“What about another show?”
“I’ve been talking with him about that, and we’re in agreement to keep holding back. I’ve done two, which is amazing, and they’ve been sellout as well. Leave them wanting more, he said. So that’s what I’m going to do. I’m working on individual work and building up my collection. When I’m ready I’ll go back to doing commissioned work. It’s happening. I’m so relieved to say that it is. I’m getting it back, and it feels so amazing to be back.”
“That’s great news. I’m really happy for you.”
“Yeah, it’s great, but I don’t know what’s going on right now, Ace. You’re different, and I thought we were all friends here. Have you and Brett got something to tell me?” she asked.
He ate the mouthful of pasta, not really tasting it.
“Do you ever think about the future?”
“You mean like what we’re all going to become and planning for the worst-case scenario?”
“Something like that.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to. Simple as that. I hate to think or to plan about a future that may never happen. Do you do that?”
“I’ve always got a plan in place. I know not many thirty-five-year-old men spend all their time with their best friend. Brett and I have been with each other forever, and it’s almost hard to think of a time without him.”
“I understand that.”
“You’re one of the few women that do.”
“But?”
“Have you ever thought about kids? Family? Something other than just living life by the moment.”
“Oh,” she said, pushing some hair off her face.
Ace watched her reaction and saw that she was a little uncomfortable. “What is it? I didn’t mean to ruin this date.”
“Erm, kids was, were, are, I’m not really sure. They were in my plans. Erm, I … when I was eighteen I had a serious boyfriend. We’d been together forever, to be honest. From the time we were kids we were the friends that somehow came together and were in love.” She took a deep breath, and he saw her hand shake as she reached for her wine. “Before I went to college I discovered I was pregnant. About two months.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you had any kids.”
“I don’t.” She tilted her head to the side. “Erm, I thought we were in love, and then one morning before I decided to quit college, I went back to our apartment without telling him, and there I found him sleeping with who I thought was my best girlfriend.”
“Ouch.” He winced.
“Needless to say, the hormones, everything, it … I ran. We were in an apartment block that had no elevator. The stairs were a nightmare. I didn’t watch where I was going, and then, I woke up in the hospital. I had fallen down the stairs, and in doing so I had lost my baby,” she said.
He saw the tears in her eyes, and he was in shock. What the hell was he supposed to do?
“I was going to marry this guy. My best friend and my best girlfriend had been cheating on me. They were going to tell me on the same night that I found out I was pregnant. I had fallen in love with my baby though. I didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl, and I was devastated. You could say that I flung myself into my art, and since that moment, I don’t plan. I allow things to happen. I planned for a family. I planned to be in love, for a husband, and look what happened.” She put down her fork. “The greatest pain I ever felt was touching my stomach and realizing it wasn’t there.”
Ace moved. He went on one knee and cupped her face, pressing his head to hers. “I’m so sorry.”
He didn’t care if they were drawing attention. All that mattered was that she knew she wasn’t alone. He wanted her to know that he was there, and that he cared for her, and would always care.
“It’s not your fault. I love kids so much. Family means a lot to me, even if mine sucks at times. I do like a family, but please don’t ask me to plan anything, Ace. I can’t do that.”
“I won’t ask you to plan. I promise you.” He kissed her lips, knowing this story was for her to tell Brett.
****
Ace and Brett both knew the truth, and Meredith had seen the shock on their faces. It wasn’t exactly easy to hide. She had been on the verge of motherhood. To think that was nearly twelve years ago. Her son or daughter could be screaming the house down right about now.
Both her men were at work, and she was all alone. Will had just left with another finished picture. She was on a roll at the moment. She refused to take any calls from her parents, and Will had even asked for any proposed visits to go through him.