As I Am (Part 2 of There You'll Be)

The Meeting

(Zak)

"I am sure you are all wondering why we called you guys here today." I said to my Mom, my sister, the guys, Evelyn's parents and the network people.

"You're pregnant again!" My mom said.

"Nope."

"You're moving." said Phillip.

"Nope."

"You're getting me a puppy." asked Aaron.

"Also no, Aaron." Evelyn said.

"We brought you all together to break some incredibly difficult news. Evelyn & I are getting divorced." I said.

"As I'm sure you're aware, I can't commit to Evelyn. I've tried for 7 years while keeping girls on the side. Evelyn deserves to be treated so much better by someone who will love her with their whole heart. Someone like Jay." I said pointing.

Jay looked like a deer in the headlights.

"Jay has been a better partner and best friend to my wife than I have over the years and I would love nothing more than watching him become a stepfather to my kids and cherish Ev like I should've."

Evelyn leaned over and kissed Jay. Billy and Aaron looking shocked.

"Surprise?" Jay said to them.

"So what does this mean for the show, the museum and the kids?" Nancy asked.

"Effective immediately, Evelyn will be released from all GA press and the Travel Channel Network. She hasn't worked at the museum in over 18 months but will no longer have her name on the papers of ownership. As far as the kids, we will continue to co-parent. I will take them the weeks I am home and Ev will have them the rest of the time. Evelyn has agreed to move out by the end of the week, release Bagans from her last name and return her wedding and engagement rings to me. We will stay friends as that it what we always have been besides being married."

"And the media and fans?" The TC producers asked.

"Evelyn and I will release statements about our divorce tomorrow and repost it to the GA account. She will be taken off the feed in episode photos and both our personal profiles will be cleared of our marriage to each other but will leave the births announcements and children's photos."

We spent the rest of the night discussing legal things and told the kids the news. Evelyns parents took the kids so I could help Evelyn pack things with the other guys. I caught the glances between Jay and Evelyn and knew I never looked at her like that. That I was doing the right thing.

Once Evelyn was packed and everything was in her car, the guys headed out and left us alone. 

"Zak?" Evelyn said quietly.

"Here you go."

In her hands was her original blood red engagement ring with it's matching band, her newest wedding band and engagement ring, the expensive jewelry I bought her for anniversaries, her name tag from the museum and her Mama necklace that was her favorite. She dumped them in my hand.

"But..what about your Mama necklace? its your favorite." I asked her.

"Take it. You gave it to me and I don't want the painful memories of that necklace with me anymore."

I grabbed her tightly.

'I love you, Evelyn Rae Hadley. I will always love you."

"I know."