SUSAN MCMILLAN
"I love you."
Ross' sudden declaration made Susan drop the file folder. She bent down to pick up the scattered papers and collided heads with Ross.
"Damn it." She yanked the papers out of his hands. "Are you crazy? You don't have to pretend until we get into court."
They stood outside the doors of family court, waiting for their case to be called. Her lawyer, Sandra Bertretti, had walked to the end of the hall to use her cell phone. Mildred and her husband had not yet shown up and Susan hoped they wouldn't come. Then Kelsey would hers.
"I'm not pretending, Susan. I really love you. I think I've loved you since I the first time I saw you at Uncle George's television station."
Susan knew she should feel elation that Ross loved her. He might, she believed, even be the type to hang around. But fear filled her gut. Cold, cold fear froze her insides. She didn't want Ross to love her. Love meant risk. And she already had enough at risk.
"Can we talk about this later?"
