Unforgettable

Chapter 5
It was hard to put Doug out of her mind, to pretend he wasn’t back in town. That
idea was totally unrealistic now. After a restless night, however, Jen went to
work the next day determined to keep a friendly distance. Doug could be one of
her guy friends. Like Evan or Matt. She and Doug had both found what they’d
been seeking. They’d put their educations to good use. He loved his work, she
loved hers. Correct choices. Case closed. The past was in the past.
Within five minutes at work, she was fully engrossed—personal appointments,
customer calls, and her own seminar that afternoon. At quitting time, she
grabbed her purse and realized she’d gotten through the day without thinking
about Doug too much, if she didn’t count every in-between moment. He was
someone she used to know…as the song said.
Her cell rang at ten o’clock that evening.
“How was your day?” came the familiar voice.
“Busy. As is the rest of my week.”
“Ouch. Sending me a message?”
Was she? “I’m…figuring that out myself.”
“Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
That seemed to be his theme. Time to focus on him. “And how was your  day?”
“My day…well, as it happens, I have good news and bad news.”
“Again? That seems to be your daily report. I do not like bad news, not anyone’s
bad news.” Her throat began closing, her voice quiet. Even ten years later, the
words instilled fear.
“Jenny, shh…not to worry. It’s professional, not personal.”

---

Didn’t matter. Her adrenaline surged anyway. Bad news meant all her senses on
alert. “Okay, I’m ready.”
“I heard from my agent friend today. I’d sent him a novel a month ago.”
“A novel? You mean a regular story—a book—and not a play?”
“Yeah.”
“He didn’t like it? That’s so hard to believe. You come up with such powerful
ideas…powerful work.”
“Oh, he loved the storyline.”
“But…?”
“Said it should have been a play. Seventy percent of the book was dialogue. And
the other thirty, he said, sounded like I was bossing everyone around. Sitting,
standing, shoving.”
Jen started to laugh, then giggle. “Huh! Guess that big playwriting residency
didn’t make much of an impression on you. The first time you’re on your own,
you choose to write a novel! A novel that’s really a play. Too funny, Doug, weird
and funny. I guess you are who you are.”
He sighed dramatically. “I think you’re right. But it was worth the effort just to
hear you laugh. Love that laugh.”
Too personal.  “So what are you going to do with that story now?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to take my friend’s advice and rewrite it. Writing is
rewriting most of the time anyway.”
“With your other jobs, it sounds like you’ll be busy twenty-four seven. Maybe
that’s best — for both of us.” She couldn’t deny the feelings he’d reawakened in
her, but she wasn’t ready. Time and space suited her. “I’ll say goodnight now.”
She disconnected.
Not a second later she heard a ding. A text from the failed novelist. “Sorry to
spoil your plan, Jenny. On my To-Do list, you are Number One.”

---

#
“Didn’t Lisa tell you?” asked Mike over the phone.
“I guess not.”
“Luis is picking up the boys at the airport tomorrow and bringing them home.
You’re off the hook for once.”
Mike’s driver was like part of the family, but not usually around too much in the
off-season. “Then I’ll meet you at the house,” said Jen. “I want to see my
brothers.”
“That’s up to you. But you’re screwing up a Friday night...uh…with your
friends.”
“What?”
“Go out. Have fun.”
Since when…? “What’s this all about? I’m with my friends often enough. You’re
talking to good old Jenny here. And you do not sound like good old Mike.”
“Big-brother Mike is talking now. You need to have more fun. And the Brennan-
Delaney clan is not going to screw it up for you this time around.”
She sucked back both her tears and laughter. Her thoughts swirled. This time
around? Could they know the real reason she stayed five years ago? She’d made
a strong effort hide her pain and confusion. Even Lisa hadn’t asked too many
questions—just accepted that Doug needed to be in New York. And maybe, with
all that was happening between her and Mike at the time, she preferred Jen at
home, too.
“But you’re all my family!” Jen protested. “Nothing’s more important. You’re
doing Lisa’s dirty work, aren’t you? She’s behind this ridiculous conversation.”
“If it’s dirty work, then we’re both involved—Lisa and I.”
“I-I don’t understand, but I’m not going to make a fuss now. You guys still have
a full house to handle, including an itty-bitty baby and a three-year-old.” She

---

thought about the twins, and Emily’s concert on Saturday, plus Lisa and Mike’s
careers. Lisa’s legal practice needed her hands-on involvement. It was a lot. “If it
will make you both happier to think I’m…socializing, then fine. But this
conversation is not over.”
“Agreed. And one more thing, Jen. Bring Doug to visit us whenever you want.”
Doug. Now  she clearly understood the motivation behind this discussion. First
up, though, she needed to change the mood. “You and Lisa can take off your hair
shirts,” she said. “The past is all on me.”
##
On Friday evening, Jen made her way to the lobby of her office building to meet
her friends and spotted Doug among them. She didn’t recall inviting him, but
wasn’t too surprised. He’d felt welcomed the week before and “people-person”
Doug probably assumed he was now part of the group.
A wide smile lit up his face when she approached, and she felt herself smile
back, her doubts beginning to dissolve as she was drawn to his warmth. He
hurried toward her and wasted no time planting a kiss on her mouth—as though
he had the right.
“Slow down, cowboy. You’re way ahead of me.”
“I always was…always circled back to let you catch up.”
Was that true? “Tortoise and the hare?” she joked. She’d think about the
implications later.
“Didn’t matter,” he replied, “since we were heading in the same direction.” He
paused, his brown eyes darkening, turning solemn. “It seems I’ve circled back
again.”
“Your choice,” she whispered, avoiding his gaze.
“Hey, Jennifer!” She glanced up to see Alexis and Liz waving.
“A lucky save,” said Doug, smiling at the newcomers. “Where’s the rest of the
crew?”

---

“Evan’s coming.” said Alexis, “but Matt said he’d catch up at Maguire’s.” She
turned toward Liz. “Do you know what’s holding him up on a Friday night?”
Liz glanced away. “Just working late, I guess.”
“Hmm…” Jen glanced at Alexis, who shrugged.
Another elevator deposited its passengers. “There’s Evan. Let’s go. I’m
starving.” Doug’s stomach growled in time to his words. “It keeps doing that,”
he joked.
“Because you’re always starving,” said Jen. She sighed dramatically. “Whether
it’s poets, playwrights, writers.…starving seems to be the keyword.”
Doug rolled his eyes and opened the outside door. “Spare me, will ya’? In fact, I
had a terrific day.” He grinned at them. “The auditions were great, and we’re all
cast. Full reading starts Monday.”
“Hear, hear! I’m impressed,” said Evan. “Maybe I pegged you wrong. That’s
quite an achievement in one week.”
“Sure was fast. You really are the hare,” commented Jen.
“Don’t you business types always say ‘time is money?’ ” asked Doug. “We’ve
got the main stage booked for the second weekend of September and for eight
weekends thereafter, plus Wednesdays. We’d better be ready.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” said Alexis. “I’ve never known a real playwright. Or any
writer, in fact.”
They’d arrived at Maguire’s as Liz said, “Let’s make it a party. An opening-night