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A long Time Coming Chapter Eight
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While the holidays were an especially happy time for most people for some it was a lonely road to travel.
When Francine Winestein's sister Kate joined her at Sabatino's Italian Grill Restaurant at twelve thirty she was already a bit tipsy, now she was well on her way to being drunk.
Kate watched her older sister with a feeling of helplessness. She didn't need to be a mind reader to know that Alex was at the heart of Francine's torn emotions. However, she wasn't keen on censuring her knowing that she might only exacerbate the situation.
Francine dated a few men in the past few months, but no one more than a few times. She was picky, too picky and it hadn't helped that she compared every one of them to Alex.
This was a new side of her sister, one that Kate wished she could have avoided seeing. She'd always thought of Francine as strong and independent, but she seem to have lost some of that edge. After the break up she still carried on like she was bulletproof, but her armor began to crack when Alex became engaged.
Kate knew that Francine invited her to lunch to pump her for information about Alex and Jade, not that she knew much. The McCord men respected each other and their boundaries when it came to personal relationships. All she knew was that Alex had become a bit of a homebody since he and Jade got together. That was obvious by the fact that she and Jason didn't see him out at the usual places.
Kate wasn't about to get in the middle of Francine's problems. Her sister was a big girl and she simply had no choice but to deal with the fact that she and Alex were not destined to be together. She loved her sibling, even if they hadn't been particularly close in recent years.
The only time Kate had seen Alex and Jade together was at dinner with his family. Although her sister wanted a blow by blow of what happened that night, Kate refused to oblige her. It was obvious to her and everyone else there that Alex was deeply in love with Jade and he adored her little girl. What good would it do for Francine to know that?
Seeing Francine trying to drown her hurt, Kate felt compelled to say something.
"Frannie, don't you think you've had enough," she queried in a gentle tone.
Looking at Kate above her wine glass, Francine replied, "I don't know, maybe I haven't had enough."
"Frannie, I know how much the break up with Alex hurt you, but you can't spend the rest of your life drowning your pain. He's moved on and you should do the same."
"I should do the same?" Francine sneered. "Would you be so together if Jason left you for another woman?"
Kate looked at her sister calmly and gathered her thoughts before responding.
"Technically, Alex didn't leave you for another woman," she said. "He didn't meet Jade until weeks later. As for your question, I'd be heartbroken for a long time, but I would hope that someone would be there to try to pull me together. I'm your sister and I love you. I just hate seeing you like this."
Sighing, Francine said, "Yeah, technicalities. That would be something an attorney would know about."
Not through with the subject, she muddled on.
"Sometimes I think it would have been better never to have met Alex; he ruined me for other men," she said. "Then I think of our time together and I want those memories, even though they hurt me now. I don't know what to do with myself. I'm thirty two years old, not a damn teenager. I should know how to move on."
Taking Francine's hand, Kate said, "It's not about age, it about emotions. You wanted more out of the relationship than Alex was able to give. I know I got lucky with Jason, but it could just as easily been the case with us. Remember Jack Reynolds, the guy who fell in love with you when you weren't in love him? No one was to blame."
"I know, but when it's you getting the short end it's a different story," Francine admitted.
It was at that moment that Alex walked in with Jade. Kate, who was facing the door, saw them first. Francine noticed her expression and turned to see what had caught her attention.
When Francine saw the woman at Alex's side, she was surprised. Alex walked to their table with his hand on the woman's lower back. No one could mistake it for anything other than a possessive gesture. The woman seemed to accept the gesture as one to which she had become accustom. She belonged to him and there was no doubt about it.
They sat on the other side of the room diagonal to Francine's view. She could see them without being obvious and, heaven help her, she couldn't tear her eyes away. She'd wondered what this mysterious woman looked like. She'd imagined a tall blonde much like herself, but more of a self made person or an heiress. Alex didn't have a type to her knowledge, but Francine had always been jealous of women who owned their businesses or were socially elite.
It was obvious that the woman with Alex was African American because of her coloring, but her features hinted at a racial mix. It was equally obvious that they looked good together. She was pretty, but Francine thought herself prettier. She wondered what Alex had seen in this woman that made her the one. Maybe it was time that she found out.
Before Kate could stop her, Francine got out of her seat and headed across the room. Cringing, Kate prayed that her sister wouldn't do or say anything inappropriate or embarrassing. Truth to tell, she didn't know what Francine was capable of doing.
Since Jade was sitting facing where Kate and Francine were seated, she was the first to see Francine approaching, although she didn't know who she was. She noticed that the woman had a look of determination on her face, which turned to something that tried to be a smile as she drew near.
"Alex." Francine said breathlessly as she reached the table.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your lunch, but I just wanted to say hello and congratulations."
Looking at Francine, Alex could tell that she'd had a little too much to drink. Her eyes were glassy and her smile forced. He hoped to hell that she didn't make a scene.
One of the things he hated dealing with was public scenes with woman. He'd only had one in his life and that was enough. He hoped to dispatch Francine as soon as possible without any drama.
"Francine. Good to see you again," he said. Then looking at his companion, "Jade this is Francine Winestein; Francine, Jade Harris, my fiancée.
"Please to meet you Miss Harris and congratulations," Francine said, feeling like the words would stick in her throat.
"Nice meeting you Miss Winestein and thank you. I understand that you are the head buyer for Marcus Mann women's clothing and accessories. I've shopped there a few times, you have impeccable taste," Jade said with admiration.
