordered.

"Jennifer, you disappeared." He whined.

"Yes, I worked the room and was tired."

"I had potential clients to introduce you to."

"Set up a meeting for next week. I'll be happy to meet them then. I'm going to sleep now. I'm getting up at four, so I need to sleep."

"You never work anymore. You're always going back."

"Don't start! You have your life and I have mine."

She hung up on him and went back to Alex.

Jen landed in Portland at seven-thirty. Alex was waiting for her and took her out to breakfast. She bought the Times in the airport and showed Alex the pictures from the event. He looked at the picture of the four of them for a while. She questioned what he was thinking.

"Now I know what everyone looks like."

Jen knew he was looking at the man who stole her husband. She was becoming more and more tolerant of Trevor. She just wanted the divorce.

As much as she enjoyed the last time they shopped for kitchens this time was so much better. The only disappointment was that Sterling called. She listened to him and answered his questions. She was patient, but hoped he was done with her for the day.

She was so excited about this kitchen. She kept checking with Alex to see if her choices were alright. He said money was no issue and just how much money did he have? Just like the other time they finished their trip at the bath store and again she decided quickly without wavering. She had a vision, and her choices completed that vision.

She was so excited by the time he brought her to his house. He said that he needed to go check on his jobs, but she waylaid him for a bit and when he left, he was whistling. Jen felt like a fairy princess who found her prince and he was building her a castle. Now she had to concentrate on work until her prince came home to her.

The weekend was over, and Jen was back home again. She kept busy and woke to find it was late October. The trees were turning in Maine and it was getting colder. The house was coming along, and Alex said his goal was to move in before Christmas. Jen imagined spending Christmas with him in that beautiful house.

It was Thursday afternoon when Betsy Yates called her. "The judge signed off. It's official!"

"Really! Truly? Does Sterling know?"

"I know, so his attorney must know too."

Jen called Sterling. "Did you hear the good news?"

"Yes, but I don't think it's good. Why are you so happy?"

"Because I'm free to date and do whatever I want!"

"I've called the publicist. She's releasing the information, so it will be in tomorrow's paper. We should be seen together. Drinks?"

"I can go to lunch. I have a flight to catch. I need to tell my parents." And Alex.

"You need to be in the office to field calls."

"Fine."

She debated whether she should call Alex or surprise him in person. It was possible that Tom would tell him first. She called Avery to see if she could stop by. She had seen very little of her friend and wondered if Alex's concerns about Tom were valid.

She arrived at Avery's building and greeted Walt with a huge smile. "We've missed you, Ms. Dixon," Walt said.

"I've missed you too."

Avery greeted her with a hug. She looked around and asked about Tom. "He's working. He'll be home soon."

"Does he have a problem with me?"

"He's concerned Alex will get hurt."

"I could never hurt him. I love him."

"I know."

"I need your advice. I have some big news and I don't know if I should tell Alex tonight on the phone or surprise him tomorrow in person."

"What's your news?"

"The judge signed off. I'm divorce!"

"Oh wow! In person... definitely in person!"

"Tom has to keep it from Alex then. He has to find out from me!"

"I'll make sure he doesn't talk to his brother. Don't worry," Avery said, smiling.

Finally, she settled into her seat on the plane. It had been a grueling day. Lunch with Sterling publicly toasting their divorce was surreal. It was hard to remember why she ever loved him. At the office, the phone rang, as it had with the first press release. She could handle the calls, but Sterling insisted she agree to allow Trevor to work from the office too.

"You always said after the divorce. Well, it's now after the divorce."

"Fine. I'm gonna have sex this weekend and tell you all about it on Monday," she said to spite him.

"Jennifer, Dar, you're going to Maine. You would never have sex with some guy in jeans and a flannel shirt. Really, you're not funny." Sterling frowned.

As the plane descended Jen thought, Sterling was wrong because Alex owned more than one flannel shirt.