in the brunt of it

"It'll be all, OK." Audrey sat with  Jane who looked a bit sad and not herself there on Asa's couch. Mattie was down for a nap.

"What if..what if I make things worse." She fought back tears. "I don't want Duncan to do anything crazy. What if he does something crazy to Asa?"

"I'm sure its not that bad. Maybe Duncan isn't even there." Audrey was optimistic.

"Oh, he's there. He got off work an hour ago. Probably drinking beer like a fish." Jane told her.

Audrey cracked up imaging a drunk fish.

"You know, what I mean." Jane glared at Audrey. This was not funny.

"I'm sorry." Audrey wanted to be a good friend. Jane was always there for her when no one else would be.

"And you don't even remember him." Jane still looked disgusted with herself.

"Not..not exactly." Audrey winced as she was beginning to feel hot in her grey cowl neck sweater. She wished she'd came over in her favorite stretchy pants and Aidan's old baggy sweater.

"God, I was so afraid he was going to stalk you. Now, he's gonna stalk me. Its just crazy. And its all my fault." Jane winced tears.

"Hey, nothing has happened yet." Audrey patted her on the back while Jane nursed her bottom lip.

Finally, they heard a car door slam and in a few minutes, Asa was unlocking the front door. He came in with a garbage bag of baby clothes.

"Thank God, you're back." Jane went to him and hugged him as if she was glad he was safe.

"I'll just help unload the car." Audrey thought it was best not to know everything about Duncan. She hoped he wasn't a psycho.