Entering the driveway, AJ and Sarah spotted the car waiting in front of the house and a light on in the music room.

"Sarah, the woman you were talking about earlier" AJ said as he turned the engine off, "He IS in love with her."

"I see," she said. "Is she good to him?"

"Yes. She loves him deeply."

"That’s all that matters" Sarah said wistfully as she took his hand and they walked towards the front door.

"There’s something else I want to say before we go inside" he said with hesitation. "No matter what happens in there, please know that I care about you and I’ve only been honoring my best friend’s wishes regardless of whether or not I agreed with his reasoning."

Sarah was confused but she didn’t respond by questioning him further. He hand rang the doorbell and she knew that she was about to find out whatever it was that he had been talking about. She only hoped that it wasn’t something that would come between them.

****************************************************************************************************

Howie could hear Kristina playing the piano in the music room, humming softly. It was a tune that he was not familiar with but it tugged at his heart for some reason. He made his way to the room and stood silently in the door as her fingers glided across the keys without hesitation. Her eyes were closed and she would occasionally pause and began again as if she were perfecting the melody.

Sensing that she was no longer alone and that he was watching her, she said, "Are you ready to go yet, Mr. Dorough?"

He smiled as she opened her eyes and looked at him. "That was beautiful, Kris. Is it new?" he asked.

She blushed. Something he hadn’t seen her do in a long time. "Just something that I can’t get out of my head."

The doorbell rang, interrupting them.

"Are you expecting someone?" she asked.

"No. It’s probably the driver. Are you ready?"

"Oh Yeah!" she said enthusiastically. "I’m MORE than ready!"

The two of them walked hand in hand towards the front door, ready to finish the night as planned.

"I better pee before we go. You know how I hate public bathrooms and I’ve had a ton of wine."

"Hurry baby! I’ll wait for you at the car" Howie said as Kristina darted down the hallway.

Opening the door, his smile turned to a frown as he saw AJ and Sarah standing in front of him. His heart sank, knowing that all hell was about to break loose, ruining the night he had planned for himself and Kristina. There would be no dancing until the wee morning hours and probably no lovemaking either, as he guessed that Kristina was going to be pissed at him for keeping Sarah’s visit a secret.

"Shit!" he exclaimed.

There was no mistaking the disappointment in Howie’s face and AJ guessed that they were intruding on Howie’s plans, not realizing that it was a special occasion.

"I’m sorry ‘D’. This couldn’t wait any longer."

"You have no idea how bad your timing is, Bone."

"Howie. Please try to understand that we wouldn’t have interrupted your date if it wasn’t serious," Sarah said nervously.

"Can we come in?" AJ asked.

Howie motioned for the driver and handed him a wad of bills. "Thank you. We won’t be needing you for the rest of the night."

As the driver left, Howie opened the door wider and gestured for them to go inside.

The three of them paused as Kristina came out of the bathroom and down the hall singing. She stopped abruptly and stared at Sarah. The two of them stood silent for what seemed an eternity as AJ and Howie both held their breath.

"Sarah? Oh my God, Sarah!" Kris said as the tears bathed her shocked face.

Sarah backed away, shaking her head in disbelief. Tears stung her eyes as Kristina walked towards her and held out her arms.

As the girls hugged, Kristina sobbed, "I’ve missed you so much."

"I can’t believe it. You’re alive" Sarah whispered, tears streaming freely down her face as well.

Howie and AJ watched as the two girls hugged and cried out for all of the time they had lost. However, their relief would be short lived as Sarah’s happiness quickly turned to anger. It was as if it all happened in slow motion when in reality it happened so fast that neither of the men had time to stop it.

Sarah pulled away from Kristina, her eyes blazing with anger. "I can’t believe you! " she shouted as she raised her hand and slapped Kristina’s face with such a force that it turned her head. The sound of her palm connecting with Kristina’s cheek echoed throughout the room as Howie and AJ looked on in disbelief.

"How dare you! You let us all believe you were dead. Do you know how devastated I was when we buried you? What about your mom? " Sarah hissed. "She cries every damned day over you while you run around out here like a fucking socialite!"

Kristina rubbed her cheek where Sarah had slapped her, listening silently as Sarah berated her for the decision she had made. Howie had rushed to her side, slipping an arm around her waist as AJ stood silently, taking it all in.

"That’s enough..." Howie started but Kristina put up her hand to shush him from saying more.

Sarah then turned on Howie. "And YOU – you knew when I came to visit you just how upset I was over Kristina’s death and you didn’t bother to tell me the truth! You even yelled at me because Stephen is my brother. You are such an asshole!"

Once again Howie started to defend both himself and Kristina but Kris turned to him and with cold eyes said, "Don’t say a word. I’ll handle this."

Turning back to Sarah, Kristina asked sarcastically, "Are you finished yet?"

"I haven’t even begun!" Sarah screamed as she clenched her fists and turned towards AJ.

What he saw in her eyes made him sick at his stomach. He saw not only rage and anger but also pain. She was hurt that he hadn’t told her about Kris either.

"And what about you, Alex?" she said softly, tears and mascara stinging her eyes as they mixed. "You knew how much I blamed myself for her death. I cried on your shoulder and you could have ended my pain by telling me. Was that just a way to get me into your bed? Poor pitiful Sarah just needed a good FUCK to make her relax?"

Inching closer to where she stood, he said softly, "It’s not like that, baby. I wanted to tell you but, I..." he stopped, turning towards Howie for help.

"I wouldn’t let him tell you" Howie finished. "I didn’t know whether or not to trust you and I was afraid you would lead Stephen to Kristina. I couldn’t take that chance, Sarah. Don’t be mad at AJ, be mad at me. He called last night and begged me to tell you but I refused. I’m sorry!"

"Why would she lead Stephen to me?" Kristina asked, confused.

"Because Stephen is in Orlando looking for me," Howie said as he turned to her. "Sarah came to warn me that he wants revenge for taking you away from him."

Kristina’s face paled and she felt the room beginning to spin. She reached out just as Howie caught her, scooping her up in his arms.

"I don’t feel so good" she whispered, her voice weak.

"Damnit!" Howie said to Sarah and AJ. "I knew this would happen. Go get a cold cloth, Age. Hurry!"

Kristina’s skin was pale and clammy as he touched her cheek where Sarah had slapped her, the mark it left red and hot to the touch. Angrily he turned to Sarah. "I understand your anger and pain but you shouldn’t have gone that far. You really have NO clue what she has been through and sacrificed over the last year."

Scared to see Kristina semi-unconscious after their argument but too stubborn to admit her fault, Sarah shot back at Howie. "How could I know? My best friend in the whole world let me believe my brother had killed her."

AJ returned with a wet cloth and handed it to Howie, kneeling beside the two of them. As Howie dabbed her forehead and her neck, AJ looked at Kristina and then at Sarah who stood silently.

"Is she okay?" he asked, noticing the diamond ring on her finger.

"I don’t know. I think so," Howie said quietly. "I think tonight has just been too emotional for her to handle."

He looked over at AJ who was staring at the ring with a smile on his face. As their eyes connected AJ said, "I bet." Howie smiled back knowing that AJ had figured out their engagement and why he had been so disappointed when he and Sarah showed up.

Seeing how the two of them took care of Kristina, Sarah’s anger began to soften a little. Finally she said, "Why don’t you two move and give her a little air? And how about some water, can you get her a small glass, Howie?"

Howie looked at her both surprised and yet hopeful. "Yeah. I’ll be right back," he said handing her the damp cloth.

Sarah sat on the edge of the sofa and took Kristina’s sweaty hand in hers, seeing for the first time the huge diamond that sat upon her finger. She touched it tenderly and smiled a little. AJ had moved from beside Kristina in the floor to the loveseat as he watched Sarah stare at Kristina, looking her over as if she was seeing her in a different light. She touched the cloth to Kristina’s head and whispered, "I’m sorry, Kris. I’m sorry for everything."

Chapter 66       Index