“If he wanted me to know he would have toldme, not you! He obviously didn’t want me to try and stop him.”
Aria slid her plate and cup to the middle of the table, unable to eat.
“Aria, the man is in love with you. This might be his grand gesture. I understand what you’re saying but there’s more to this. Tell me what’s really going on.”
Aria’s mind was swirling with warring emotions. Excitement at the thought of him staying, confusion as to why he kept this from her, and then, as always, guilt swept in.
“I waited all these years to write again, to feel passionate about something that I created.Me, just me. And I don’t want anything or anyone to take that away. Why would I want to take that away from Alex?” Aria’s eyes were wide as they darted back and forth.
“You’re not taking that away. You didn’t ask him to give up the project.”
Corinna had moved to the chair next to Aria, trying again to calm her down.
“No, but he thinks I won’t want to be with him if he goes. That’s why he didn’t tell me. He knows my life is here. Being with me is forcing him to make a choice. I’m an idiot. How did I let it get this far? How did I not see how this would end?”
Aria stood suddenly, her chair squeaking loudly on the tile floor.
“I can’t let him do that. Iwon’tlet him do that,” Aria said as she grabbed her purse and ran toward the door.
“Aria!”
Aria fumbled to get her car door open. Raindrops hit the windshield as she started the car, their staccato matching the drum of her heart.
Her trembling hands pressed Alex’s number on the dashboard screen the second her car sped out of the parking lot.
“Hey, good morning, beautiful. Didn’t think I’d hear from you ‘til tomorrow,” Alex said when he answered, his voice deep and warm.
“Hey, are you, are you home?” she answered, forcing her voice to stay steady.
She hoped the sound of seagulls she heard in the background meant he was home.
“Ah, yeah, I am. What’s wrong? Something happen with your parents?” Alex asked, concern coloring his voice.
“They had to leave early. Can I come over?”
“Of course you can, but you sound like you’re upset. Let me come and get you.”
“No, I’m already on my way. But I want to ask you this before I get there, and I want you to be honest. When does the Argentinian well project start?”
There was a long pause on the other side of the phone, but Alex finally said, “It’s been delayed, but it should start in a few days. Why?”
Aria gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Delayed. Because they’re looking for another photographer.
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
Aria hung up and ignored the phone when Alex called her back. She took several deep breaths, trying to order her thoughts.
The drive wasn’t long, but in that span of time, a decision was made. She knew what she had to do.
She dialed Natalia’s number next. It rang and rang.
“Come on, pick up, pick up,” she said as her thumbs beat the steering wheel.
“Hey, Aria. Sorry, I was in the backyard. What’s up?” Natalia asked, her breath coming out heavily.
Forcing her voice to steady itself, Aria said, “Hey. I, um, I need your help.”
