***The Shoesmith House***
"Denise, what are you doing here?" Andrea asked shocked to see her daughter
standing next to her car.
"As much as I dislike you most of the time, dad loves you. And I won't let
you hurt him like this."
"What do you know? You are too busy partying to know how any one else is
feeling."
"Yeah well I stopped partying enough to see Dad passed out on the couch
looking at pictures from your wedding."
"What do you mean passed out?" she gasped.
"He was wasted. He had the worst hang over I have ever seen, and I've seen
a lot."
"He got drunk??" she repeated feeling her stomach plummet to her feet.
"Completely tanked. Now I understand why he didn't want me drinking. He
explained his rock star life and rock star attitude to me and I promised him
I'd quit drinking with him."
"But he has been sober for over 14 years!" she exclaimed feeling awful.
"I know! That is the point. He is THAT depressed. He misses you and tells
me all the time."
"I have to talk to him...but we're supposed to sign the papers today."
"I know, why else do you think I came? Go talk to him at the court house."
Denise explained simply. With that Andrea hopped into the car. "I'm coming
with you." she said getting into the passengers side.
"Let's go..." Andrea said as she sped out of the driveway hoping that she
wasn't too late.
***Court Room***
"Mr.. McLean, have a seat right here and Mrs.. McLean should be here
shortly. I'll try to make sure you can keep as much of your belongings as
possible." AJ's lawyer said pulling out a chair for him to sit at. He
slumped into the chair his long body looked weak and almost lifeless.
"Give her whatever she wants..." he mumbled. "I don't care...She can take
it all for all I care." He rested his hands on the arms of the chair and
pushed himself up to stand. "I don't even want to see her today... Can't I
just sign this crap before she gets here."
"But Mr.. McLean then you won't be able to defend any of your property..."
the young attorney argued hoping to get him to stay.
"That would be the point... I don't care. Let her have it. I don't want any
of that shit any way." he explained walking towards the door.
"Are you sure?" the young man asked again.
"AJ you need to think about this...I know I'm supposed to be your wife's
attorney but I've known you far too long to let you just give up."
"Steve, I'm done fighting with her, being here is not going to help me. So
I'm just going to go home. Call me if she decides she wants the house or
something so I can get out." he sighed opening the door.
"AJ listen to me..."
"No Steve, listen to me. Man I'm sick of fighting with her. All I ever
wanted was for her to be happy. If she wants something from me, I'm not
going to deny her. I still love her..."
"Have you two even tried to work this out?" Steve asked hoping maybe he
would find some way to get AJ to stay.
"Yeah, those were the fights. Like I said she can have whatever she wants.
I'm out of here." he grumbled walking out the door without even a second
glance back. He had just signed a paper releasing the love of his life. He
felt his heart ache in his chest that he had felt since Andrea had left him.
He wondered if the pain would ever go away or if he'd just get used to it
eventually. Finally he was out of that stupid forsaken building. He started
to walk to his car his head hanging because he knew he wouldn't see what he
wanted even if he were to look up.
"Alex!!" a familiar voice called out. AJ's head shot up and looked around
him quickly but saw nothing. 'You're losing it McLean.' he thought shaking
his head as he drooped his head again.
"Alex!!!" There it was again. He looked around still not seeing anything.
'Man I need some sleep or some thing...this is insane. I'm hearing little
voices in my head that sound like Andi...' he thought to himself.
"Alexander!!! Please don't ignore me!!" At that he spun his head around and
at first saw nothing but he looked again and right behind him was Andrea
attempting to get his attention.
"Andi what are you doing here?" he asked but immediately regretted the
question. 'I know the answer already...' he thought bitterly. 'She is here
to sign the divorce papers. Probably worried that I didn't sign them or
something.'
"I want to talk to you Alex."
"Don't worry Andi..." he said walking backwards still watching her. "I'm
giving you exactly what you want."
"What??"
"I signed the paper work... Now you just have to go in and sign it too. You
got everything you wanted." he said turning on his heel to continue walking
to his car. 'Why the hell did I park so far away from the dang door?' he
asked himself silently.
"Wait Alex...Please listen to me!! I know you want to but you are being
stubborn just like I was being. Talk to me please?" He stopped walking but
didn't turn to face her. She continued walking towards him wishing he would
say something. "Alex? Can I please talk to you?"
"You can do whatever you want." he said throwing her own words back into
her face. She had said that to him the day she came over and he tried to
talk to her. They both walked to his car and casually got in. Carefully he
slid the key into the ignition. "What is it that you want exactly Andi?"
"I want to talk to you."
"What on earth is there left to say?"
"I'm sorry Alex. I just want to talk. Denise came by this morning and told
me about you drinking..."
"Oh Denny helped me..."
"She also told me you haven't been eating or sleeping well. I can see both
of those things just by looking at you Alex! You are thinner than usual and
you have huge bags under your eyes from not sleeping. I am worried about you
Alex."
"I don't want you to worry..." he said trailing off. He was trying to
decide if he should tell her the last part of what he was thinking. 'Not
like it matters not anyway...might as well just say it now.' "I want you to
love me Andi..." he whispered so softly he wasn't even sure that she could
hear him.
"I do love you Alex that's why I'm worried... It's just been difficult with
Denise doing the things she has been doing. And then lately you always are
working..." she said trying to explain herself.
"Why couldn't we have talked like this before we decided on a divorce??"
"Nothing is final Alex..."
"But I signed the papers in there." he said looking at her hoping that
she'd tell him that didn't matter.
"But I didn't...Nothing is finalized... I am willing to try to work this
out if you are Alex..." she said hoping she wasn't sticking her neck out too
far. 'But my marriage is worth sticking my neck out a little isn't it?' she
asked herself silently.
"I am very willing to try to work things out..." he said hopefully.
"Well how about we go back in there together and tell them they can forget
the whole thing." she smiled at him. She was still worried about him but
knew that even with their problems their marriage was worth it all.
"I know this isn't going to make our lives perfect but thank you so much
for giving me a second chance. I really do love you and I missed you a lot.
Even if I don't show it in the best way all the time."
"I love you too Alex. And I really did miss you. I um kind of uh stole one
of your shirts so I didn't miss you as much."
"You what?" he asked laughing.
"I took one of your shirts with me so I wouldn't miss you so much. It's
been so long since I have ever had to fall asleep with out you that I didn't
think I could." she confessed feeling some what stupid.
"That's alright, I still had your pillows to make things a little easier."
he said as he leaned over and kissed her lips softly. "I can't believe you
came back to me..."
"I'm glad I did... We'll work this thing out." she smiled back at him.
"Let's go..." she said opening the door of the car. He smiled as he got out
of the car and grabbed Andrea's hand.
"Hey Mom, Dad... I'll meet you guys at home ok?" Denise called from
Andrea's car.
"Thanks! Drive careful!!" Andrea warned knowing her daughter drove
extremely fast.
"Wait, what are you doing here Denny??" AJ asked confused.
"I told you I would help you Daddy... I'll see you at home." she smiled
before driving away. He smiled watching her and was extremely proud of her.
And thankful...his daughter had just saved his marriage. She really had been
a blessing to him lately. 'Thank you god for all these blessing you have
given me... Most of all my wife and daughter.' he thought smiling at sky
knowing that his gray skies were finally clearing up.
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