Drinks Later Alt Ending

Authors Note: Reading some of the responses from my "Drinks Later" book, some felt that the ending was not true to the story. When I originally wrote it, I had a different ending. It was darker but still ended on a good note. I'll let the reader be the judge.

Please read the original Part 5 in its entirety. This Alternate Ending starts with the "Drinks Later" chapter and goes to the end. Again, please let me know what you think. Appreciate all the comments!

Alternate Ending

DRINKS LATER

I was up early Friday. I zipped around the house getting ready for work, then got the girls up and around. After dropping them off at daycare, I was at the office by 8:30.

I had only been at my desk a few minutes when Cori buzzed me. "Jennifer's on one."

I closed my eyes and counted to five before picking up the receiver. "Good morning."

"Hi. You free for lunch?"

"Uh, yeah," I said, glancing at my calendar.

"Good. Let's do the club at noon. I've got the papers signed for you."

"OK. I guess I'll see you there." I wasn't sure what to say after our little tryst three days earlier. Especially with the crying afterwards.

"Yes. See you there. Bye!" The line went dead.

I shook my head as I thought about the last 72 hours. The unexpected sex with Jennifer, her sudden meltdown, Grace breaking up with me - really before we had a chance to begin, and now Jennifer calling a meeting to officially end this marriage. And it wasn't even nine o'clock yet!

Luckily, I was busy through the rest of the morning with case work, so I couldn't dwell on the upcoming lunch.

At 11:30, I grabbed my coat and headed out. I stopped first at Cori's desk to update her. "So, clear the calendar this afternoon."

"Good luck," she said with a wry smile.

"Thanks, I'm going to need it!" I turned toward the door.

"Alex," she called after me.

"Yes?" I stopped and poked my head back into the room.

She hesitated. "May I speak freely?"

I smiled at her. "Yes, of course. You're the only one I can count on to do so."

"Then don't go through with this! Tear up the papers and take her back!"

"Thanks, Cori. You're the best!" I smiled and nodded. Then I turned and walked out the door. I could tell she was upset. Both at me and at my lack of response to her statement.

My head was spinning with the realization that I was heading to lunch with my soon-to-be-ex-wife. That was a bitter thought. But an idea was beginning to formulate. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as I expected. And I would get something out of it. I know I deserve it.

For the last ten years, I have been a member of the South Links Country Club. My parents had been members since before I was born. When Jennifer and I were dating, I would bring her here to the club to play golf and swim. We would usually end the day in the club's wonderful restaurant. They have both a bar/tavern side and a white linen fine dining side. It is all housed in a large English Tudor estate overlooking the golf course. The backside of the building was almost totally covered in windows allowing a million-dollar view from almost any position in the white linen part of the restaurant.

"Hello, Mr. Evans!" I was greeted by Robert, the maître d. When you spend enough time at the club, the staff quickly learn your name. "It is a pleasure to see you."

"Thank you, Robert! You, too. I'm supposed to meet Mrs. Evans for lunch."

He smiled. "She's already here. Please follow me."

He led me over to the bank of windows and to a small table for two.

"Hello, Mrs. Evans! Your lunch partner!" He smiled at Jennifer as he set down a menu for me. "You folks enjoy your lunch!"

"Thank you, Robert." I stepped to my chair and sat down.

"Yes, thanks, Robert!" said Jennifer. "Hi," she said to me.

"Hi." I smiled as I sat down. "You look great!" And she did. A white blouse under a blue blazer. The perfect brunette hair and the gorgeous face. Damn! Why does she have to be so perfect on this day of all days?

"Thank you," she smiled, gently.

The waitress stepped up before we could say anything more. "Good afternoon! Do you know what you'd like, or do you need a moment?"

I glanced at Jennifer. She already had a drink in front of her. "Lemonade," she said softly.

"Sounds good," I repeated, "a lemonade and," again I looked at Jennifer, "Chef's salad?"

She nodded.

"Two chef salads with house dressing." I handed the menus to the waitress.

"Very good, sir," she left us alone.

I turned back to Jennifer. "You really do look fantastic."

"Here," she said, ignoring my comments. "I have signed the papers."

She handed over the stack. I quickly flipped through them, confirming that signatures and dates were all in the correct spots, as the bank had reminded me. I saw no errors.

"Thank you," I said quietly, setting them over to the side.

"How are the girls?" she asked.

"Good. Cassie argued with me this morning over going to daycare."

"Just give her an extra hug. She just needs reassurance." She was staring at me intently, making sure I understood.

I smiled. "Got it! Extra hug."

The waitress brought my lemonade as Jennifer leaned back in her chair and glanced back out the window.

"Keeping up on the laundry?" she was again looking at me.

"I think so," I muttered. "But that damn washer - why didn't we ever get a new one?"

She smiled. "It's just temperamental - like everything else in that house!"

"Well, it deserves the junk heap!" I took another sip. This conversation felt nice. There was no fighting. No posturing. Just two people trying to adjust to a new future. The papers were about to be signed. The war was over. Now the peacetime coexistence was being hashed out. "Well, the girls miss you. They are so excited to see you tonight."

"I miss them so badly. I don't know if I'm ever going to get used to this."

"Me neither."

Jennifer sipped her lemonade. Luckily, the waitress picked that moment to deliver our salads. We both sat quietly as she placed our meals in front of us. "I'll bring you a refill, ma'am. Will there be anything else?"

"No, thank you," I smiled at her.

We each quietly added dressing and started to eat. The food is wonderful here and this simple chef's salad did not disappoint. But I was focused on the beautiful woman sitting across from me. How did we come to this? Why us?

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Jennifer's comment brought me back to the present.

"It is," I agreed between bites. "But I have to get this off my chest."

She stopped mid-bite and looked at me questioningly.

"I want to apologize for the other day."

She smiled and finished her bite.

"Not the sex!" I added. "That was fantastic! Probably best ever!"

Her smile broadened.

I continued. "But I hurt you somehow. I don't know what I did to hurt you, but those were real tears. So, for whatever pain I caused, please know how sorry I am."

"Alex, you're such an idiot!" she had put her fork down and was sipping her lemonade. She leaned back in her chair and turned to gaze out the window.

I knew her well enough to take no offense to her statement. I also knew this was her way to collect her thoughts before explaining herself. So, I simply kept eating and stayed silent.

"Oh, Alex," she glanced at me for just a second then dropped her eyes to the drink in her hands. "I've screwed up my whole life so badly. And I don't know how to fix it."

She again glanced up at me. I really couldn't think of anything to say.

"I've lost my job," she continued. "I've lost my friends. I'm responsible for marriages ending - including my own!" she acknowledged the paperwork beside me.

I wanted to say something, but I knew she wasn't done, so I bit my tongue.

"But, most of all," she closed her eyes. "I've lost my family. My daughters and my husband! I'm not sure life is even worth living anymore."

"Look," I started to speak.

She snapped her eyes open and glared at me - like she just realized I was still there. Her entire physiology changed right in front of me. "You were apologizing for making me cry?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"Do you even know why I did what I did?"

"No, I don't, but I'm sorry -"

"No!" She again cut me off. "I mean with the other guys!?"

My blood ran cold! This was a topic I had no desire to address. "No, I do not."

Her eyes were on fire now. "Because you always made love to me. And, as a good girl, I thought that was all I wanted. It's all I ever knew! Then I slipped." Again, her eyes lowered. She took a breath and looked back up at me. The eyes were still blazing. "And I was fucked and had sex! And I enjoyed it!"

I looked around to make sure no one heard our little conversation. Thankfully, nobody was paying us any attention.

She was still glaring at me, and I started to let my own rage boil, but I stopped suddenly when I had an epiphany - she wasn't really talking to me - she was talking to herself. I was able to calm down and simply watch as a bystander while she continued.

"And then I did something even more stupid - as if cheating wasn't stupid enough - I listened to these guys that said never mix love and lust. That sex for sex and sex for love don't coexist!" Again, she took a breath. "So, imagine my surprise - my shock - that at the precise moment that I have lost everything in my life - you," her eyes were boring into me now, but she was starting to tear up, "you fucked me with a fury I've never seen. The only man I've ever loved and the only man who has ever made love to me - he was also capable of fucking me! And then it hit me! The ultimate irony! The exact moment that I discover I had it all is the exact moment I realized I have nothing!" She closed her eyes and slowly shook her head.

I was quiet as I attempted to process this outburst.

"Do you remember the story of the poor farmer who got gold fever and left his property to strike it rich?" she asked.

Yes, of course I did. I had told her the story. But right now, I just nodded.

"And he scoured the world looking for gold and died a poor, broken man. Then, they discover gold on his original land! He had it all! It was all right there! But he wandered - and he lost it all. The story of my life."

I was totally dumbfounded by what she said. This was unexpected.

"So," she continued. Her whole demeanor was much softer. "You try to apologize for making me cry. You have nothing to apologize for. Nothing! I just realized that my personal treasure shared my bed, but I was too blind to see it! Until it was too late!"

She again glanced at the paperwork beside me. Then she began shaking her head slowly. "I figure it out when it's too late."

The waitress picked that moment to check up on us. She glanced at the two relatively uneaten lunch plates. "Is everything OK?"

"Yes," I smiled at her. "Just a lot of discussion. I think we're done with the lunches. Could we get a couple of glasses of the House white wine?"

"Certainly." She carried the salads away.

I turned back to Jennifer. She was again gazing out the window. "I don't have anything left. We'll be officially divorced next week. You have our daughters. And you have Grace. You're all set - my mistakes are allowing you a new life."

I smiled and shook my head. "But I don't have Grace."

"What?"

The waitress brought our wine.

"We ended it a couple of days ago. I've had a hell of a week!"

"You broke up? Was it because of me - of our 'get-together' Tuesday?"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I didn't mention the 'get-together'. It was her idea. This was a rebound romance for both of us. I think we both needed it - we needed each other after the pain inflicted on us - but now we've come through the darkness and need to make some strong decisions. I think we'll always be great friends and there for each other, but there is no us."

"I'm sorry," Jennifer was genuinely concerned.

"It's OK," I smiled. "It's allowing me to move on."

She looked down again at the glass in her hands. "That's nice. You do need to move on."

At that moment, I decided to start sharing my idea. Time for me to sell her on my plan. I leaned back slightly. "I have more news."

She mirrored me. "And that is?"

"I told you this has been a hell of a week. Wednesday, Carl and the other partners sat me down and explained that the firm wants to open an office in Portland, Oregon. And they want me to run it."

"Portland?" she pulled even further away from me. "That's a long way from here."

I nodded. "It is. But it's a great promotion and I'd be dumb to turn it down. So, I'm going to accept it."

"You are? But what about the girls? And I have visitation rights! What are you saying?"

I took a sip of wine and leaned forward. "That's why I'm glad you called this morning. I want to share with you my idea and put forward an offer."

"I'm listening." She took another sip of wine.

"As I said," I looked down at my drink before facing her again. "The money is great. The career advancement is great. And I think the girls will really love the west coast. It'll be a wonderful place for them to grow up."

"And me? I am still their mother." She was starting to tense up.

"Yes, you are," I nodded and smiled. "That's why I'd like to invite you to join us."

"What? Join you? In Portland?" She was surprised and trying to process what I was asking.

"Yeah," I agreed. "The girls need their mother near them. So, again, the invite is to come with us to Portland."

She got a curious look and cocked her face to look at me. "Are you suggesting we get back together?"

"No," I gently shook my head. "We have too many issues between us for a reconciliation."

I thought I saw a little tear again forming in her right eye. "Yeah, you're probably right."

"I am right," I forcefully stated. But I relaxed as I continued. "You need a sex therapist to help you get a handle on your cravings. And I need a therapist to help me with trust issues. Because currently, I have none. Especially from women. And double especially, from one specific woman."

"I see." She was fighting back tears at this point. "But what about the other day? Didn't that mean anything to you?"

"Of course it did," I winked at her. "The most beautiful woman I know allowed me into her home wearing only a bath towel. And, according to you a minute ago, we fucked and had sex. And it was wonderful! Damn spectacular, even!!"

I smiled and took a larger gulp of the wine. "But I'm not in love with you anymore. You wounded me too badly. And you aren't in love with me, either. At least not head over heels for either of us. Yeah, both of us still have feelings for each other, but that's only because we haven't found anyone else. Grace taught me that. The more I was with her, the less I thought about you. So, I know that each of us needs to find someone else. Then we'll be able to coexist as loving parents to the two greatest kids on the planet."

She was shaking her head slowly and staring at her wine glass she held. "That was an interesting speech. If you're trying to sell me on going to Portland, you're doing a terrible job."

"Here's what I am proposing," I leaned forward and pulled my pen and notepad from my pocket and started to write as I spoke. "The divorce goes through. Once the assets are divvied up, we sell the house here and buy a duplex or two neighboring houses there. That way the girls will always be able to get to either of us. Beyond the alimony, I hire you. You become a nanny for the girls and my maid. Those are jobs I'd have to hire out anyway. So, I'd much rather have them go to you."

She looked at the paper as I laid my pen down. "A maid and a nanny? That sounds like a bunch of BS."

"A nanny to your children," I interjected. "This is a job you do now. It's called Motherhood. It's just that I'm offering to pay you. And the maid part? Again, what's been your part in that thing we called marriage? Of course I helped, but we both know you carried the bulk of the household responsibilities. So, again, I'm offering to pay you for what you've been doing for free. And by the way, what are you doing now?"

"I guess it makes sense," she sighed. "But I just don't know..."

"Jennifer," I looked deep into her eyes. "After lunch, you're going back to an apartment with a few toys you keep for your precious girls that you only see occasionally. With no job and little contact with the outside world. And I'm going back to an empty house with the same commute to work, the same people in my life, and the environment that reminds me constantly of the recent pain in my life."

I was on a roll. "I don't want that! I want to start over! A new home, a new commute, a new view, just a new environment all around! And now I have that opportunity! But my children come first. And they need their mother. So, I am asking - as their mother, will you follow an old lawyer and a couple of cute kids for an adventure to the west coast?"

She thought for a couple of minutes then nodded. "Yes. Yes, I'll come with you! I'll go anywhere with my cute kids and their father."

"Thank you!!" I too, breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll let Carl know Monday. We'll get the ball rolling soon.

"What about us?" she asked.

"What about us?" I was genuinely puzzled.

"Yeah, us?" she paused and looked at me earnestly.

"Oh!" I finally caught the gist of her question. "As husband and wife, we are done. That's water under the bridge. As mother and father, we are joined at the hip forever. And as friends, we are getting there."

"I guess you're right. Looks like Tuesday was just a blip."

"Not necessarily," I smiled as I shook my head. "As you so eloquently pointed out earlier, I fucked and had sex with a stunning brunette. I wouldn't mind doing that again - even on a routine basis!"

"But you said we're not getting back together?"

"As husband and wife? No. But as friends? Absolutely! And who said it can't be occasionally a 'friends with benefits' scenario? Or an "exes with benefits!"

"You're talking crazy!"

"No, I'm not. We are getting divorced. We are going to be single parents. We can start dating and seeing other people. At some point, we'll probably meet that special one and fall in love and it'll work out forever. But until then, we both have needs. I doubt we ever make love again. But who says we can't fuck like rabbits until one or the other moves on?" My darker thoughts said she'd be my personal whore, but I kept that to myself.

She was laughing now. "You really are sick! But I love it! OK, soon-to-be ex-husband, what now?"

I waved over the waitress and gave her my credit card. As she left to get my receipt, Jennifer took another sip of wine.

"Do you want another wine?" I asked. "Or shall we just have drinks later?"

Her sly smile made me realize what I had just asked! Even though it wasn't planned, I couldn't let it slide. "I vote for 'drinks later'."

"You are a wicked man!" she teased. "Then 'drinks later' it is."

MOVING FORWARD

The divorce went through as scheduled. Jack and Bob wished me well and Bob wanted to use me as a case study. And he's kept me updated on the fallout. From what he's observed, twelve of the men were fired, six more resigned, and fifteen marriages ended. Many of the court cases just went away. Jennifer's old firm managed to hold on to most of the agreements, but she did have to return a portion of her bonuses.

I have kept in touch with Grace, and she is doing well. Her divorce also went through, but she landed on her feet and has now met a great guy. I'm happy for her. But I wouldn't mind seeing her again someday.

And Brian is seeing Margie, and it sounds serious. If they end up tying the knot, that will be an interesting wedding to attend. Maybe they'll simply elope! We'll see.

It took some coordinating, but we made the transition to Portland. The old house sold quickly, and I found a pair of small cottage style homes side by side out here. As promised, one I gave to Jennifer, and I took the other. She took on the jobs of nanny for the girls and maid for me. The girls are ecstatic about it. They love having two houses to live in and their mom around all the time. And me? Well, I get a clean house and an occasional fuck bunny. I just always use a condom.