Thank you so much to everyone who is sticking with this...I am so grateful!

Chapter Twenty-Five

Inez talked faster than Amber had ever heard her. "You look fine, Man! Just fine. I'm so glad you're here. Did Momma show you my babies? Seaweed and Penny's too. Oh this is going to be such a joyful reunion. I never thought I'd see the day. Come on, come on, give me a hug. Dead man walkin' Thank you, Jesus Corny's come home……."

He hugged her with gusto but Amber saw that fake smile he was so good at. "Goodness little girl, you sure have grown." He interjected, "I'm just here catching up with Ms Amber and your mother. Why don't you sit down. Sweet Cake?"

"No, no, no. I have to get back." She put up a hand, "but now you can come with me and see The Council. Amber why didn't you bring him down. Everyone will be dying to see you."

He looked flustered. "But Inez…" he began.

"I'm not taking no for an answer. You'll have so much to catch up on. The cues, the music. Oh I just can't believe we found you. I can't believe you're here. I have to…."

Maybelle's voice broke in, deep and commanding. "Inez, you need to give us a minute. Run and get some more tea in this pitcher."

"Nina can do it" Inez argued, "I just want to….."

"Now Inez!" Something in the tone made Inez grab the pitcher and scurry off. Looking none too happy either.

Amber wanted to slide under the table. She felt like a little girl about to chastised by her father. Corny looked at her. There was anger in his eyes.

"You put that evil look right back where you found it Mister." Maybelle growled, "She had nothing to do with this. It's my fault that the music was left after dinner yesterday. I didn't expect Inez. She was at that studio and I said she was at that studio. This girl knew nothing else."

He looked back at her. She was terrified. Would this be the end? Would he be gone again?

"Amber you need to visit the ladies room. You look like you're gonna be ill." Maybelle ordered, "This man and I need to have a talk."

She looked down and headed off, taking the back hall away from the kitchen. She closed the bathroom door and felt dead. She sat down on the toilet and wanted to cry but no tears would come. She didn't feel sad, she felt devastated. It came too easy and it was too good. Easy things are just as easily gone. She knew that all her life. Right now, she didn't care about that show, her career, Inez, Maybelle, nothing. Nothing but him. If he needed to be gone, she was gone too. If he could ghost it, so could she. Her life was just beginning with him and no one, absolutely no one was screwing that up. Her resolve began to grow. She would strut out there like the Amber Von Tussle who commanded such respect in the business world, grab his hand and walk out. No matter how wonderful these people had been to her, it didn't matter right now. She had to get him, get him out and not look back. Or she would lose him forever.

A knock on the door made her jump, "Yes." She quietly replied.

"Amber can I talk to you?" It was Inez.

She had to face her. She opened the door and stared into the face of the best friend she had in years. She expected her to be angry, but Inez, being Inez looked more curious than mad.

"Why didn't you call me Amber?" she asked, "Why didn't you tell me that you found him?"

"I couldn't." she replied.

Inez looked at her shocked, "Why of course you could. You could have just dialed that phone without a single thought. When did this happen? This morning?"

"No yesterday."

"And all this time you couldn't call me up and share the news? You could have brought him for dinner. Momma's big Sunday dinner. Everyone could have gotten a chance to talk to him. It would have been great."

Amber didn't know what to say to her. How much of his relationship with Maybelle could she reveal? How much of her own? She needed to take a chance, to plead to this lady who said that she loved her like a sister. She had to understand.

"I didn't want to call you, Inez. We were busy. We spent the night together last night."

Inez leaned back and her hands flew up to her face. "Oh go on, girl. You did not."

Amber genuinely smiled and nodded.

Inez squealed and hugged her hard. "So Momma was right about everything, wasn't she? Damn that man moves fast." She whispered in her ear, "Was he as good as we all thought?"

Amber opened her mouth to answer when the voice bellowed, "Inez Stubbs-Franklin! Your Momma needs to see you now."

She turned her head, "Coming Momma!" she turned back to Amber, "You will tell me everything when I get back. Hold tight and let me see what's going on"

Amber saw her take off. She was tempted to follow but Maybelle called the shots. When they wanted her, she would be there.

And somehow she hoped they would make it right. She looked at herself in a mirror. Thirty-eight really didn't look too bad on her. She was fit and took good care of herself. Maybe a baby would ruin that figure. Naw, it didn't ruin Inez's figure and she wasn't too much younger. Would he still love her with a baby in her arms? She giggled like a schoolgirl. Weren't these the same dreams she had 20 years ago? But the question was, did he dream the same dreams? Would he even be sitting there when she walked out?

Nina came to the door and broke into her thoughts. "Excuse me Ma'ma. Miss Maybelle would like to see you now."

She made it down the hall and braced herself for the fact that he might not be there. But he was. He was much more relaxed.

"Amber, do you plan on coming to my Labor Day Picnic?" Maybelle asked.

"Yes" Amber replied puzzled.

"Good, we have come to a compromise. This man will not concede to be on your show. He wants nothing of the spotlight any more. However, our family deserves to have time with our own. Please escort him that day. Corny Collins is coming home."

He smiled. Relief washed over her. He wasn't hiding any more.