It was the day after Lisa was over and I still hadn't told Michael a word about it. I wanted to be sure that this wouldn't throw him off track. He had just gotten happy again; after all he had gone through.

But keeping a secret like this from him was anything but easy, especially because I knew Lisa was waiting. I knew she wouldn't forget about it if she didn't hear back from me. She wanted to talk to Michael. But did she really want to apologize?

"Baby?" I asked as Michael and I were taking a stroll along the lake.

"Yes Susan?" He smiled over at me and took my hand.

"Look...uh...I have a question."

"Hmm?" He smiled and sat down with me on a bench that was overlooking the water and the fountain that was projecting water high up in the air.

I took a deep breath and looked at my feet. "How do you feel about Lisa?"

"About Lisa?" Michael was taken by surprise by my question, I could tell. "I've just started to forget about her, since we've got the news about our little baby" He smiled.

"So you feel no hate towards her?"

"Hate is a strong word Susan. No, I don't think I hate her or ever will. I loved her" He said and furrowed his brows; it was probably difficult for him to think back to his relationship with her, before everything had taken a turn for the bad. But what he said struck me. He had loved her. That was exactly what Lisa had told me the day before.

I felt the jealousy creeping up in me, but I kept a clear mind. I had to accept their past together. They had been happy. They had been in love, way before Michael even knew I existed. But I had to be confident that he was with me now, and that was all that counted.

"Listen...she wants to talk to you" I brought out. If I didn't say it now, I would never bring myself to say it.

"Lisa? How...what does she want to talk about?" Michael turned towards me. "Wait, how do you know this?"

And then I explained everything that had happened the day before. How Lisa had come over and I had let her in because I didn't want Michael to have to deal with her later. And finally, how she insisted on talking to him, apologizing for what she had done.

"I can't believe you let her in! Do you know how dangerous that was? Remember what that woman did!"

"Michael, I had security there. She really just wanted to talk she was actually quite calm. She told me she wants to speak to you in person and apologize for what she did."

"So...has she changed?" Michael asked slowly and looking over the lake, lost in thoughts.

"It seemed to me. But it could all be a mask. It's up to you Michael. " I said and for a minute we were just silent, both reminiscing about the time that Lisa lived here, and all the troubles she had brought up. And maybe Michael was thinking about the times before that, when he fell in love with her. I didn't know.

"Are you going to let her...come here?" I interrupted the silence.

"No, no I don't want that" He said slowly, his hands making fists. He was still hurt. Or scared.

"Michael...maybe you two could make peace. It's been two years. I don't want you do be hurt forever and hold all that fear and antipathy towards her. "

He listened to me, head down and fidgeting with his fingers. The he slowly looked up at me, pressing his lips together.

"You have to loose that fear. Put all that in the past. It's not going to change anything she did. But it could change your mindset towards it."

Michael shook his head slowly. This was stirring up so many memories for him again, I knew that. But I truly believed that it could help him to talk to her and see her regret, realize that she now recognizes what she had done wrong.

I put my hand on his back and slowly stroked down his white shirt. "You loved her" I said, even though it was hard for me. He looked at me again.

"Should I really do this?" He asked.

"Yes" I was sure. Especially since I had seen how this still haunted him. He had to take a step forward.

"Ok. Ok I'll do it Susan." He said and nodded, folding his hands. I put my hands on his.

"I'm glad Michael. And I'm right here, when she comes over ok? Shall I call her?"

"No...I'll do it." He took a deep breath and we walked over to the phone in the patio. I gave him the card with Lisa's number on it and he slowly dialed it.

...

"Michael?" I heard Lisa's voice through the phone.

"Yeah..." Michael answered and looked at me, nervously playing with the cord of the phone.

"Oh thank god" Lisa's voice cracked and for a moment she didn't say anything.

"Is she crying?" I whispered to Michael and he nodded.

"Can I...come over? Please. Please Michael. I want to talk to you." She begged.

"Alright uhm...you can come over." Michael said and sighed.

"Thank you....I'm coming right now ok? Thank you Michael. I'm so sorry" She said.

"Uhm...ok I'll be here. Bye Lisa" He said and hung up. He looked over at me and I tried to smile, then wrapped my arms around him. This was a big step. And I knew he was doing the right thing, for himself and for her.

"What are we gonna do now?" He asked.

"Wait for her to get here."

****

As Lisa's car pulled in the driveway we were already standing there. Lisa got out of the car, this time way less confident. She didn't wear her glasses, or high heels. She walked over to us.

"Hello" She said, with one hand holding her upper arm. She was nervous.

"Hello Lisa" Michael said and I nodded.

"Well uhm...I just...wanted to say a few things" She said, her voice was shaking.

"Do you two want to sit down?" I said, pointing towards the table.

"Yes but uh...you can also be here. I mean...you were also involved." Lisa said and we sat down.

"Thank you so much for letting me come here....after everything" Lisa sighed. "I wanted to make sure you know this. What I did...it was selfish. It was crazy, and I know that. I...I only thought about myself, or I didn't even think much. I just did what I wanted. And I don't want to make you believe that I'm a whole new person now, because I am not. I'm here again because I can't deal with the thought of you...hating me. Selfish." She swallowed and looked at Michael.

"And I wanted to see how you are doing. But already yesterday, only talking to Susan I have realized that you are in good hands now. Better hands than mine"

Michael nodded.

"It was never my intention to hurt you Michael. I was just so insensitive" She sighed.

"Look...I can accept that. I'm glad to know you're not like that anymore." He said and leaned back in the chair, clearly getting a little more relaxed by seeing her in front of him. The image he had of her was changing now.

"Can you forgive me Michael?" She asked. " I'm not like that anymore. Can you make peace with the person I am now?"

"Yes, I can" Michael said silently. Michael sighed in relief and got up from her chair.

"Can I hold you?" She asked, extending her arms. Michael got up from his chair and walked over to her. "Yes" He whispered and hugged her. Lisa was holding Michael so lightly, her hands only gently touching his back as if he were fragile.

"Thank you" She whispered and pulled away again.

"Take care" Michael said.

"You too. And Susan, thank you too." Lisa smiled and waved. She then walked back towards her car and sat in it for a while, I could see her wiping away some tears before she drove off again.

"That was...different" Michael shook his head and looked at me.

"I'm glad you did that. For you and for her" I smiled and wrapped my arms around him, holding him close to me. "I love you Michael." I whispered and kissed him.

"What would I do without you?" Michael smiled and held the back of me head as we kissed. "Listen...I have to tell you something. About the baby" He smiled and held my belly.

"Yes?" I took a step back. "It's in the news isn't it?" I sighed.

"Yes it is" Michael swallowed. "I'm pretty sure it was the doctor. I mean...after you got pregnant I had to cancel the sperm donation he was trying to work on. So he figured it out." Michael sighed.

"But why would he just blurt that out?" I shook my head.

"Because...he wants something from this. Listen, people will take what they can get from me. He tried it one way and it didn't work out, so by leaking this to the press, at least he made good business there."

"I understand" I sighed. "Do you think we should call our families and tell them personally?"

"Yes. I thought you could invite your mother and your brother over some time soon, have a little baby shower, how about that?" He smiled.

"That sounds wonderful" I smirked. "And I have news for you too."

"What?" Michael smiled widely and sat down on the bench by the lake again, pulling me close to him.

"Well...I thought we could get a check up, maybe already find out the gender of our little baby if you want that." I looked at Michael and his face lit up.

"Oh I would love that" He whispered and put his hand on my belly. "I can't wait to know more about our little angel."