Unforgettable

party. All of us.”
“We’ll see,” said Jen. Four months from then seemed like an eternity. Who knew
what her relationship with Doug would be? She glanced at him and received a
wink. “You’ll be there,” he whispered, “and I hope you’ll be cheering.”
“I can’t make promises I may not keep.”
She heard his deep inhale and exhale. “Maybe you’re right. Let’s find out.” He

---

leaned forward, his arms around her, and placed his mouth on hers. Gentle at
first, then pressing harder, and she opened to him, her tongue meeting his. Her
eyes closed, her breath disappeared as she absorbed his familiar touch, his
familiar fragrance. Comforting, secure…exciting. A frisson of happiness raced
through her as time disappeared.
Her friends cheered, and reality brought her up short.
“Oh, man…” she turned aside, her face on fire. Public displays of affection were
definitely not her style.
“I’m not asking for promises,” said Doug, keeping her close. “Take your time.”
But his grin belied his words. He leaned closer and whispered, “Nothing has
changed since our undergrad days. You’re still the one. And so am I.”
“And that’s supposed to make me happy?” she whispered, glad to see Evan
pointing at a table.
“C’mon, lovebirds,” the man said, leading the way. “The crowd’s lighter than
last week. I guess people are grabbing weekends at the Cape already.”
Lovebirds? She’d have to straighten Evan out.
“I’d love a place on Cape Cod,” said Alexis. “The beach, the ocean… Work
hard, play hard.”
Jen sat quietly, her mind flashing to the large beach house Mike had bought
several years ago for the family to enjoy. Their summer neighbors had come to
accept him as just another resident, regardless of the three Super Bowls he’d led
the Riders to win. But as usual, she didn’t share details of her home life, even
with these closest friends. Her family’s past experiences with paparazzi and their
invasive techniques precluded that.
“Oh, here’s Matt,” exclaimed Liz, her body poised to stand—or fly. Jen eyed
Alexis and nodded toward their friend. Alexis shook her head and seemed
confused.
Matt approached, but his gaze was only for Liz. “It’s what we thought.” He
turned to include the table. “I’ve got some news,” he began. “I’m being
promoted.” He held up his hand to stop Jen as she began to congratulate him.

---

“All those late-night courses seemed to have paid off. However, there’s a kink.”
He looked from one to the other. “The new position requires me to relocate to a
regional office.”
Alexis was the first. “Congratulations…I think. But we’ll miss you, Matt. Oh,
I’m not ready for this. I wasn’t expecting my little working world to fall apart.”
“Did you think this—” Evan gestured around the table “—could last forever?”
“I-I guess I never thought about it,” said Alexis. “But why not? The Boston
office is huge. It’s the corporate headquarters. I thought we’d all be together for
years.”
“So did I,” admitted Jen, blinking quickly.
Doug remained silent, but Jen sensed him staring at her and her co-workers,
taking it all in. Fodder for another play?
“So, exactly where are you going, Matt?” she asked softly. “Maybe just to Rhode
Island?”
Matt cleared his throat. “Actually, I’ll be further away than that—in Kentucky.
Working at the office in Covington.”
“That’s far!” Jen cried, her stomach twisting. “That’s a real goodbye.”
“Haven’t you heard of planes?” joked Evan.
“Not the same,” she protested. “Nothing ever stays the same.” She heard the cry
in her own voice and pressed her lips together.
“Jenny—look at me,” said Doug, gently turning her head. “Think of it not as a
goodbye but as a hello—for Matt. New challenges, building his career. That’s
what you all want, isn’t it? And sometimes moving is what’s required.”
He wasn’t talking only about Matt. He was speaking about them. About their
past when moving to New York City was out of the question—for her. It still
was.
Liz’s quiet voice broke in. “He won’t be going alone.”

---

All eyes turned to her. “We’re going together. Hopefully, I’ll work something out
with the company. If not, I’ll go job hunting.”
Matt stood behind Liz, his hands resting on her shoulders. He leaned over and
kissed her on the cheek before addressing the group.
“You would have figured this out soon, but Lizzy and I—we’ve been seeing each
other away from the office for almost a year now….And, well…we’re taking the
relationship to the next level.” He smiled. “More news to follow.”
“A toast to your new adventure,” said Doug, raising his water glass.
“Yes. Of-of course,” said Jen, pasting a smile on her face while in the back of
her mind, Carol King asked if anybody stayed in one place anymore.
##
“We’re bringing the baby home today.”
Jen sat on the side of her bed the next morning, her sister’s words floating above
her as she held her phone and tried to wake up. The message, when received, had
her bolting from the pillow. “That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to see her again.”
“Neither can I. But I need a favor. Instead of meeting us, can you accompany
Emily to Symphony Hall tonight?”
Emily’s concert. A very big deal. “Of course.”
“I…I feel awful not going with her, but Brianna needs me, too.”
“She certainly does! Don’t think twice about it. Emily can even stay overnight at
my place.”
“Thanks, but she’ll probably want to come home. She’s funny that way. Can’t
wait to get to school, but—and this worries me—she’s happiest when she’s alone
and practicing her violin.”
Nothing new there. “Lis—she’s just being herself. And she’s so good with that
fiddle. Practicing is a one-person job.”

---

“I know, I know. But I’m not sure. Heck, I’m not sure of anything. Maybe my
hormones are out of whack now. Sometimes I wonder if Emily still thinks Mom
can hear her in heaven? Is that why she’s relentless with her playing? She’s not
seven years old anymore!”
Goosebumps popped up on Jen’s skin. “She can’t believe that now.” A
kaleidoscope of family memories invaded her mind, finally bringing her to the
prior night’s conversation at Maguire’s.
“Maybe we’re all carrying around a piece of the past,” she said softly. “You, me,
Em, our brothers. Maybe it doesn’t go away, and we just deal with it the best we
can.”
A long, low whistle came through the phone. “Quite the philosopher so early in
the morning.”
Jen chuckled. “I try.” But did she? For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t
sure.
“Mike and I don’t worry about you anymore. You figured out what you wanted
and never looked back.”
Maybe, where Doug was concerned. “Thanks, but it was a no-brainer. Finance
and I are a natural fit.”
“Don’t I know it! Oh…Bobby’s calling me. See you later.”
A natural fit, Jen thought, as she disconnected. For the first time in her adult life,
she wondered if her career was enough. Her family? Friends? Her choral group?
She’d never questioned her choices. But since Doug had reappeared only a week
ago, he’d turned her life into one big question mark.

---