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25
Even though it was eleven at night for Xandros, Angela called him after her lunch with Matthew. “I got home last evening,” she explained. “But I didn’t want to wake you.”
“I don’t care if you wake me. I am glad you’re home. Are you safe?”
His voice was a soothing balm. “I’m safe.” She told him about the daunting conversation with Sienna on the plane, but now at least her daughter knew the truth. “I don’t know what the future holds for any of us, but Matthew surprised me completely today. He’s known for years. And he doesn’t hate me. I’d been envisioning this horrible confrontation, but…” She searched for the right word. “It was just so easy. Too easy. But it was a good start.”
“I am so glad. I had to rearrange a few things, but I have booked a ticket.”
“Have you said anything to your kids yet? About me? And Sienna?”
“I said only that I’ve met a woman, and I am flying out to see her. I will deal with them when I get back. But for me, right now, it is all about you and Sienna.”
She wondered if they were putting off the inevitable blow-up. Or was he right, that his family would deal with it so much more easily than hers? But he was coming to her now, and that was the most important thing.
“I will be there late tomorrow afternoon, and we can handle this together. If you don’t want me to meet Matthew, I understand. If you don’t want me to see Sienna right away, I understand that too. But I will be there for you.”
Tears pricked her eyes, and she blinked them away before they obscured the traffic. “I was going to beg you to come. I never want to be without you again. And I’ll work this out. Even Sienna.” She wasn’t as sure as she sounded.
“I love you.”
His words reached deep inside her, easing her fears about Sienna and boosting the joy she felt over her lunch with Matthew.
“I love you too. But I’ll let you go you. I want you rested for your flight tomorrow. Send me all your info, and I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
“I want to make love to you all night long.”
When he was gone, she called Teresa and told her the entire story, from finding Xandros again, to the week of lovemaking that renewed their feelings, to the ghastly scene with Sienna, and finally the reunion with Matthew.
“I’m so happy for you,” Teresa said. “Especially about Matthew. He’s a good boy.” Angela could almost hear her sister gulp then. “Sienna called me, and she wants to come over for dinner tomorrow.” She stopped, as if she was stalling or trying to figure out the right words. “She wants you to be there because she has something to tell us.”
Angela sucked in a breath. “Good or bad?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. But your daughter isn’t a vindictive person. She wouldn’t invite you to dinner at my house if she was going to ream you a new one, especially not in front of other people. Will you come?”
Angela hoped her sister was right. “Xandros arrives tomorrow afternoon. I’m picking him up at the airport.” She paused. “I want to bring him with me.”
“It’s fine with me. Sienna’s bringing Carter Ellis. She told me all about him. He sounds wonderful. But tell her about Xandros. Let me know what she says.”
They hung up without Angela even describing the holiday. There would be time enough for a trip diary later on.
She bucked up and called Sienna, but her daughter didn’t answer. Rather than freak out and come up with all the worst reasons why Sienna didn’t pick up, she used her Bluetooth to speak a text.
Sienna texted just as Angela pulled into her driveway, and the tinny voice read aloud, “It’s good that Xandros is here. We have to talk and get this out. Carter’s coming with me.”
There were no emojis and no tone of voice to gauge her daughter’s words. Angela didn’t know what to think, but neither would she work herself into a frenzy. She wanted to believe what Teresa said, that if it was a bad thing, Sienna wouldn’t hold a dinner meeting.
The thought gave her strength.
* * *
Angela sawhim on the arrivals monitor, tall, strong, handsome.
When he exited the customs area, she ran to him. Dropping his carry-on with a thud, he gathered in his arms, holding her before setting her back on her feet and kissing her until she was breathless.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered. His eyes seemed bright with tears.
She stroked his chin, his skin smooth and his mustache trimmed, as if he’d shaved before the plane landed. People flowed around them, shouting with joy, hugging relatives heartily.
