Dancing in the Sand by Maria Imbalzano

Author:Maria Imbalzano [Imbalzano, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Women's Fiction, Second Chance Love
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Ava covered the circles under her eyes with concealer, yet nothing could erase the hollowness that permeated her being. She worked on an appellate brief, hoping the research would take her mind off that horrible scene with Brian, but not even challenging legal arguments could win out.

She read the same paragraph over and over, with not one word registering. At least she could hide out in the library, a little used room at the firm, since most attorneys did research on their office computers.

She’d slept on the couch, if you could call it sleep. Her eyes burned today from the tears she’d shed well into the morning. She’d fallen for him, again. When would she learn that she and Brian weren’t meant to be?

It was only ten o’clock. She’d never get through the rest of the day. She’d have to feign illness so no one would question her departure. But she couldn’t go back to her apartment. Besides, she needed to talk to Kim, to alert her that Brian now knew he was Briana’s father. While she didn’t expect him to do anything crazy, like hire a lawyer to vacate the adoption, Kim should know in case Brian showed up on her doorstep. She rummaged in her purse and found her cell phone, which she had turned off. A rare occurrence in her life. As soon as she turned it on, it advised her of a message. From Brian.

Her heart kicked at her ribs as she listened to the voicemail. “Call me. It’s Brian. Let’s talk.” Six words said with no emotion. She listened again hoping to hear some warmth, some apology. Nothing.

She dialed Kim and tried not to alarm her. “Hi. It’s me. I was thinking about coming down to see Briana, since I missed her this weekend. Are you around?”

“I’m off today. But it’s Monday. She’s at school until three. Don’t you have to work?”

Ava paused, searching for an acceptable response. “I work almost every night until eight or nine. I thought I’d give myself a break.”

“Great. How will you get here? Train or rental car?”

“Car. I should get there around twelve-thirty, maybe one.” She thought it best to have the distraction of driving as opposed to wallowing away the time on a train.

“Are you staying over?” Kim sounded hopeful.

“No. I have to work tomorrow. But I can stay for dinner if that’s okay.”

“Briana will be thrilled. See you later.”

Ava hung up and called the rental agency a few blocks away. Now that she had a destination, the sooner she got there, the better.

****

It had taken Ava longer to get to Kim’s than expected, and as soon as she arrived the questions started. “You look ill. What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Kim ushered her into the living room and Kim gingerly seated herself on the sofa, motioning for Ava to join her.

“You’re not looking so great yourself.” Ava hoped for some preliminary chitchat before getting into the distressing reason for her visit.

But Kim’s radar, along with her troubled eyes, prompted an upfront and honest response.

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