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“Hey, Bea! It’s been a while,” she said, accepting and returning the woman’s brief hug. “How is the family?”
“Never been better. Carlos got that security job at the university.”
Vivian matched her enthusiastic smile. “That’s wonderful!”
“It is. We can finally put away for Isa’s college.”
Vivian was so happy to hear that things were going well for her. They’d known each other for years, since Vivian was a teenager, and the woman had become a kind of second mother to her. She was always great to chat with, and her warm personality made her easy to relate to, even if they came from different ends of the social spectrum.
After a bit more catching up, she asked, “Are my mom or dad around?”
“Just your mother.” She pointed toward the bank of windows beyond the living area that led to the private balcony and a stunning view of the city and the harbor beyond. “Mr. Parish is away on business until next week.”
“Thanks, Bea.” Leaving her to her work, Vivian headed outside to join her mother, whom she could now see was relaxing on the settee she’d ordered special from Italy two years ago, reading a book.
The patio door slid open on a whisper, and she stepped out. “ReadingDraculaagain?” she asked, startling her.
“Vivian! I didn’t know you were coming.” She popped her five-foot-one self to her feet and pulled Vivian into a very uncharacteristic embrace.
Awkwardly, Vivian returned the hug with a light pat on the back. “It was kind of spur of the moment.”
“I wish you’d called,” her mother said as she stepped back to have a good look at her. “I would have asked Bea to order some food.”
“It’s fine. I’m not hungry.”
Her mother’s brown eyes ran over her. “Did you lose weight?”
“Um…maybe?”
“You look good.”
Vivian wasn’t sure how to take the compliment. Had she thought she was overweight before and approved of the loss, or was she being critical because she thought she was underweight?
“Thanks. So, um, I don’t plan on being in town long,” she started. “I just need to get a few things squared away. I was thinking I would stay here for a couple of days?”
“Of course you can, honey,” her mother agreed, though her expression was filled with a combination of suspicion and curiosity. “Is this about Andrew?”
Vivian shifted on her feet. Sensing that this was going to be a heavy conversation, her mother returned to the settee, motioning for Vivian to follow.
“Andrew claims that I didn’t sign the divorce decree, so we’re still technically married.”
Her mother gasped lightly, but Vivian had a feeling this wasn’t news to her.
“He was adamant, so I’m inclined to believe him. So I need to call my lawyer and get that settled.”
“And then you plan to leave again.”
“Yes,” she answered plainly.
“To where? You didn’t tell anyone where you were going last time, or even that you’d left. We were worried sick. If it wasn’t for Andrew, we may never have known what happened to you.”
So they had been in touch with him. Vivian began to wonder just how much they knew and for how long. “I’m sorry about that,” she offered. “I just had to get away. It wasn’t planned.”
“Well, I can certainly understand the need for a vacation, but now that you’re back, I must insist you stay.”
“I can’t.”
“Nonsense,” her mother argued. “You have to work, earn money, pay bills. You can’t do any of that flitting about to God knows where for God knows how long. It’s time to return to the real world and pick up where you left off.”
