Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

This Diamond Ring

"Hey...you're right. I'm sorry. We got to start trusting one another sometime, if we're going to even try to make this work between us."

"You know something. I truly thought that this shit about me and my brother fucking one another was all behind us, when I put your engagement ring on my finger. Hell...maybe you're right. Maybe the real reason Claudia is coming along is because she truly doesn't trust my brother either...but either way."(Billie pulls off her engagement ring.)

"Here's your ring back. I don't want to be engaged to someone who doesn't trust me. Take it."

"Billie..."

(Billie drops the ring at my feet and walks out of the gym. I watch her go, then I bend down, and pick the ring up off the floor and stare at it. For some reason an old 1965 song I had heard long ago comes to mind.)

(I sit on the edge of a bench press table. I knew I should've gone after Billie, but she was right. I couldn't put what her and her brother had done completely behind me, and I knew I had to...somehow. For all I knew, maybe Claudia hadn't either...I didn't know. I don't even notice someone standing in front of me.)

"What did you do this time?" Valerie asks.

"We broke up, I guess."

"Why?"

(Shrugs)"Same reason as you and Eddie, I guess. I can't put what her and her brother did behind me, you know? Every time they're together, I'm going to be wondering if they're fucking one another. Billie doesn't want to be engaged to someone who doesn't trust her. Can't say I blame her."

"Do you trust her?"

"I want to...yea...but how do I put what happened behind me?"

"By taking things one day at a time...and constantly reminding one another that your love can withstand anything."

"Like yours and Eddie's did? You got divorced...not exactly a good example, Valerie."

"David...Eddie and I tried for years to make things work between us. We really tried...even after he cheated on me. Even after we both got remarried. We still loved one another in the end."

"But how do I put what happened between her and her brother behind me? I can't pretend it didn't happen. Her baby bump is a constant reminder."

"You can start by talking to me about it."

(I turn my head, to see Billie standing behind me. Tears running down her cheeks.)

"Billie..."(I stand up.)

"If you love me...you're supposed to come after me, you know."

"You're right...I should have...but...I don't know how to put this behind us..."

"We can start by talking. See where that takes us. Besides...I can't do our song without you!"

"I love you...whether the baby is mine or not. I do love you."

"I love you too. Now...give me my fucking ring back!"

(I slide the ring back on Billie's finger, as we hug one another tight. Valerie walks away. Her and Billie lock eyes, as Billie silently mouths 'Thank you.')

(Valerie smiles as she leaves the gym.)

(Billie and I sit and talk in Valerie's guest house for hours. We both talked, both listened, both cried...but we didn't yell. We didn't point fingers or blame one another for our faults or mistakes. We lay in bed together, and just enjoyed one another's closeness...and when we kissed one another goodnight...I gently kiss her belly and promised her that I would always love her and the baby forever.)