Lila folded her hands against the table as she leaned to Jess, a frown etching against her lips. She nodded, as she did remember imagining what life would be like – she’d almost got there, too. The house, the husband, the kids, she’d had everything she could have wanted just to have the rug pulled out from underneath her because a natural disaster happened. It had been entirely preventable, but it was a would have, should have, could have situation. It didn’t do Delilah any good to think about the what ifs for an event she couldn’t go back to change.
“Oh Jess, I’m sorry. That sounds difficult. She’s an auror, so she must travel a lot. I can’t imagine how much you miss her and want her to be home.” Her frown deepened as her fingers twitched to reach out to take his, but she refrained; it wasn’t her place to touch him like that anymore. “I know you, and I know you’re a fighter. You’ll figure something out.” She wished she knew more about Fallon; what she was like and how she and Jess had gotten to the place that seemed like he was desperate to claw his way out of. It was hard not to pass judgment on someone she didn’t know, and probably wouldn’t ever meet, but Lila wanted more than anything to help her friend find a slimmer of happiness again. She understood wanting a career from a woman’s perspective, but it wasn’t – and wouldn’t ever be – her entire life.
Jess had meant a lot to her once upon a time and it hadn’t taken him long to reclaim his spot when they’d reconnected. “JP,” Delilah lifted her gaze as she smiled softly at him; maybe she could take his mind off his marriage, even for just a second. “I think it’s time we turn that frown upside down for a moment. Do you trust me?” This time she did reach out to take his hand. She gave it a little squeeze.
“Oh Jess, I’m sorry. That sounds difficult. She’s an auror, so she must travel a lot. I can’t imagine how much you miss her and want her to be home.” Her frown deepened as her fingers twitched to reach out to take his, but she refrained; it wasn’t her place to touch him like that anymore. “I know you, and I know you’re a fighter. You’ll figure something out.” She wished she knew more about Fallon; what she was like and how she and Jess had gotten to the place that seemed like he was desperate to claw his way out of. It was hard not to pass judgment on someone she didn’t know, and probably wouldn’t ever meet, but Lila wanted more than anything to help her friend find a slimmer of happiness again. She understood wanting a career from a woman’s perspective, but it wasn’t – and wouldn’t ever be – her entire life.
Jess had meant a lot to her once upon a time and it hadn’t taken him long to reclaim his spot when they’d reconnected. “JP,” Delilah lifted her gaze as she smiled softly at him; maybe she could take his mind off his marriage, even for just a second. “I think it’s time we turn that frown upside down for a moment. Do you trust me?” This time she did reach out to take his hand. She gave it a little squeeze.
