"Of course," Rob replied.
"Do you believe in fate?”Jay asked.“I mean really believe in it?"
"I guess I would say that I do, but only to a point.I think it can play a part, but it’s ultimately up to you.The way I see it, life writes you a check but it's up to you to cash it.Know what I mean?"
"Yeah,” Jay said quietly.“Life wrote me a pretty sizable check… and it bounced."
"How?Rob asked.
"Claire and I ran into each other Friday night—at the dinner where I met up with the head of Dragon Lady.I couldn’t believe it, and she was just as surprised as me.Anyway, we spent the rest of the night together, dancing and laughing.We went out for gelato and talked.I asked to see her again and she said yes.So, we went to dinner last night.We talked for hours.Then we came back here."
"Okay, so what's the problem?"
"There was no problem—that'sthe problem," Jay said.
"I don't follow."
"I never once thought of Hope," Jay said after a long pause."Well, that's not entirely true.She asked me how Hope died and I told her.Then I changed the subject.Everything was going great… until I saw my wedding ring on the coffee table."
"And that's a problem, how?"Rob asked.
"Shouldn't I be mourning the loss of my wife, Rob?”Jay asked.“Not trying to seduce some woman I've only seen a few times.We spent a few hours in a bar together once.Then several hours Friday and a few last night.What kind of man am I?"
"The only kind you can be.The kind of man who feels.There's no right or wrong here, Jay.There's only what you feel.And like I told you before, you ain’t on a clock."
"Last night was incredible,” Jay’s voice tightened.“But now I can't think straight.”
Rob fell silent on the other end.More than ever, Jay craved his straightforward wisdom.
"When you're with Claire… are you able to think straight then?"Rob asked.
“Not only am I able to think straight, I never knew it could feel this good,” Jay’s voice began to crack.“I never felt this excited about Hope when we first started out.Is that fucked up or what?Hope is dead, and all I can think about is Claire.All I want is a woman I don’t even fucking know?”
“It’s not fucked up, Jay.”
“I can’t do this anymore,” Jay said.“I feel like the goddamn walls are closing in around me.I can hardly breathe.”
Jay’s heartbeat rocketed to a level he hadn’t experienced since the moment he opened his door to the police officers delivering the news of Hope’s death.His vision turned blurry and he sank to the floor.He'd had a couple of panic attacks before, and this had all the makings of one.
“I’m not feeling well, Rob,” he said, forcing the words out.“I’ll call you back later.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
CLAIRE
"You'll never guess what I'm holding in the palm of my hot, little hand."
"Molly, I'm very busy right now and can’t talk.I’ll call you later tonight, once I wrap up this project."Claire balanced the phone between her shoulder and ear, shuffling the papers on her office desk into some semblance of order.
"Not one, not two, not even three, butfourof the hottest tickets in town!"
"For what?"
"Oh, it's nothing special really.Just third row… to Nancy Chen."Molly squealed.
"Wait, what?"Claire stopped.
"We'd like you to solicit the gentleman of your choice.Drinks before the show and dinner afterwards, courtesy of your dear uncle."
