Julia gasped. “Oh, Tessa. I’m so sorry, honey. What an idiot I am, putting my foot in my mouth that way. Are you okay?”
Tessa shook her head, unable to stop the tears spilling down her cheeks. “No, not really. It’s been so hard, Julia. I miss him a lot. He’s – well, he was all I had. I don’t have any family at all, haven’t for years, so I’m all by myself now.”
“You were close then – you and your husband?”
“Yes, very,” replied Tessa tearfully. “Peter was my best friend as well as my husband. My only friend, really. I hardly even know anyone else here in San Francisco.”
Julia looked aghast. “That’s awful, honey. I had no idea, no idea at all. God, I can’t even imagine not having my family or friends. Don’t you have friends back in – was it Tucson or Phoenix you were from?”
“Tucson. And no, I really didn’t have any close friends back there, either. For so long it was always just Peter and me.”
“How long were you married?” asked Julia curiously.
Tessa hesitated before replying, knowing the answer would be startling. “Seven years.”
Julia stared at her in disbelief. “Seven? How old are you anyway? I always thought you were a little younger than I was.”
The subject of her marriage was always an awkward one for Tessa to discuss, and now was no exception. “I’m, um, twenty-four. I was seventeen when Peter married me.”
“Seventeen!” Julia was visibly shocked. “God, you were just a child. Is that why – Jesus, never mind. I can’t believe I’m asking you stuff like this.”
“It’s okay. And no, it wasn’t because I got pregnant. It’s – complicated.”
“And none of my business,” declared Julia. “I really don’t mean to pry, Tessa. I’m just concerned is all. And it sounds like you could really use a friend right now, so please know that I’m here for you whenever you need me, okay?”
Tessa forced a teary smile. “You’re so nice, Julia. I can see why Mr. Atwood fell in love with you.”
Julia gave her a wink. “Well, it was definitely mutual – love at first sight and all that mushy stuff. Ah, here’s our dessert. Nothing like a big old sugar rush to make you feel better.”
The desserts came in huge portions so they had agreed to split the towering slice of black forest torte. Julia dug into the cake with gusto while Tessa merely picked at it, her appetite having waned abruptly after the discussion about her impeding divorce.
“Come on, don’t make me be a pig and eat all of this myself,” urged Julia. “Nathan already teases me about my ass getting bigger.”
Tessa gave her a small smile and obediently ate a forkful. “It’s really good. Thanks for this. Not just lunch but, - well, for being so kind to me.”
“It’s easy to be nice to nice people,” assured Julia. “And you’ve always been so sweet to me every time I’m over for a meeting. Not like those bitches you work with. I’m not sure which one I dislike more – Gina or Alicia.”
Tessa sipped her tea. “They’re practically joined at the hip so take your pick. And they’re roommates to boot.”
“Figures. Though if I had to pick the nastier one it would be that sneaky little witch Gina. She tries to flirt with Nathan every time we’re in the office, even though it’s very obvious he’s with me now. At least Alicia keeps her distance.”
“That’s because she’s got her sights fixed on Mr. Gregson instead,” Tessa blurted out. “But he never dates employees so she’s out of luck.”
Julia smiled mysteriously. “Hmm, bet I know of one employee he’d be willing to bend that rule for. Does Ian know you’re getting a divorce?”
Tessa shook her head, frowning. “No, of course not. I haven’t told anyone in the office yet. My co-workers tend to gossip a lot so I try not to discuss my personal life with them.”
“Wise move. I wouldn’t trust those two evil bitches for twenty seconds. And I know how fast office gossip can spread. My boss is a huge blabbermouth, I can’t tell him anything really confidential or it would be all over the place within five minutes.”
Tessa paused before asking her next question. “What did you mean about Mr. Gregson? The part about him making an exception to his rule.”
“You really have no idea?” Julia regarded her curiously. “Well, our Mr. Gregson would deny it, of course, being that he’s so prim and proper and always plays by the rules. But I’ve caught him more than a few times looking your way when you didn’t notice and – well, let’s just say I think he’d be very interested to know you’re going to be a single lady soon.”