"How can you be so sure? You should have heard his wife on the phone tonight. She was so weird. She kept quietly laughing, then suddenly crying. Though, after hearing him describe her, a lot more of the conversation makes sense. Kara, I'm not sure what to believe anymore. I'm so confused about everything. Even if I do believe him, do I want to get mixed up with all of this drama?"
"I can't answer that part for you, but I can tell you why I believe him. I grew up with Casey Black. I never knew Sarah or Manda, but I knew the three of them were tight. I remember when the accident happened. Everyone says it destroyed Casey, losing her two best friends like that. She just kind of fell off the map after that. Anyway, I've heard people talking about Sarah and how she has basically lost her mind. She tried to kill herself, then became a recluse. I heard she virtually never leaves her apartment. I didn't realize she was Brett's wife until tonight, though. I believe him, his story matches up with everything I have ever heard. And I'm not just siding with him because he's hot." She finishes with an exaggerated wink.
"He's going to break my heart. You know that right? He still has some serious issues with her. I think I'll always feel like the other woman. He has a wife. Regardless that she is a different person, he is still very much married to her. And if she is as terrible as he says, why would anyone stand by her?"
"He loved her. I actually respect the hell out of him for standing by her for as long as he has. What you need to figure out is if he still loves her, or if he's ready to move on."
"What if he can't ever move on? You heard him. She was perfect."
"You're missing the keyword...was," she says as I sigh knowing that I have no choice but hear Brett out. Get some answers so I can make an informed decision. "Maybe you just have to wait out the fog."
"What the heck happened to you? You're getting all poetic on me. Where did your ‘crotch-less panties solve everything’ speech go?"
"You didn't let me finish! I was getting to that part," she jokes.
"Do you think he'll come in for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow's Friday, so I doubt it," Kara answers reminding me that it's my day off.
"Ugh! I'll call him and see if he wants to meet for breakfast in the morning."
"Good, because did you see his ass in those jeans tonight? Seriously, I would gladly go to jail just to hump his leg." She starts thrusting her hips in the air and we both start giggling like teenage girls.
Brett
I ARRIVE back at my apartment feeling utterly lost. It seems every time I get comfortable in life, someone flips over the life raft I've been so desperately clinging to. I haven't been happy in a long time, but the last few days I haven't been drowning. As much as it makes me a pussy to admit, Jess was only the reason for that. Knowing that she is potentially gone too, I feel worse than I did a week ago. Now I remember what it feels like to be alive again.
In the middle of my pity party, my house phone begins to ring in the kitchen. I called the station earlier to make sure they forward all my calls to my home number. There is no way I was going back to Sarah's to get my phone. I'll scrap it and buy a new one. I'm not sure if I'll ever go back over there.
"Detective Sharp," I answer assuming it's a work call.
"Hey." I hear the soft voice that makes my chest hurt. First in relief that she is reaching out to me, but then I panic that something's wrong.
"Jesse, are you okay? Did Sarah call you again?"
"No, no. I'm fine."
"Phew, okay. I didn't expect to hear from you tonight. I'm glad you called, though." I smile to myself.
"Do you think, we could um...maybe meet up for breakfast at Nell's in the morning? You know, to talk about things. I have something I want to ask you," she questions timidly. I hate to hear her nervous. We made great strides over the last few days, but we are right back where we started after the cluster-fuck tonight.
"Of course, Jess. Anything. I'll answer any questions you want to ask. Please don't be nervous okay.”
"I'm sorry," is all she says.
"Please don't apologize to me. I'm sorry for all of this. I can't say that enough."
"Okay, well, tomorrow then?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, gorgeous. Sleep tight, I promise I'll do my best to dry those beautiful eyes in the morning."
"Good night, Brett."
"Night Jesse." I hang up the phone and throw an excited fist pump into the air. I'm down, but I'm not out yet. Now I just have to figure out what the hell I'm going to say to her to make this right.