"Hi mom!" Ang called as she entered her parents apartment.
"Angela," Mrs. Perera greeted warmly ass he walked into the living room. She threw her arms around her daughter, whom she hadn't seen in months. "I missed you, honey."
"I missed you too, mom,' she said, setting her bags down. "Where's daddy?"
"He's at the restaurant until late," Mrs. Perera answered. "Have you been by the Taylor's yet?"
"Not yet," Ang replied. "I wanted to stop by here first. I think I might head over there now, though. I want to take her out to dinner."
"Well, I'm sure she'll love that sweetheart," Mrs. Perera said.
"I just hope she's happy to see me," Ang remarked. "I hope she doesn't think that we abandoned her."
"She won't, Ang," Mrs. Perera said. "She understands that you weren't allowed to contact her."
"Alright," Ang stated, grabing her purse. "I'm gonna go. See you later."
"Bye!" Ang hailed a cab outside of her apartment building and rode to the Upper East Side. Climbing out of the cab, she took a deep breath ass he stared at the huge building in front of her. She walked inside and took the elevator up to Katelin's apartment.
"Coming!" Adrienne called in response to the knock at the door. She flung the door open and smiled happily at the face in front of her.
"Ang," she cried. "Come in. Kate's going to be so thrilled to see you."
"Hi Adrienne," Ang greeted. "Is she here?"
"She should be home any minute," Adrienne responded. Ang nodded and followed Adrienne into the den.
"So, how is everything?" Adrienne asked, sitting down on the couch. "How's Brian?"
"He's good," Ang answered. "Everyone is."
"Any marriage plans we should know about?" Adrienne questioned, a smile tugging at the corner's of her mouth.
"Not yet," Ang replied. "I'm ready. All Brian has to do is ask."
"I'm sure he will soon," she assured her. The sound of the front door opening caught their attention.
"Adrienne?" They heard Katelin call.
"I'm in the den!" Adrienne responded. They heard footsteps approaching and then the door to the den flew open.
"Oh my god!" Katelin's hand flew to her mouth in surprise. "Ang?!" Ang ran over and grabbed her best friend in a tight hug.
"It's so good to see you," Ang cried, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm so sorry about your father."
"Thanks," Katlein replied, wiping her eyes. They all heard the doorbell rign.
"I'll get it," Adrienne stood up and disappeared from the room, going to answer the door.
"I swear to God, Kate," they heard a voice from the hallway. "If that door man of yours hassles me one more time…" She trailed off as she stood in the doorway. "Ang?"
"Krista?" Ang was equally surprised.
"What are you doing here?" They both asked at the same time.
"You first," Ang laughed.
"Same reason you are," Krista replied.
"You guys want anything?" Katelin asked, standing up from the couch.
"Actually, I was planning on taking you out to dinner," Ang stated. "You want to come Kris?"
"Sure," Krista smiled. 'How about you, Adrienne?"
"That's okay," Adrienne replied. "You guys go ahead." The three of them gathered their things and left the apartment, heading towards the Perera family's Italian restaurant.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
"Paul, I'm home!" Christine set her purse down on the table in the front hall and walked into the family room, spotting her boyfriend watching television. She leaned down and kissed him. "I have some news for you."
"Good or bad?" he asked.
"I don't know," she shrugged, sitting down on his lap. "It depends on how you take it."
"Why do I not like the sound of this?" Paul questioned, skeptically. "What is it?"
"I got a promotion!" She announced happily.
"That's terrific, honey," Paul exclaimed. "But why wouldn't I be happy for you?"
"Because they're transferring me," Christine replied, looking down at her hands.
"Transferring you where?" Paul's eyes narrowed. He had a bad feeling about this.
"Orlando," she mumbled.
"What?!" he exploded. "No way. Uh-uh. You're not going."
"Why not?" Christine cried. "That part of my life is finished. You know that. What's the big deal?"
"Because I don't want you in the same state as him," Paul growled. "Let alone in the same city. And what about me, Chrissy?" Christine grimaced. She absolutely despised the fact that he called her that but yet he refused to stop.
"Why can't you come with me?" she asked. "You're a writer, Paul. You can write from anywhere."
"My editor is here, Christine," he explained sternly. "I need to be here."
"It's the twenty first century, Paul!" Christine exclaimed. "You ever hear of computers? Email? Fax machines?"
"Don't get smart with me, Christine," he warned. "I won't stand for that."
"You're not my father," Christine grumbled.
"Excuse me?" he asked, an eyebrow raised. He took a step closer to her, Christine instinctively taking a step back. "What did you just say?"
"Nothing, Paul," she replied, nervously. Paul had a tendency to lose his temper and that was something she really didn't want to happen right now. "I gotta go. I told Melissa I'd meet her for drinks."
"We're not done talking about this, Christine," Paul told her. "I am not allowing you to go to Florida. Now, don't be late."
"I won't," Christine complied, walking out the door. "I promise." She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, heaving a huge sigh. That hadn't gone as bad as things usually did.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
"So, Ang," Katelin began. "How's Brian? Should I be calling you Mrs. Littrell yet?"
"No," Ang laughed, shaking her head. "You shouldn't even be calling me Mrs. Soon-to-be-Littrell."
"You mean to tell me that he hasn't proposed yet?" Krista asked, surprised. "You guys have been together for over three years. Have you even talked you about marriage?"
"A little bit," Ang replied. "I mean, I guess there's no rush." Krista and Katelin exchanged a look. They both picked up on the wistful tone in Ang's voice. They could tell she wanted more.
"How is everyone?" Krista questioned. She pretended not to care but she really did want to know about AJ.
"Everyone's good," Ang answered. "Kevin and Brooke are getting married next month. Howie's doing well. He's still playing the field. I don't think that he's ever really gotten over Christine. AJ…well…AJ's engaged…"
"I heard," Krista responded, quietly. "Who is she?"
"Her name's Sarah," Ang responded. "I haven't really gotten to know her that well. They've only known each other since June." Krista nodded, pretending that the news didn't bother her. But, in all honesty, it did. She'd never really gotten over him and she knew that if it hadn't been for her, they'd probably still be together.
"What about Nick?" Katelin asked, quietly. Nobody, outside of her father and Adrienne, knew about the son she gave birth to two years ago. His birthday was coming up but Katelin hadn't had any contact with the adoptive parents ever. That was the way her father had wanted it and now, Katelin had no idea how to find them.
"He's good," Ang replied, looking down at her hands. "It took him awhile but he's been doing really well lately." Katelin nodded. She wanted desperately to know more about him but, although she knew it was probably true, she couldn't stand the thought of him being with another girl. She was about to ask Ang another question when something at the front door of the restaurant caught her attention.
"Kate?" Krista asked, looking to see what she was looking at. She and Ang both followed Katelin's line of vision to the family of three at the front of the restaurant. It was a young couple, in their early thirties, with a little boy. He looked to be about two.
"Oh my…" Katelin whispered. She felt as if she couldn't breathe. Less than twenty feet away from her was the child she was forced to give up two years ago.
"What is it, Kate?" Ang asked, extremely concerned. Katelin's face was as white as a sheet. Katelin didn't answer, just watched as the family was led to a quiet table in the corner of the restaurant.
"Katelin, who was that?" Ang asked, firmly.
"That was…oh god…" she swallowed nervously. "Guys, there's something that I need to tell you."