Kids.

“Hang on Gin, Are we worrying about something we don't need to worry about, I mean you said it yourself, we're both smart, we're both good at managing situation's, its not like there's anything to hide from them after all, the cat's out of the bag with them about my marriage, are we trying to overplay a situation that don't exist?”

“Yeah I understand about that M, it's Liz and my relationship I'm more worried about. And you Mike, our relationship and where that's going or not going.”

“Oh, right, I'd not thought about that, sorry honey, well I had but then I kinda didn't want to think about it given the circumstances.”

'Well that was well thought out you dummy, that lead nowhere, now she's back to being confused!'

“Oh but Gin, Yes I've met Paul, he's a good kid Gin, he's a credit to you and your ex, you bought him up well.” She wanted a hug, so I gave it to her. I looked up and noticed the barman contemplating the scene before him, he would've given a million dollars to know what we were talking about. Gin had her head resting in the nape of my shoulder, “Oh one other thing Gin, I got to tell you that when it comes to picking the right people to like and love and such, well Leigh has inherited her old man's sixth sense, she picks very wisely.”

Gin looked at me and then our lips locked as we sucked the breath out of each other, her hands around my neck holding my head so she could eat my face off from the inside, and one of my hands pulling the back of her head closer to mine, was I thinking about anything other than that kiss, nope. Was the thought of where my marriage was at this point in time, no. Was I prepared for the consequences of any of it, absolutely not.

I felt her hands pull away from my head, fast and then they were between our bodies, on my chest pushing me away, she was slapping them against my lower shoulders, I let her head move away, “No no no no, Mike we can't do this, this is wrong, we can't do this!”

“You know what Gin, we've been caught up in my marriage problems we haven't had a chance to sit down with some real question's and answer's, what say we sit down and talk honey? What do you say Gin?”

She nodded, “Yes Mike let's do that, but not here okay, I've 'bout had enough of bars for the mean time.”

“Where then?”

“The library was nice M, let's go back there, we could get a light lunch there while we chat, whaddya think?”

I nodded and smiled at Gin. If we were gonna get it all out on the table we needed somewhere that was to our liking. The forlorn look on the barman's face when I'd put our glassware on the bar and waved to him that we were off, was comical, I guess the thought that the drama for the day was leaving him with no more entertainment and an empty bar must of sucked, for him - 'Buddy you don't know how good you got it!'

The sun had broken through an otherwise overcast day, although outside was still autumn cool. Ginia pointed to one of the bar leaner's over by the large plate glass windows where we could see people going about their day, the glass was slightly tinted but still let the warmth through, we started with a coffee each which in the end, neither of us touched and I think we weren't even hungry, just too much on our minds.”

I started, “Honey, If this thing with Liz hadn't started would you have contacted me, you know like asked us to meet and renew our friendship?”

“Honestly M, no I wouldn't but Mike, if you'd asked me whether I was hoping we would meet again, yes I was, every day since I'd started working again I'd got expectant that we'd meet again, you would not believe how euphoric I felt when I rang Sally to tell her I was going to be late and she said there was a Mike, waiting to see me in my office. I remember telling her to keep you there, to stall you and not let you leave, I was in a terrible state M, I got flustered, and then I'd lose my train of thought, I spent five minutes looking for my car keys before I realised they were in my hand, I was so nervous.”

“Gin, the first view of you in seventeen years, I all but melted when I saw you. I watched awe struck as you glided towards me. I couldn't believe it you still are one of the two most beautiful women I have ever met to be exact, I married the other one Gin, I'm not sorry about that just massively disappointed that part of her beauty is tainted.”

“Honey, we all do things that we wished we hadn't, Look I'm sure Rob, no actually I KNOW he sez the same about me. And Mike he's right. I will always regret my part in our marriage breakdown, it was horrible what we put ourselves through, a waste, and if it wasn't for the fact that I was distracted bringing Paul up I think I would of ended up having a total breakdown. What I'm trying to say Mike is we've all got wart's and we've all got bruises, you know Hun?” She thought for a minute I could see it, she continued, “Mike, do you think there is any chance that you and Liz can get back together?”

“Honey, I don't know, I go through my emotions in waves, you know at breakfast when she started to smile I think I got the same inkling that Liz did, just a glimpse of life three or so months ago and for a split second I felt the love I had for her back then, and then when she burst into tears it was like she flicked a switch, and I could feel the frustration and anger return again, I had no inclination to comfort her at all, how fucked up is that.”

“No Mike actually it's not, that happens and it's just not unusual. With me it was a frying pan hurtling across the kitchen at the back of Rob's head, God I didn't realise how much **** I'd put into that throw till it left my hand, if he hadn't turned in that split second to walk around my kitchen island I'm pretty sure it would of knocked him out, possibly worse. He was so shocked, it actually took out the glass back-splash behind the oven, he just called it quits and moved out that night. I could tell he would never trust me again, it was over. M, I could see the hurt in his eyes, .... it still haunts me to some extent, those eyes.”

“Do you need to talk about it Ginia?”

“No, um...er yes. No...um.”

“Okay then, here's one for ya, that's a bit easier. How much do you think my daughter and your son know about us?”

“OH, SNAP! I thought about that last night and then forgot about it I got such a shock while Paul was telling me it left my mind. I don't think Paul know's anything. What about Leigh.”

“God that would have been so funny seeing your face, like 'Duh, wot son.'” We both cracked up and started laughing so loud, we forgot where we were and got the normal scornful looks from the 'Library Set'.

“To answer your question about Leigh, I don't think she know's Gin, but she is a smart kid, she's has a tenacity to find things out, she's done that before, so I wouldn't put it past her to be working things through.”

“So how difficult is it going to be when Leigh and Liz find out about me and then us M?”

“Seriously, Leigh will be fine with it, if nothing she likes the stranger of things, you know quirky, - like she'll see the irony in the whole thing, what about Paul.”

“Mike he's fifteen next month and in love with your daughter, how many extra brain cells is he going to share with other thoughts about anything, you know – eat!sleep!woman!” We did it again and this time we both got 'Sssshhh'. No sense of humour, that's their problem. But Liz,- Liz was going to be a whole different scenario.