Challenges

Part IX

*** 2015***

Justin rummaged through his closet looking for something to wear to meet Nate. He knew it was just a meeting to say goodbye, but he still wanted to go dressed decently. He found a purple shirt that he could live with, and decided on jean shorts and his sandals. He set them on the bed, and went to go and get a shower. 

His phone went off as he was leaving the room. He walked over to see who it was. It was Kimberly.

"Hey sweetness."

"Hey man stud." Kimberly said back. "How you doing?"

"Doing good." He sat down on the bed with a smile on his face. He loved talking to Kimberly. He was also happy that his job allowed him to travel and get to see her on a frequent basis.

"About to jump in the shower, but I will talk with you instead!"

"Sweet." She giggled on the other side of the phone. "How is home?"

"Good. Mom is still insisting I find a woman, but that's nothing new." Justin paused for a moment then jumped in with the big news he learned last night. "Matt and Lori are going to have a baby!"

"Awesome." She said excitedly. "I know they have been trying very hard. Tell them we said congratulations."

"Speaking of 'we'," Justin grinned, "How is the Senator?" He liked to call Kimberly's husband the Senator, since that was his position. Even to his face it was always 'the Senator'.

"The Senator is doing good." Kimberly laughed on the other end. "When are you coming for another visit?"

"I think I am coming out next month to work on an update for the DOD." Justin said. "Should take a couple of weeks. So plenty of time to visit."

"Great. The Senator and I will be happy to see you. You are staying with us right?" 

"Wouldn't miss it!"

"So have you seen him yet?" Kimberly said, deciding to bite the bullet. She knew this was a sore subject as she had been there to help pick up the pieces.

"I am this afternoon." Justin said with a frown. He knew Kimberly cared and was not asking to be nosey like others might. "I was going to stop the moment I got into town, but he was in the midst of a wedding party thing."

"Wedding?" Kimberly said the word with more of a half snort, half chuckle.  "Who's the beard he is marrying?" 

"Sarah." He waited for Kimberly's reaction, but he didn't hear anything. "Kim?" 

"Oh. That's interesting." Shef finally said. "That's really interesting."

"Why is that?" Justin asked, feeling a knot grow in his stomach. "Why is it interesting?"

"Well, I don't know if I should say." Kimberly said with a bit of hesitation. "I never knew if it was true or not."

"What?" Justin said with more of a demanding voice then he used with Kimberly.

"I don't know how true it is Justin." Kimberly hesitated again. 

"Tell me."

"Well there were rumors prior to him leaving you that he and Sarah were...." She hesitated again, not sure if she should continue, but decided to do so. "Romantically involved."

Justin sat for a moment thinking about what was said. He felt he should be shocked, but somehow he knew this might have been the case. 

"Sweetie?" Kimberly asked not sure if the phone had been dropped. "Are you okay?"