HER

Chapter 36

Nina had to stay home the next day as she had the day to go through everything with Jensen over and over again till she was confident she wouldn't freeze when she was up on the stand. But in her heart, she knew she wasn't nervous about taking the stand, she was nervous of seeing Tom for the first time since that night. If she was being honest, she was terrified actually.

"Nina." Jensen snapped her out of her reverie.

Nina looked at her.
"Sorry, I zoned out again."

Jensen smiled.
"It's ok, I know this must be hard for you."

Nina sighed.

"You don't have to be scared of anything Nina especially not of your ex. He's harmless in a court room, you don't even have to look at him. All you need to do it get up on the stand and tell your side of the story and leave nothing out. With everything you have, he's likely to be put away for fifteen years."

"Fifteen years." Nina said to herself. She had thought about it and that was more than enough time to get her life back on track and lose her fear of anyone and everyone. She wasn't going to remain this way forever, she had plans and she was going to see them through.

Nina nodded.
"Alright. I'm ready."

Jensen smiled.
"Good. I'll see you in court tomorrow."

"Yea." Nina said.

Dana and Lily sat side by side in Marco's all because Lily hadn't wanted to be all by herself at Dana's place so she decided to let her tag along. Dana hadn't planned on telling Lily anything she found out from her dad but Lily had been persistent when she arrived at the hospital the night before. Lily had sensed something was up and had pushed her to spill and after she had Lily was just as shocked as she had been when she found out.

After she was discharged that morning, they had gone to Dana's place. Dana had called Owen and told him where to meet and Lily who hadn't seen Owen longer than her wanted to tag along. Dana wanted her to stay in and rest but Lily had played the guilt card on her and told Dana she was going to rehab soon and she'd be stuck in a building for months and this was her time to be free and step out as much as she wanted.

Dana had crumbled under that and let her tag along and now they sat at the back in Marco's.

"Are you sure you don't want anything?" Dana asked Lily who hadn't ordered anything but was eating from Dana's plate.

"I'm sure." Lily said and Dana nodded holding back the laugh bubbling up inside her.

"I should order more for myself then."

"Yea, you should." Lily put a fry into her mouth and dug her teeth into the chicken sandwich.

Dana called the guy that had attended to her first, his name tag read – Ricardo.

"Oh my goodness." Lily said with a sandwich in one hand and a slurpy in another.

Dana looked at her to find her staring at the front door and Dana turned to see what she had been looking at and...wow.

"Is that Owen?" Lily asked.

Dana frowned about to answer No when the guy who had caught their attention caught her gaze and smiled with a wave and she swallowed.
"I think so."

"Damn." Lily said. "What happened to him? Not that I'm complaining."

Dana watched Owen make his way to their table.
"Hi." He said when he got to their table and she got up and smiled at him.

"Hey." She said. "It's been a while."

"Come here." Owen pulled her in for a hug and she felt her heart beat escalate. "It's good to see you Dana."

"Yea."

"Been a while Wen." Lily said beside her and Owen pulled away and looked at Lily, confused.

"Lily?" He asked and she smiled.

"Well it's a good sign if you remember me."

Owen smiled.
"I can't believe this, three of us at a table just like old times."

"Yea." Dana said and slid in back to her seat and Owen did the same.

"Well except without your curls and big glasses."

"Lily." Dana warned.

Owen smiled.
"It's ok. And I had to get rid of that because I found out people trust and respect you as a lawyer when you...look your best."

"Well for once you look...good." Lily said and Owen laughed.

"Coming from you Lily, that's a huge compliment." He said

Dana had her gaze fixed on him and she smiled because she remembered how Lily used to tease him about his curly hair and 'big telescope' glasses.

Owen shifted his gaze from Lily to her and she froze.
"So how are you ladies?"

Dana looked at Lily and smiled.
"We're getting there." She shifted her gaze back to him. "So, let's do this."

"Down to business then."

"Sorry, I just really need to start afresh."

Owen nodded.
"And you want to be divorces before you do that."

"Yea." "Wait, what?" Dana and Lily said.

Lily looked at Dana.
"You're getting divorced?"

Dana opened her mouth and closed it.
"I was going to tell you but you were out."

Lily stared at her, shocked.
"It's past time girl. I've been waiting for this day my whole." Lily said and Dana was glad she wasn't mad she hadn't said anything before now. "I bet Owen's been waiting longer than me though."

They both looked at Owen and he looked at both of them.
"Let's just...get to it."

"Right." Dana said and Lily just smiled.

"Did Kevin do anything to prompt this divorce?"

"Kevin's Kevin, the thing is he hasn't done anything at all."

Owen frowned
"I'm not following."

"Dude's like her dad."

"He's...holding me back. I would have never married him if it wasn't for the ultimatum I got and even after I married him, nothing changed." She paused. "I'm not divorcing him because he doesn't approve of what I want in my life or doesn't support me. I'm divorcing him because I don't love him and I was never supposed to marry him. He's not what I need in my life."

Owen watched her while she spoke and he finally smiled.
"It's good to have you back Dana."

Dana frowned.
"What do you mean?"

"You've been hiding for a long time."

"Way too long."

Dana thought about that and smiled.
"Yea."