Reflections of Yesterday (22 page)

“How are you?” Simon asked next.

“Cantankerous as ever,” she said with a light laugh. “I miss you, and I wish I was pregnant so Clay would insist that you make an honest woman of me and fall right into our plans.”

Simon chuckled. “My thoughts toward you at the moment are completely dishonest. Angie, I love you. I can hardly wait to show you how much.”

“Believe me, I’m just as eager to prove my love.” Where Angie had felt cold and tense before, she now felt warm, loved, and utterly secure.

They talked for an hour of silly inanities and ones not so silly. It was the most time they’d had together since Simon’s one-day visit to Charleston two weeks before.

Even when she replaced the receiver, Angie felt the warm glow of contentment that covered her with its serenity. Times were difficult for them now, but they would be better and soon. It was vital that she didn’t look down at the mire she was standing in, but raised her line of vision to the long and happy life that stretched ahead of her with Simon.

After talking to Angie, Simon twined his fingers behind his head, balancing his chair on two legs as he leaned against the kitchen wall. Without Angie these past two weeks, he would have been driven to the edge of insanity. He had known and accepted that his father was gravely ill, but his death had still caught Simon unprepared. He had heard that from others but hadn’t recognized the truth until his own father had gone. Maybe if he hadn’t been so involved with Angie he would have seen to his father’s business affairs sooner and they wouldn’t be in this mess now. What did he know about all these legal matters? Darn little. His father had known he was close to death, Simon was convinced of that, and yet he had done practically nothing to get his affairs in order, leaving Simon with the distasteful task.

His mother was little help. She appeared totally ignorant of their financial affairs and was content to have Simon sort through the legal hassles.

A frown drew his thick brows together as Angie filled his mind. By all that was holy, he loved her. It seemed a miracle that their love had endured all these years and they were back together. He’d lost her once. Heaven and hell would pass away before he’d let that happen a second time. The pressures on her had been difficult these past several weeks, with her father underfoot night and day, making constant demands. The phone call tonight had come as a surprise, a pleasant one. They’d needed that, both of them.

Somehow, some way, he’d get to Charleston this weekend, even if it was for only a few hours. Angie needed him. Snickering softly, he shook his head. Who was he trying to kid? He needed to see her. Not since his early college days had he felt like this. He was supposed to be a serious businessman, yet every spare thought revolved around a wisp of a woman who had claimed his heart so completely that he would never be the same without her. He didn’t just want to sleep with her, although that was a part of it. He wanted to care for her, ease her burden with her father, and protect her from Clay’s angry words. He wanted to laugh with her and hear her laugh in return. And if she needed to cry, then he wanted her to do it in his arms so that he could comfort her as well.

His resolve tightened. He was going to Charleston. Nothing would keep him away from Angie. Not ever again.

Glenn was sitting on the sofa waiting for her when Angie returned to the apartment. “Hello.” At her anxious look around, he quirked his head toward the bedroom. “Clay’s asleep.” He smiled then, his mouth rueful. “I can see why you’re so worn down. Clay has a way about him.”

“I suppose he talked your ear off,” she said with mock seriousness.

“And then some.” He paused and chuckled. “There’s coffee on if you’d like a cup.”

Angie moved into the kitchen and automatically poured two mugs, carrying both into the living room and handing Glenn one. “I don’t even know how to thank you for tonight.” She felt better than she had in days.

“By having dinner with me tomorrow.”

Angie hesitated before sinking into the thick sofa cushion. Seeing Glenn again would serve no useful purpose. He was kind and good, but she wouldn’t take advantage of that.

“As friends,” he inserted quickly. “I realize that you’re involved with Simon now, but I’ve missed your friendship. There’s nothing that says we can’t be friends, is there?”

“Nothing,” she agreed. If anything, she needed a friend now more than she had at any other time in her life. Only she didn’t want to hurt Glenn, and a prolonged relationship, even a friendly one, could do exactly that. “As long as we understand each other.” She paused to wipe a weary hand over her tired eyes. “I have a feeling I’m going to end up feeling guilty about this. I don’t want to use you as an escape from my troubles.”

Glenn ran his index finger along the rim of the coffee cup several times, seemingly unconscious of the action. “I told you this once, but perhaps now it bears repeating. Loving someone means accepting them as they are. I know you love Simon. I’m not saying that doesn’t hurt and that I don’t regret the fact you can’t love me in the same way. I should have known from the minute you returned from Groves Point that I’d already lost you. Blindly I chose to believe otherwise.”

“Glenn … stop, please. I feel guilty enough already.”

“No, let me finish. I want you to be happy, Angie. I wish I could say all the bitterness is out of me, but I can’t. That will come with time. The two of us having dinner is as much for me as you. Say you’ll come as a gesture toward the friendship we once shared.”

Angie studied him for a long time before speaking. “All right,” she agreed reluctantly.

“As friends,” Glenn reiterated.

“As friends,” she echoed softly.

The following morning Clay was much more himself. When Angie woke she found her father dominating the lone bathroom, humming to himself as he shaved. The round mirror above the sink was fogged up with steam from his recent shower.

“Better wipe that mirror off or you’ll cut yourself,” she quipped.

“I been shavin’ a lot more years that you been livin’. I know what I’m doing.”

Angie laughed and tightened the cinch of her robe. “Yes, Daddy dearest.” She was halfway into the kitchen before she realized that this was the first morning in weeks that they’d had a testing, loving conversation. Usually Clay lingered in bed, claiming that he was in terrible pain and accusing Angie of being no better than those uncaring nurses who didn’t give a hoot if he lived or died as long as his medical bills were paid. Angie had given up arguing with him for
being so wrong and unreasonable.

She dressed in a simple two-piece skirt-and-blouse outfit of pale pink colors and returned to the kitchen to cook Clay breakfast.

“You’re looking might pretty today,” Clay commented. “Are you doing anything special tonight?” The intonation of his voice told her instantly that Glenn had discussed with Clay the fact that he was going to ask her to dinner.

“I might.”

“Might?”

“Glenn offered to take me to dinner tonight.” She decided to play Clay’s game and busily cracked two eggs against the side of a dish.

“Always did like that young man. A smart girl would know what she was turning down. All my days I thought I was raising me a smart girl, but—” Abruptly he stopped. “You goin’ to dinner with Glenn or not?”

“How could I possibly leave you? A loving daughter would never leave her father alone when he’s been so sick and near death.”

“Bah, I can take care of myself.” He dismissed her concern and sliced the air with a heavy hand for emphasis.

Holding back a laugh was nearly impossible. “You’ve been telling me for weeks that you’ve got one foot in the grave.”

Clay looked flustered, his impatience growing. “I feel better today.”

Angie studied him skeptically. His doctor’s appointment wasn’t until Monday, and at that not a minute too soon. Until Clay moved in, Angie hadn’t realized how much she treasured her privacy. This togetherness was slowly driving her crazy.

“I’m glad to hear that you’re more chipper today. Why don’t you take a nice walk this morning before it gets too hot and muggy?”

“I might,” Clay answered noncommittally.

“And I
might
go to dinner with Glenn.”

Clay’s fiery gaze clashed with hers. “Then I’ll go on that walk you’ve been pestering me about for the last few weeks.”

“Which means I’ll probably be late tonight.”

“Good.” Clay’s boyish smile went from ear to ear.

As it turned out, dinner with Glenn was the most relaxing night she’d spent in weeks, maybe even months. He could have taken her to an elegant restaurant and impressed her with wine and song. Instead he chose a Mexican place that was close to her apartment, where the food was fabulous and the atmosphere didn’t cost a dime.

“I’ll have you know that my agreeing to this dinner has gotten Dad out of the house for the first time since he left the hospital.”

One side of Glenn’s mouth lifted with a dry smile. “I thought it might. Your father’s quite a character.”

“I can imagine the things he told you about me last night.”

“He’s frightened, Angie. Frightened of losing you to Simon. Once you’re married, you’ll move to Groves Point and he’ll be left in Charleston alone. Losing you is his greatest fear. I don’t think he can bear the thought of being separated.”

“He can move back to Groves Point with me.”

“I know that,” Glenn replied calmly.

Warming to the subject, Angie clenched her fists. “Dad’s got some twisted emotions that need to be sorted through,” she declared hotly. Clay’s attitude on the subject of the Canfields was relentless. They never openly discussed Simon anymore. Yet the subject loomed between them like a concrete wall they each stepped around and couldn’t ignore. “Dad seems to think everyone in Groves Point knows what went on between Simon’s family and us. I’m confident that simply isn’t so.”

“I’m sure you’re right.”

“Honestly, Glenn,” she returned angrily, “Quit being such a yes-man. It isn’t like you, and I don’t like it.”

Glenn burst into laughter as he placed his napkin beside his plate, his eyes avoiding hers.

Recognizing that he was simply letting her blow off a little steam, Angie felt sheepish. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Quit being so nice,” she snapped playfully.

Shaking his head, Glenn rolled his dark eyes at the revolving ceiling fan. “It’s little wonder Clay complains. There’s no satisfying you, is there?”

It felt so good to laugh again that Angie’s heart swelled with appreciation for this man
who was more friend than she had ever known or deserved. She wasn’t completely sure of Glenn’s motives. In that respect, he worried her. No one was that wonderful. There had to be something that he expected in return for this. Quickly, Angie discarded the thought, disliking the cynical meanderings her mind had taken lately, and concentrated on having a good time for the rest of the evening.

The following day she sent Glenn a basket of fruit and a brief note as a thank-you for their evening together.

Glenn stopped by the apartment Thursday after work and took Clay out for a walk. Clay didn’t look pleased when Angie declined the invitation to join them. Instead she took a leisurely bath, painted her nails, and phoned Simon. The evening was young, and she wasn’t surprised that she didn’t catch him.

When he phoned her at the shop at their regular time the next morning, she mentioned her call.

“Believe me, I could have used a sweet voice to clear away the insanity,” Simon murmured. “Has Clay moved out? You seem to have some free time in the evenings of late.”

“Monday,” she whispered, purposely avoiding his question. “His appointment with the doctor is the twenty-fifth.”

“Believe me, love, the minute he’s given a clean bill of health I’m coming to get you. We’re going to get married as fast as I can make the arrangements.”

“My head is swimming just thinking about it.”

“Honey, listen, I’m not making any concrete promises, but I’m doing everything I can to clear Saturday.”

Angie felt ridiculously close to tears. Even a few hours in his arms would be enough to wipe out several days of bickering with Clay. “I’ll ask Glenn to keep Clay occupied so we can spend more than an hour or so together.”

A heavy, stone silence stretched over the line.

“Glenn?”

How stupid she’d been to mention him. She didn’t want to hide the fact she was seeing him, but she would rather not have discussed it with Simon over the telephone. “Yes, he’s the one who’s responsible for—”

“You’ve been seeing Glenn?”

The ice in his voice sent chills up Angie’s spine. “Not the way you’re implying.”

“What’s going on?”

Slowly, Angie mentally counted to ten before answering. “He’s been helping me with Clay.”

“I’ll just bet.”

Angie’s temples began to throb and she pressed two fingers to them to ease the pounding ache. “A customer just came in … I’ve got to go.”

“Angie,” Simon breathed impatiently. “I didn’t mean anything. I think we’re both going a little crazy.”

“You might be able to come Saturday?”

“I’m coming.” He didn’t leave any room for speculation. He was going to be there, and her heart throbbed with anticipation.

“You’ll phone me when you get into town, then? I’ll be in the shop until noon.”

Simon hesitated. “I’ll phone.”

If Angie felt guilty about going out to dinner with Glenn, it was nothing compared to what she felt when she asked him if he’d mind keeping her father occupied while she met Simon Saturday afternoon.

Simon hadn’t contacted her by the time she left the shop Saturday, which meant he’d probably catch her at the apartment. Normally this would have been a cause for concern, but Glenn and Clay were going for a long drive and would be leaving shortly after Angie arrived back at the apartment.

Their mood was light and teasing when she sauntered in a little after one o’clock.

“Beautiful day, Angie girl. Are you going to join us this time?” Clay asked her on a cheerful note. “Can’t see you wasting away in a stuffy apartment when two handsome men are eager for your company.”