Page 24 (1/2)

Suzy held the phone, but couldn’t see Dinner with Reva, really? You better get used to it, if this is his baby, Reva will always be there

"Suzy?"

"Uh huh, I’h, Gray said, "You know this is just about the baby I have to find out what’s going on There is nothing romantic here and never will be"

Suzy turned in her chair towards the , trying to will her voice to sound nored the subject

"Hey a little birdie told h please, don’t say that out loud I’ them anymore"

"Oh, yes you are I’ll be back Friday evening early so I want you to have either your sister orfor a new dress because we are going to do the tohen I get ho very sexy, Ms Denton"

"Is that right Mr Merimon? Well, I’ll see what I can do"

"I love you, baby I’ll call you tonight"

"I love you, too, Gray" As Suzy ended the call, she felt the unusual urge to put her head down on her desk and cry Gray was having dinner with Reva? Well what did you expect; she’s going to have his baby Did you think they would communicate via email or fax? Get used to it, sister, there’s a new sheriff in town and it’s not you She athered her purse for lunch Beth walked in with Ella and they all headed for the elevator to meet Claire

Beth and Ella walked ahead of them to the restaurant down the street Suzy and Claire walked at a slower speed due to her crutches and Claire’s pregnancy waddle She was surprised when Claire said, "I’ to throw this out there so you will know Gray told Jason about the mess with Reva and you know Jason can’t keep a secret from me to save his life"

"Geez and they say that wo to themselves do they?"

Claire looked relieved that she didn’t see about everything, ht now"

Giving Claire a s, Suzy said, "I’ this really well or I’m still in shock and the freak out will co pretty well until Gray called He’s having dinner with Reva tonight"

"Oh , not what you wanted to hear, right?"

"No, not really, I think I’d ed to pretend it didn’t exist for a while and that just brought it all back home Claire, you know besides ht?"

"Honey, of course you are, one of the best I know Why would you even need to ask that?"

Suzy hated what she was going to say and she probably wouldn’t have been able to admental bone in her body and she loved that about her "If I’ood person, why do I feel the way I do about Reva and the baby? When I think about Reva I want to choke her Did you hear nant wo isn’t it?"

Claire put her ared her "Oh Suzy, I’d probably feel the saether and finally you’re right on the verge of having it all and this co out"

"Oh I’ out inside With Gray back in Charleston, I feel kind removed from it all It’s almost like this happened to someone I know rather than toto Claire that she could hardly admit to herself "I’m scared Claire, I don’t know if I can do this When I think about our lives from this point forward if Gray is the father of her child, it terrifies ether I’ll always be last, Claire, just as I have my whole life"

Claire noticed that Beth and Ella had stopped at the entrance to the restaurant waiting for them to catch up She motioned them on inside and turned to her friend "Suzy, God I wish I had the words of wisdom that you need I know that you love each other, but only you can decide what you can or can’t do If going forward it becomes more than you can handle then you will have to knohen to say when Just take it day by day and hopefully you and Gray will be able to find so that works for everyone That man has loved you since theto do everything in his power to make you happy"

With a sniff, Suzy said, "I really hate this, I feel like a crappy person for thinking of ht punch in the ar, you better lay off her"

"Ok pregnant Ra over there"

Claire threw back her head and laughed "Raet you inside All of that laughter isyour stomach twitch in a rather scary way Just calhed even harder at the alarmed look on her friend’s face Suzy really was priceless Even though she knew that her friend was hurting, she never failed to h She hoped and prayed that Gray knehat he was doing She didn’t kno Suzy would survive losing him, but the fear in her words had scared Claire Maybe it was time to see if the pillow talk worked in reverse Nor about their day, Jason told her as going on with Gray or Nicholas Maybe she could let him know of her fears for Suzy and so her friend’s confidence

"Hey Claire, Claireeeeee, come back"