Page 13 of Heal You
“Amanda is the woman you were seeing but not seeing, yes?”Jan didn’t like the idea of Morgan being involved with a married woman, but she did believe her when Morgan said she was completely unaware of the fact.They didn’t know one another.She had no reason to lie to Jan.
“Yep.That’s the one.I didn’t think she was going to leave, to be honest.”They stopped outside a bar, and Morgan cocked her head towards it.“Fancy a quick drink?”
“Yes, okay.”They made their way inside, and Jan found a table for them.When Morgan returned and Jan had a glass of Merlot in her hand, she relaxed into the environment.“Do you see any kind of reconciliation with Amanda?”
“No.It was nothing serious anyway.There was always something about Amanda that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, so I was never all in.Neither was she.It was just…fooling around, if you will.”
“Genuine question,” Jan said as she shifted in her seat a little.“Is that something you enjoy?No strings…casual?”
Morgan sipped her beer and lifted a shoulder.“Sometimes it’s all I can have.The bar is my life, and even though I love being there and meeting all kinds of new people, it does affect my love life.”
Jan stared down at the rich red liquid in her glass.“I don’t even know what dating looks like these days.It’s not something I’ve had to worry about for a long time.”
“You’ll be okay.It’s not as scary as you probably think it is.”
“Oh, I don’t know.Gillian and Finn certainly didn’t have an easy time.”Jan couldn’t bear the thought of taking an interest in someone that society saw as risky.
“Well, unless you’re a lecturer and planning to sleep with your student, I wouldn’t worry about it being anything remotely similar.”
“No, you’re right.”Jan smiled.
“What is it that you do?If you don’t mind me asking…”
Jan lowered her wine glass to the table.“I worked with Phil.He has a housing development business and a separate security business.I took care of all things office-related on the housing development side of things.”
“You’re really not going back to work with him?”
“It’s not something I can even begin to imagine.”The day Jan walked back into the office, she knew she would fall apart.Everyone would know about the affair—news always travelled fast in those settings—and she didn’t want everyone whispering about it behind her back.“But I don’t know what the plan is right now.I’m taking it onehourat a time.”
“Youwillbe okay, you know, Jan.It’ll take some time to find your feet and find a new normal, but in the end, you’ll thrive.I’m sure of it.”
“How can you possibly say that?You know practically nothing about me.”
Morgan angled her head.“Well, I know that you light up my bar every time you step foot inside it.I know that you’re great fun to be around.I know you’re very close to your friends and you’d probably do anything for them.I could go on, but I won’t.”
Oh, Jan wished Morgan would continue.For the last few days, Jan had felt unsure of herself.If Morgan believed in her, then she would take it.She dipped her head and smiled.“Thank you.”
“Your husband may have royally fucked up, but don’t let it defeat you.You have so much to look forward to.You just have to be patient.”
Jan knew she would find herself again.She just didn’t know how that would happen.“You know what, can we just forget about my failed marriage tonight?”
“That sounds like a good idea to me.”Morgan inched her glass towards Jan’s as Jan picked hers back up and clinked them together.“Cheers to being amazing women who don’t take shit from anyone.”
Jan could only allow the warmth she felt inside as Morgan gazed back at her.“Mm.Cheers to that.”
* * *
Morgan shovedher hands in the pockets of her jeans as they left the bar, aware of how she’d felt as she sat across a table from Jan.If she didn’t do something with her hands, she was worried she would reach out and take one of Jan’s.Spending the evening away from the bar had been good for Morgan, but it only left her wanting to do it more often.She couldn’t recall the last time she had taken her jacket from the hook behind her door and strolled around the local area.The fresh air was a nice change from the smell of alcohol.
They crossed a side street and passed by the closed shops.Morgan didn’t want to head back just yet, but Jan looked tired.She hadn’t seemed that way when they’d been talking, but Morgan understood that Jan’s days were likely a lot to deal with lately.If this was the end of the night for them, then so be it.
“Thanks for inviting me out.It’s been lovely.”
“I know you said the bar is your life, but does that also mean you work a lot, too?”
Morgan held up a hand.“Guilty.”
“Then we should do this again when you’re available.It gets me out of that stuffy hotel room and you away from the place you spend most of your time.”
