"Like heck, you will. I'll be fine, and I'm so happy for you. Really,” Lisa said, holding out her arms to hug Fay. They had met at an advertising conference a few years back and became instant friends. When Fay needed a place to stay, Lisa offered to share her apartment with her until she could get settled, and she never left.
“I’m going to miss you,” Lisa said. Fay had become her sounding board for all her problems. Sometimes they sat and drank wine long into the evenings, complaining about life and men.
“Oh, I’m going to miss you too,” Fay said. "Colorado is a great place to visit, though. Don’t forget that.”
“We’ll keep in touch, don’t become a stranger,” Lisa said with a sad smile.
“Can I give you a word of advice before I go?” Fay said, leaning against the counter with a serious expression on her face.
Lisa nodded.
“Talk to Tristan. When you first started seeing him, you glowed. You were in love, and I could tell you were happy. Now that you’ve broken up, it’s almost as if something inside of you has died. You are going through the motions, but you aren't convincing anyone,” Fay said, stopping and taking a breath before she continued. “I know you love him, and I know he loves you. When you were together, it was magical, and you need to get that magic back. Talk to him and find out what is going on with Heather.”
Lisa sighed. “I know you’re right, but it’s hard. I had so much trust in him, and he went behind my back and did something he vowed he wouldn't do."
“I know, but you need to hear what he has to say. I’m sure there is a good reason for what happened, and before you dismiss him forever, you need to listen," Fay said, smiling. “Okay, I’ve said my piece, and I'm getting off my soapbox. Now I better start packing.”
✽✽✽
“How did you sleep?” Tristan asked as Heather walked into the kitchen.
“Okay, I guess,” Heather said, sitting down at the island. “I’ve really made a mess of things between you and Lisa. I’m sorry.”
“Well, I won’t argue with you there, but I didn’t help either,” Tristan admitted. "I'm hoping she'll talk to me in a few days, and we can sort it out."
“Do you love her?”
Looking at Heather, Tristan nodded. "I do, actually. I really and honestly do.”
“I’m happy for you, Tristan. I know we parted on terrible terms, and I'm sorry for all of that. I just wasn't happy, and instead of being honest and telling you, I turned to Troy. I should have been completely truthful with you.”
“Heather, you and I have known each other for a long time. When I think about our relationship, I realize a lot of it was based on sex and not emotion. We liked each other, but I don’t think we loved each other. We thought we did, but that wasn’t true love.”
“Relationships are funny. I never thought Troy would react the way he did. I thought he would be happy,” Heather shrugged. “Anyways, I’m keeping the baby. I have a small savings account that I can use, and I'll try to find work somewhere. I’ll be okay, somehow.”
“Well, I have to go to work now. You know where everything is, and I went out last night to buy some healthy food for you. I’ll see you tonight,” Tristan said, grabbing his keys and briefcase and heading out the door.
Driving to work, he suddenly turned down a side street. He needed to make one stop along the way. He didn’t know if it would do any good, but he needed to try at least one more time.
✽✽✽
Pulling up in front of Lisa’s apartment Tristan gasped as he saw the moving van out in front and Lisa carrying out some boxes.
Panicking, he jumped out of his car and ran across the street.
“Lisa, please don’t move. We can talk this through. It’s not what you think at all. Please let me explain,” he said desperately as he approached.
Lisa looked at him and laughed. “I’m not moving, Tristan. Fay is.”
Sighing in relief, Tristan looked at Lisa. “Can we talk? Maybe not now, but tonight. How about we meet at that small bar at the corner of Fifth and Main? The one you always liked.”
“Jesters?”
“Yes, that’s the one. Let’s meet there after work. Please, Lisa? Don’t give up on us,” Tristan begged.
Lisa nodded slowly, thinking about the wise words that Fay had spoken the night before. “Okay. Five thirty?”
“Perfect, thank you,” Tristan said before turning and running back to his car. Opening the door, he looked back at Lisa, who was still standing where he had left her, holding Fay’s moving boxes. “I love you,” he shouted before getting in his car and driving away.
Chapter 19
Lisa sat at her desk, trying to think up some new designs for an account she was working on. Crumpling up the tenth piece of paper, she stared at the blank page, sighing in frustration. Thoughts of Tristan yelling I love you kept filling her mind, and she felt even more confused than before.
“Do you have a moment for an old friend?” Heather’s voice came from the doorway.
Lisa glared at her. “You’re still in town?”
“I really need to talk to you, Lisa. Please?” Heather pleaded as she inched into the office. “May I sit?”
Sighing in frustration, Lisa nodded. "Say what you have to say, then please leave. I have work I need to do.”
Heather sat down and looked apologetically at her friend. “I’m so sorry for everything I said to you that night, and how I’ve behaved in the past.”
“Is that supposed to make things better?”
"I'm hoping it's a start," Heather said, smiling hopefully. “I know you love Tristan, and I know he loves you, and I honestly couldn't be happier for both of you."
Lisa scoffed. “Yeah, right. So you come back here and break us apart. Is that your way of showing how happy you are?”
“I didn’t come here to break you apart. I came here to see Tristan and to get his advice. He’s been the person I’ve run to when things got bad all my life, and when Troy left me, I didn’t know where else to go.”
“Advice? You guys snuck around behind my back,” Lisa said. “Both of you played me for a fool.”
“It’s not like that at all,” Heather said heavily. “I’m pregnant.”
Lisa looked at Heather, frowning. “Whose is it?”
“Troy’s,” Heather sighed, putting her hand on her stomach. "That's why he left. He doesn't want a baby, and he doesn't want anything to do with me now, either.”
“So, you came crawling back to Tristan hoping to get back together so he could raise your baby?”
“Absolutely not! I came to Tristan to ask him what I should do. I want to keep the baby, and I have no one else to turn to. No family, nothing. I don’t even have a good friend anymore because of my stupidity,” Heather answered. “You are the only family I have. I always considered you like a sister to me.”
Lisa looked at Heather and felt sorry for her, though it didn’t remove the anger and betrayal she still felt. “I really don’t know what you want me to say. I’m sorry you are pregnant and alone, and I’m sorry that Troy left you,” she shrugged. “But, I have enough on my plate to worry about now, thanks to you.”