“I’m sorry if I said something to upset you earlier today,” Julia told her quietly as they waited for their dessert to be served. “Maybe it was my imagination, but you looked like you were going to collapse when I made that comment about being married. Is – is everything all right?”

Tessa nervously twisted the pale pink linen napkin between her fingers. “Um, it’s – not something I -”

Julia placed a hand on her forearm. “God, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to butt in. I was just worried about you, that’s all.”

Tears welled up in Tessa’s eyes, touched at Julia’s kindness. “No, it’s okay. It’s just – hard for me to talk about, you know? I haven’t told anyone else – there really isn’t anyone else to talk to.” She bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling. “My husband – we’re getting a divorce. We, um – broke up about a month ago.”

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. 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 honestly 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.”

Tessa stared at Julia in shock, her mouth hanging open in surprise. Slowly, she shook her head. “You’ve got to be mistaken. Badly. Mr. Gregson barely even speaks to me. And he is definitely not attracted to me.”

Julia took a sip of her coffee and grinned wickedly. “If you say so. But I’d be willing to bet he’d speak to you a whole lot more if he got wind of your impending divorce.”

“Please don’t tell him,” pleaded Tessa. “Not just him but anyone in the office. I’ll tell them when the time is right but – well, it’s just hard for me to confide in people. And even harder to talk about something as painful as this.”

“I get it. And I won’t say anything, even to Nathan. I swear, sometimes I think men are even worse gossips than women.”