SPOILER ALERT – Only read this if you have finished the book already!

Here’s an experimental alternate ending. For everyone who just wants a quick and happy ending and who doesn’t care to read a second part.(This is not the ending I personally find realistic, though, and not what part 2 is going to be based on. I still like my orignal ending…)
The following starts in Chapter “Back Off” when D walks out of the house after her exchange with Liz. See what you think.

Alternate Ending:
D willed her feet out of the kitchen and down the corridor. She pulled the front door open. Staggered out. Out! She needed to get out! And breathe…
She could feel the cool soothing air flood her lungs. And like in a haze, she made it over to her car.
Joe caught up with her as she flung the driver’s door open.
“Danny, wait!” He grabbed her arm.
She yanked it away.
“I really didn’t know…” he started.
“That’s pretty obvious,” she blasted.
“Danny–” He got hold of her arm again, holding it tightly enough this time so she couldn’t get away. Suprisingly she didn’t even try to, though. Instead of fighting him, she slumped her shoulders and dropped her head. “Just let me go!” she breathed, her gaze fixed on the pavement between them.
“Not like that!” he said darkly.
Briefly closing her eyes, D shook her head. She couldn’t deal with him right now. She wished he hadn’t followed her.
“You were great,” Joe said softly and lifted his braced hand to her face. When she turned away, he dropped his hand.
“Yeah, thanks a lot,” she mumbled with a big portion of sarcasm. “Felt great to have a little chat with her about that kind of stuff.” She paused. Then glanced up at him, pulling on the arm he was holding, and clenching her jaw when he tightened his grip and held her gaze. “Now let me go,” she huffed. “I really need to digest this… I need to think. About everything.”
“Yeah, like that’s ever been a good idea,” Joe grumbled, shaking his head. “Let me come by later, okay.” He lifted his braced hand and brushed his thumb against her jaw, “Don’t just…”
At the touch she briefly closed her eyes, then opened them again and shook her head. “I can’t believe you were with that bitch for so long… Honey.” She sounded choked up, but still managed to stress the last word darkly. She was not looking at him.
Drawing in a breath, Joe gave her arm a gentle squeeze, his other hand tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Just stop that Honey-crap, okay? Please…”
She glanced up, gave a weak shrug and dropped her gaze again. “You always used to hate the Honey-Baby-Sweetie-crap,” she mumbled.
“Still do,” he said quietly.
“And you wouldn’t use the L-word. Never. Because, oh, we don’t need that. You’re just not that kind of guy…” she shook her head without looking up, her gaze fixed on the pavement. “And here is she, calling you ‘Honey’, and I don’t even want to start imagining your names for her.”
“There weren’t any…”
“Yeah right,” she gave him a doubtful look. “Maybe she even helped your phobia regarding the L-word…”
“No she didn’t,” Joe said trying to keep calm. “Still as terrifying as always.”
“Why on earth did you have to get involved with her?” she asked shakily. “I mean, I don’t blame you for getting tired of me. But that you left with her!?! That’s just … Grrr… Couldn’t you have found someone halfway sane?”
His gaze drifting off to the roof of her car, Joe chewed on his lower lip. “Yeah, well, I don’t know… I don’t think it had much to do with you and me not been good together… And I wasn’t tired of you either.”
“Well, what else?” she demanded, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears.
He gave her a firm look. “You and me being too good together?” he suggested.
Her eyebrows snapped together. “Huh?”
Joe shrugged apologetically. “Me getting cold feet because it was way better than anything ever before…” he specified. “And me being scared to death because this might just be it…”
She stared at him. Baffled.
“Well, and as for the L-word,” he said before she could say anything discouraging. “I love you.”
She blinked. And swallowed.
He shrugged, a smile spreading across his face. “So, here’s me using the L-word…. Wow. And that’s scary.”
“I love you too,” she mumbled, lowering her gaze and blinking away tears. “Against any good judgement…”
Joe let out a little laugh at this. “So, can I come by later, then?” he asked, cocking his head at her.
Slowly looking up, she nodded. “Yeah, I guess…” she said and there was a faint smile. “Since you already cleared the bed.”

–The end—