~Stevie~
On our way down the hallway, I stop by the nurses station to drop off some brownies that I made and say hi to the ladies that I'd grown incredibly close to when I visited every day. I haven't been here since we took Jerry home, so it's nice to drop in, even though I'm feeling awfully nervous.
I just have to make sure that she isn't mad at us... I don't want to ruin a marriage, not in the slightest.
"Stop worrying." He chuckles softly, one hand meeting my waist to give me a subtle pat of reassurance. "It's going to be okay." Lindsey offsets me in that way.
I've noticed that he doesn't panic over much, whereas I can find a flaw worth worrying about in almost any situation, and then it eats away at me. It overwhelms and consumes me... This is one of those moments.
"You'll stay close?" My voice is weak as I stare up at him, very thankful that he's here.
"I'll be right out here." He assures with a light laugh.
Sighing softly, I knock once on the door, heart sinking when I hear her gentle voice on the other side of the heavy wood, inviting me in.
Lindsey had told Jenny that I wanted to see her and she was just as curious to meet the woman he had been seeing as well... though she doesn't know that she already has been in my presence.
Pushing open the door, I trail in, not surprised to see most of her things cleared out.
She used to have family pictures sitting on the desk by her bed, and the flowers that Lindsey brought every week on the table, but now it's all packed into boxes in the corner of the room.
"Hi..." I whisper, eyes melting right into hers from across the room.
She looks up from her book, a very sweet smile dancing across her gorgeous face. "I knew it was you." She let's out a soft giggle, pushing some of her loose curls behind her ear.
I sigh lightly, setting my purse down on the table before I take seat in the chair not far from her. "I brought you some brownies..." I hold up the class container, a soft chuckle escaping me as well.
"I'm gluten free." She announces, which causes my heart to sink into the very pit of my stomach.
"Oh, Lindsey didn't-"
"I'm kidding." Her lips turn up, holding out a hand for the dessert. "Thank you, Stevie." She adds, giving me the most gentle wink.
I can't help but giggle, shaking my head lightly. "That was good." I am thankful for that... that made me feel better in some weird way.
"You're sitting on the edge of your seat..." she lingers, reaching next to her to grab some napkins.
She's sitting up, hair pulled back in a clip with only a couple of strands framing her face. If you saw her, you wouldn't know she was sick.
She doesn't look sick... maybe a little tired, but sick enough to be in a nursing facility.
"I am really sorry about this." I am, even though I know I can't be.
I can't help the way I feel... I can't help that I fell in love with her husband, even though I tried my best not to. I knew it was wrong- of course, I did. That's like one of those things that are just instilled in your mind from the start.
And honestly, being unfaithful had never even crossed my mind, even after Jerry first got sick. I figured, that at nearly sixty, finding someone else to love wouldn't be as easy as it was... I didn't plan on looking.
I've been in love once, and I didn't think it could happen again, but here I am.
"Sorry?" She creases a brow, handing me a brownie carefully. "Sorry for listening to your heart?" She wonders, and now I know why Lindsey fell in love with her... she's an angel.
She's so soft and caring- I don't have to know her entire life to know that.
"I knew that is was wrong, but it was at a time when things were so confusing for both of us." I don't ever want her to think that I deliberately set out to take her husband, because I would never do that.
In fact, I am a wreck over her idea to get a divorce... I feel like it's my fault and if this does nothing but change her mind, I'll leave here happy.
"Stevie..." she shakes her head, closing her eyes softly as she takes a moment. "When we got married, I told Lindsey that if anything ever happened to me, I would want him to be happy with someone else." She's staring down at the brownie in her lap, picking it apart carefully. "I want him to be able to move on and know that I would be okay with it." She added with a really soft shrug. "I know things have changed- we've had kids, celebrated milestones, but the feeling remains." I can't even describe to you how gracious she is... I don't think I've ever met anyone as wholesome and I don't say that lightly... I mean it. "I'm very sick, Stevie." She continues after a short pause. "A lot more than Lindsey believes, so to be able to meet you before I leave this world behind..." Jenny finally looks up at me, eyes melting into mine. "Means more to me than you will ever know." She reaches out, taking my hand in hers.
With tears filling the brims of my eyes, I nod my head softly.
I don't know what to say, so instead I just take a minute to look at her face. "You are beautiful." I tell her as my heart sinks into the very pit of my stomach.
I can't not tell her... Not just a beautiful face, but a beautiful soul.
She gives me the softest smile, squeezing my hand. "So are you and he really likes you..." she says to me, eyes obviously scanning over my face. "As do I." She adds, which is like music to my ears.
"I like him, too." I feel comfortable enough to tell her that, which says an awful lot.
"After all this," she motions around- not just the room, but I think the entire world...How cruel life can be. "You both deserve to be happy." She assures.
"That means the world to me, Jenny." I whisper, finding it impossible to hide how emotional I've become in the last couple of minutes.
"Just take care of him."
