Sparrows Song

Chapter 14

Right before noon, Jane pushed open the door to the cafe to find that Andy was already there, sitting at a small table for two. He looked up when she entered, giving her a big smile that managed to look charming and contrite all at once.

"Hey," he said as she approached, "It's good to see you, Jane".

He only put his hand on her shoulder as she sat down opposite from him, not going in for a hug, which she was grateful for. Jane hadn't really known what to expect today, but it seemed Andy was on his best behavior today.

"Here, I have something for you," he said. Before she could object, Andy pushed two of her favorite candy bars into her hands. "Since you didn't like my flowers, I figured you couldn't say no to chocolate."

He was still smiling at her. It was the smile of a man who knew he was attractive, the kind that made you feel flattered when he turned it on you. Jane felt herself bristling under it, trying not to let it affect her.

"Oh, thanks, but you didn't really need to do that," Jane said, careful not to return his smile. His gifts were not going to sway her from saying what she needed to tell him today. She was determined to not let him wear her down.

Andy flagged the waitress over and ordered them both coffees, making sure to get Jane her favorite mocha.

Jane folded her hands in her lap, all business. "We need to discuss the townhouse. I think it will be easier if I move out and you can stay. I can help with the rent if you need it, until you can find someone to sublease..." She began.

Andy let out a dramatic sigh, and gave her a reproachful look. "Really, Jane? That's what you're starting out with? I thought we came here to talk about us."

Jane regarded him in astonishment. She thought she had very clearly told Andy on the phone what she was meeting him to talk about.

"Andy, we agreed on the phone, that we need some time apart," Jane stated calmly, trying not to let him get to her. But he was doing it again. Undermining her wishes and downplaying things he had said to her previously, and this was exactly the reason things weren't working out between them.

A scowl crossed his handsome features, the first sign that he was losing his patience. "Jane, I just think you're being a little childish here. You don't need to run away from our entire relationship the first time things get a little hard for us. Have you talked to your therapist about this?"

"What?" Jane asked, shocked. The suggestion she should talk to her therapist was especially baffling coming from Andy because he was always telling her that therapy was a waste of time and frequently called her doctor a quack.

"Jane, you're no picnic. I know you have these issues you're dealing with. And I think I've been more than understanding with you about these things, but you can't stay faithful to me, I just don't know."

Jane blinked, totally unprepared for the sudden detour this conversation had taken so quickly. Hadn't she been trying to break up with him for days? And now he was making it sound like she was the one who should be asking for forgiveness.

"Andy, I already told you this. I didn't cheat on you with Blake. I haven't even seen him for years until he dropped by unexpectedly the other day."

Andy shook his head at her in disbelief. "I can't believe you expect me to believe that. The guy breaks down our door and tries to fight me, and then you just leave with him like that. What do you expect me to think, Jane? Be reasonable."

Of course it had been a traumatic night for Jane, but hearing Andy present it from his perspective, she could kind of see why he thought what he did. Now she was second guessing whether, in fact, she had made the right decision leaving with Blake. Everything had just happened so quickly and it didn't really seem like she had much of a choice at the time. But she could kind of see Andy's point.