Saving All My Lovin'. Donna Hill

Her sarcastic tone was lost on him.

      “Look, forget it. It was a stupid idea. I just thought it would be fun for both of us.”

      Barbara squeezed her eyes shut against the sound of hurt and disappointment in his voice.

      “I’ll see if I can get rid of the airline tickets. Maybe one of my teammates can use them.”

      Tickets? He’d already bought her tickets? Guilt climbed on top of her chest and sat there tapping its foot.

      She’d have to find a way to make it up to him.

      “Mike…as soon as things settle down on this end and I can hire someone to take over for me at the spa…and I can give my job enough notice…I’d be happy to go anywhere in the world with you,” she said in her most cajoling, please-understand tone.

      He breathed heavily into the phone. “When we’re married, you’re not going to have to worry about any of this stuff.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “I mean worrying about a job and obligations to other people. You’ll have me and enough money to do what you want, when you want.”

      Concern nudged her. She jerked from it, frowned then swatted it away but it settled on the bed next to her and made itself comfortable, right next to her good sense.

      She didn’t like the feeling and it wasn’t the first time it had reared its head when it came to Michael.

      “Sounds like something we should really talk about when you’re here in New York.” She yawned, hoping the hint would get him off the phone. She wanted the call to end before something was said that couldn’t be taken back.

      “Yeah, you’re right, baby. I shouldn’t have put all this on you in the middle of the night. That was real selfish of me.” His voice lowered to the deep timber that always left her weak. “I guess I’m missing you too much.”

      That tight spot in the center of her chest softened.

      “You accept my apology?”

      “Mike you have nothing to apologize for. It was a sweet offer. Really. And if it was any other time, I would go in a heartbeat.”

      He chuckled. “I know. Look, you get your beautiful self some rest. I’ll try to call you tomorrow.”

      “When will you be back?”

      “Not for a couple weeks. But if I can get away even for a weekend or overnight, I’ll be there.”

      A hot flush filled her up. “I can’t wait,” she whispered.

      “I love you.”

      “I love you, too.”

      “Night.”

      “Good night.” Slowly she hung up the phone and tried to settle back down to sleep but doubt had joined concern and good sense in her bed and she barely had room to move.

      There were things that troubled her about her relationship with Michael; little things that flared up unexpectedly, the little flashes of jealousy, the silences.

      She flipped onto her side, couldn’t get comfortable, kicked her unwanted guests onto the floor then lay spread-eagle in the bed.

      It was late. She was awakened from a well-earned rest. She was making more out of things than necessary, worrying about nothing.

      She stuck her left hand out in front of her. Even in the darkness of her bedroom the diamond sparkled, reminding her of her commitment to a man almost young enough to be her son.

      She drew in a breath. It would work out. She deserved some happiness. It had been a long drought since she’d lost her husband Marvin and Michael made her feel alive again, reminded her that she was still a vibrant, sexy woman.

      She turned back onto her side. Now that she had some room in the bed, she planned to get to sleep. But doubt, good sense and concern crept back beneath the sheets and spent the rest of the night.

      Ann Marie spent a sleepless night as well. She’d told the girls the day before that she’d be unable to work at the spa as she had a long day at the real estate office, several meetings and a closing.

      When she arrived at the office, thankfully, she was the only one there. She turned on the coffee pot and stood in front of it like a sentinel, waiting for it to perk. Funny, she thought absently, the coffeepot was a reflection of her life—sitting on a hot plate waiting to perk.

      “Morning Ann Marie,” Carol the new office assistant sang out.

      Ann Marie turned away from staring at the pot. “Morning.”

      “You look a little tired. Long night?” She giggled in a way that would annoy the average person.

      Inwardly Ann Marie rolled her eyes. “Something like that.” She hadn’t told anyone in the office about her new business venture, mainly because it was none of their business. And the less the staff knew about her private life the better. It was bad enough that Terrance had sent the flowers to her office, which caused all kinds of buzz and speculation.

      “Out with the guy who sent the flowers?” she hedged.

      Ann Marie snapped her head in Carol’s direction. “I have two clients coming in, one at eleven and the other at one. Please make sure that their information is ready for me.” She gave Carol the names of her clients, took the pot of coffee and poured herself a cup. She turned to Carol who stood there as if Ann Marie was still planning to tell her more about her private life.

      Ann Marie arched a brow, stuck her arm out and dramatically examined her watch.

      Carol finally got the hint. Ann Marie rolled her eyes in earnest and went to her cubicle.

      The real estate office that she worked for was truly a high-end office, dealing only in luxury condos, commercial properties and brownstones, which had become the crown jewels of the marketplace. They had state of the art equipment, a designer’s lounge area for clients, light refreshments and all of the agents had their own glass cubicles on two levels. The commissions that she raked in from sales put her solidly in the six-figure income bracket each year. If she wanted, she could leave New York at anytime and start a fresh life without a financial worry in the world.

      Maybe that’s what she needed to do—start over. Just pick up and leave all this crap behind. Go someplace where no one could find her. Maybe even change her name. There was nothing holding her here. She had no family—now with Raquel gone. She had no man. And…you could always make new friends.

      She thought of Barbara, Stephanie and Ellie. They’d been her family, putting up with her bull for years. But even they couldn’t give her what she needed.

      Her desk phone rang. Absently she picked it up.

      “Ann Marie speaking.”

      “Did you get my message from our daughter?”

      Her stomach did a slow somersault. “Yes,” she choked out. “What do you want now, Terrance?” She gripped the edge of the desk.

      “Nothing more than to hear your voice. Is that so wrong?”

      “Very expensive call just to hear someone’s voice.”

      “Money is not an issue. Never was. We had other problems—you and I.”

      “Oh, so you remember?”

      “I was a fool, a young arrogant fool. But I’ve changed, Mari,” he said, using his pet name for her.

      Heat rushed to her head at the sound of the endearment. “Old dog as they say.”

      “I’m going to prove the saying wrong. You can teach this old dog new tricks.” His voice lassoed around her. “I want you to teach me.”

      “It’s over, Terrance.”

      “You’re