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Angie stepped back, ushered him inside. "Of the timber family?"
"Thats us. Is Lauren ready?"
That explained the Porsche. She called out Laurens name. Within a second she appeared at the top of the stairs.
David gasped. "Whoa," he said softly, moving toward the stairs. "You look awesome. "
Lauren hurried downstairs and went to David. She looked up at him, her smile trembling. "You think so?"
He handed her a white wrist corsage, then kissed her.
Even from across the room Angie could see the gentleness of that kiss, and it made her smile.
"Come on, you two," she said. "Photo op. Stand by the fireplace. "
Angie snapped several pictures. It took an act of will to stop. "Okay," she finally said. "Have fun. Drive safely. "
She wasnt even sure they heard her. Lauren and David were lost in each others eyes.
But at the front door, Lauren threw her arms around Angie, holding on in a death-grip hug. "Ill never forget this," she whispered. "Thank you. "
Angie whispered back, "Youre welcome," but her throat was suddenly tight and she wasnt sure if her words carried any sound or not.
She stood there as David led Lauren to the car and opened the door for her.
In the amount of time it took to wave, they were gone.
Angie backed into the house and closed the door. The silence seemed oppressive suddenly.
Shed forgotten how quiet her life was. Lately, if she didnt turn on the stereo, she would hear nothing except her own breathing or the patter of her own footsteps on the hardwood floor.
She felt herself slipping down a slope she knew too well; at the bottom it was lonely and cold.
She didnt want to go down there again. It had taken so long to crawl up. She wished she could call Conlan right now. Hed once been so good at talking her down from the ledge. But those days were gone, too.
The phone rang. Thank God. She ran to answer it. "Hello?" She was surprised at how ordinary her voice sounded. A drowning woman shouldnt speak in so certain a voice.
"How did the dance preparation go?" It was Mama.
"Great. She looked beautiful. " Angie made herself laugh, prayed it sounded more natural than it felt.
"Are you okay?"
She loved her mother for asking. "Im fine. I think Ill go to bed early. Well talk in the morning, okay?"
"I love you, Angela. "
"Love you, too, Mama. "
She was trembling when she hung up. She thought about doing a lot of things--listening to music, reading a book, working on the new menu. In the end, though, she was too tired for any of it. She climbed into her big king-sized bed, pulled the covers up to her chin, and closed her eyes.
Sometime later, she woke up.
Someone was calling her name. She glanced at the clock. It wasnt yet nine oclock.
She crawled out of bed and stumbled down the stairs.
Mama stood in the kitchen, her clothes dappled with raindrops, her red-splattered apron still in place. She put her hands on her hips. "You are not fine. "
