I suck for disappearing from the face of the earth for 2+ months. Sorry about that. It was a miserable time of migraines, kidney stones, and my computer deciding it doesn't want to be my friend anymore. You know, big time fun stuff all around, lol. Luckily I've got my hands on another computer and am mostly feeling better. (Listen to your bodies when you don't feel well, people. Don't be dumb and stubborn and try to power through like I did.)

I was originally going to have more of a confrontation with Angela and Camille but in the end it seemed like it needed a little more set up. But we're getting there. I promise. And there will be more movement in Cory and Topanga's tale in the next chapter as well. With so many little side stories it can be hard to fit everything in sometimes. :-)

"I'm in the bathroom for two minutes and you're already falling asleep on me," Angela joked. "Some homecoming."

Eric shifted to his side and wrapped his arms around her when she got back into bed. "I wasn't sleeping. I was resting." He hadn't expected her to show up at the apartment the minute she got back to town- he might have reconsidered staying out until 3AM with Jason otherwise- but he was happy to see her. "This week was crazy busy."

"I know." She sank back against his chest and closed her eyes, for the moment focusing on nothing but him. The thump of his heartbeat against her back was a steady, calming reminder of his presence. "I missed you," she whispered.

"Ditto." He held her a little tighter. "Next time we leave town together."

"Where would we go?"

"Huh? When?"

"If we ever decided to blow off our responsibilities for a few days and get out of town, where would you want to go?"

He forced his eyes open. "We're going hiking next month when my classes are done." There would only be about three weeks between the end of summer classes and the start of the fall semester. He intended to make those few weeks count. "You still want to go, right? The Gorge is also called 'Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon' if that gives you any clue how amazing it is. It's really beautiful there. I know you're not an outdoorsy person, but it's great."

"I still want to see it. You talk about it so much I'm sure I'll love it."

"You will. Trust me."

"I do."

"There's waterfalls and everything."

"Look out TLC," she quipped.

"I didn't say anything about chasing waterfalls…." He placed a kiss on her cheek. "….at least not on your first hike. We'll stick to the rivers and lakes you're used to."

Angela turned around so they were facing each other. "Anyone ever tell you that you get pretty cheesy when you're tired?"

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"It's not. You're just-"

"Cheddar?"

"A little bit," she said as she brushed the hair out of his face. "Sharp cheddar though, not mild."

He leaned down to kiss her again. "Thank goodness for that. How about you?"

"I don't know, I never thought about what cheese I'd be. Provolone, maybe?"

"Seriously?"

She smirked. "No. I'm not being serious at all."

"And I appreciate that. But where would you go if we bailed on life for a while and took off, just the two of us?" If everything went according to plan, he hoped to surprise Angela. Maybe schedule a little something that she would enjoy more than hiking. "Do you like the beach?"

"Is this a lame attempt to see me in a bikini?"

"Please," he scoffed, while visions of her in a bikini danced in his head, "what kind of guy do you think I am?"

"The kind of guy that has a stack of swimsuit issues on the floor of his closet."

Damn, he forgot she knew about those. "What I meant was, when you think vacation, what is it? I know it's not hiking and camping, but is it the beach? A cabin in the mountains? Or do you explore a city and take it the sites and culture like you and your dad did in Boston?"

"I guess I'm somewhere between the beach and the city. But at this point I'd go anywhere with you. Hell, I'd even settle for being locked away in here on the condition no one bothered us. Those are my only conditions: you and me with no interruptions."

"In an ideal world I'd like more than a wall between us and my brother, but otherwise that sounds like my idea of heaven." They both jumped when several loud bangs could be heard in quick succession from outside. "Step one is to soundproof our heaven."

"At least the fireworks should be done after Sunday."

"Not a Fourth of July fan? I figured with your dad in the army you would be."

"It's just the unexpected noise. My dad doesn't like them either, says they remind him of combat. He's probably going to spend the whole weekend inside attached to earplugs or his Walkman."

"That sucks."

"He's fine going to an actual fireworks show because he knows they're coming, but the surprise ones…" She shook her head. "…this time of year always puts him a little on edge. I know we usually hang out on Sundays but I might stay home to keep my dad company and distracted."

"I could come over. Who distracts people better than me?"

"You do command a lot of attention."

"That's what I'm saying."

The next firework that went off caused the bed to shake and Angela sat up. "Okay, relaxing is over when the M80s come out."

"Do you want your birthday presents?"

"You didn't have to-"

"Don't even start with that crap. You get presents for your birthday. That's the rule."

"I guess I can't break the rule, can I?"

"Not this one, no."

"Okay," Angela relented. She knew money was tight right now, but it seemed very important to him to get her a present. And if their positions were reversed she'd find a way to give him a birthday gift.

Eric leaned over and retrieved the bag he'd hidden under his bed. "I know it's not much," he began, facing her, "but I tried to get things I knew you'd like."

"I'm sure I'll love it." She attempted to take the bag, but he wasn't letting go. "Um…"

"Come on is that all you've got? I know you're stronger than that. Just a little while ago you pinned me down on the mattress and-"

"Eric?"

He released his grip on her gift and braced himself.

"Sno-caps, peanut butter cups, and caramel corn." She took out the items one by one. "My favorite movie snacks!"

"The jumbo-sized packages," he added.

Next, she pulled out a small box that had some decent weight to it. "What is-oh, a coffee mug. Is this to keep here?"

"No, it's- well, you can, but-"

"This is a Shakespeare mug?"

"You are a big fan of the guy, at least if I remembered right."

"Your memory's working just fine." Angela laughed as she read over the box. "You got me a mug covered in Shakespeare's best insults? I love this."

"Really?"

"How can I not love something that says, "Thou art a boil…"?"

Eric made a face. Did the word boil ever not sound gross? Then again, that was probably Shakespeare's point. "That's your favorite? I think I like, "…lump of foul deformity…" best, but whatever works for you."

"They all work for me." She wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him close. "Thank you," she whispered against his lips. "I love my presents."

He moved back slightly. "There's one more."

"Really?" She released him from her grasp and dug through the bag. "You used so much tissue paper."

"It was easier than trying to wrap. I might be able to play a convincing Santa Claus, but I wrap presents like a drunken elf on an acid trip."

"The elves are getting drunk and high in your world?"

"There's not much to do in the North Pole this time of year."

"Oh. So is that how Blitzen the reindeer got her name? She's always blitzed?"

"Huh…I never thought about that before. What the hell is going on at the North Pole?"

"Can we figure it out after I finish opening my presents?"

"Right, sorry. Go ahead."

After what seemed like an eternity, Angela finally got past the tissue paper and reached the bottom of the bag and pulled out an item of clothing. "You got me a shirt…a 76ers shirt." She held it up. It was his size instead of hers'. Upon further inspection she recognized a small rip on the collar and realized it wasn't just his size, it was literally his shirt. "I'm confused."

"You're always borrowing my shirts. That doesn't bother me. I think it's hot and you look amazing and you can take my stuff anytime, but I figured why not make something officially yours'?" Eric was unnerved by her silence. "I know you already officially have one of my hoodies, but you borrow my 76ers' shirt more than any other one so-."

"I do?"

"Yeah."

"Do you know why I like to wear your shirts?"

"Saves you from having to do a bunch of laundry?"

"It's because they're your shirts. I-" Angela looked away, the neediness of what she was about to admit weighing on her. She focused on the rip on the shirt's collar- a slight imperfection, but a welcome distraction at the moment. "They're comforting and they smell like you. When I wear them it's like wearing one of your hugs."

"Wearing a hug, huh?"

Her inner writer cringed. Surely she could've come up with a better way to put it and wondered which insult Shakespeare would use against her for her tragic lack of imagination.

He took the shirt out of her hands. "So do you not want it or-"

"No! I mean, how about… we could share it."

"So keep things the same as now?"

"Yeah. I'll wear it whenever and then you can wear it when-"

"When I need to reactivate the Eric Matthews huggability factor?"

She smiled and pulled him close for a kiss. It was a relief he didn't laugh at her lame attempts to explain the shirts. Then again he was one of the last people who would laugh at someone for that kind of thing. It was part of the whole Eric Matthews huggability factor she loved so much.

"So you liked your presents," he asked when they finally separated.

"I love them. Thank you."

"You're welcome." They kissed once more and when he pulled away she was staring at him. "What?"

"You make me happy." Angela was great with words, but not always so much with feelings. Even putting the right words to the feelings was torture sometimes. "I know I don't say it enough and sometimes I feel like the emotional give and take in this relationship is really unbalanced because you've put up with a lot of my family's crap and supported me through a lot, but you do it without me even asking. You've done so much. So yeah. You make me happy."

Whatever he had been expecting her to say, it wasn't that. To him, it wasn't something that even needed to be said. "You know that goes both ways, right? I might not have family drama, but you've been patient and put up with the school bullshit I brought on myself. You help me focus when everything feels out of control and I just want to give up and take the easy way out again." Eric took her hand. "I know I have to want to do it for me, and I do, but it's great to having someone in my corner rooting for me and cheering me on. I'm sure it's not fun helping me with homework every night and knowing that I ruined most of our summer plans-"

"Nothing was ruined," she interrupted. "We just have to cram all the adventure into a few weeks."

"That sounds like a challenge I can get behind."

"So what do we do now, two happy, adventurous people that we are?"

He leaned in, going for a kiss-or more if he was completely honest- but additional fireworks from outside intruded on their oasis. "Why are they even shooting them off during the day? You can't see the cool colors."

"They're stupid and out to waste money." She sat up and shook her head. "It's impossible to have sex when it sounds like we're under fire."

"You obviously didn't pay attention to all the action movies we've seen where the hero and hot girl go at it when guns and bombs are going off all around them."

"Eric…"

He held up his hands. "Kidding….just kidding. How about we get some food?" She nodded. "We haven't gone to the grocery store in a while so I think all I have left is pancake mix or Chinese takeout leftovers that are today or never." She didn't look enthused over either option and frankly, he wasn't excited either. Rachel had been the one to keep him and Jack on a regular grocery schedule. Without her around the food situation seemed to be feast or famine. "Or we could head to the burger place down the street. Fridays are two for one lunch specials."

"Deal."

/

/

"Oh, Shawnie am I in a pickle."

He spun around when the door burst open, nearly dropping a not quite developed photo onto the floor. "Hey! How many times have I told you if the red light is on that means I'm developing pictures? That means do not enter."

"Fine, I'll go wait outside."

"No, you're not opening that door again until I'm done. Now what pickle are you in, aside from using vocabulary that was played out when Mr. Feeny was a kid."

"I need your advice."

"We're stuck in this room until these pictures develop so start talking."

"But the fumes and-" He wilted under his friend's glare. "How do I ask Angela about her and her dad being a part of my documentary?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"You know Angela. You know how she thinks and how to talk to her."

"If I knew how to talk to her, don't you think I'd still be with her?"

"Right. Sorry."

"Whatever."

"But on a scale of 1-10, how upset is she going to be?"

Shawn leaned back against the table. "Do you want to be laid out in your brown suit or the blue one at the funeral?"

"That's not funny."

"I'm not laughing."

"You know what else you're not doing- helping! Come on. I have a deadline here."

"I don't know what you want from me, Cor. Angela is intensely private. Hell, even I didn't know her mom took off until a few months ago and I thought we told each other just about everything. I knew she lived with her grandmother because of her dad being in the army, but that was all she ever said about her family."

"You never asked?"

He shrugged. "I was dealing with my own crap. And like I said, I didn't think she was keeping any secrets."

"So you don't think she'll want me to do this?"

"Probably not, but stranger things have happened."

Cory paced back and forth across the small darkroom. He debated skipping Angela and going directly to her dad, wondering if it would be easier to beg her forgiveness rather than her permission. Somehow he didn't see that going over well. "Great."

"Just tell her your plan and how important it is to you. Be honest."

"That's it?"

"Angela values honesty. Even if she's pissed and hates your idea, she'll appreciate that you were upfront with her."

"You think?"

"Take it from someone who wasn't honest with her…yes."

"Okay, but if she flips out and it goes bad will you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Lay me out in the brown suit with my burgundy tie."

"You got it, Cor."

/

/

"What's wrong? What was the phone call?" Getting no response, Eric slid into the booth and nudged Angela with his elbow. "You okay?"

She jumped. "Hey! You know the deal. Your sneak attacks are for other people."

"I wasn't sneak attacking you. I'm trying to figure out what's up."

"Nothing's up but the clouds."

"Really? We were talking, the waitress brought our food, your phone rang, I went to get the napkins, I come back, and your spaced out. What gives? And don't say nothing again because you're staring at those waffle fries like they hold the meaning of life."

"Monday…"

"What about it?"

"My dad and I have to go to the lawyer's office to go over Nan's will and her estate. We're meeting up with Aunt Lois and-and…well, my mom is going to be there, too. The lawyer asked to change the time. That was the call. Aunt Lois was letting me know. It was supposed to be five, but he had a cancellation and asked if three would work. This way he can make his kid's softball game." She fiddled with the silverware on the table. "I have to be in the same room with my mother again. I'm going to see my parents together in the same room again. The last time the three of us were all together…I was nine when that happened. Every detail of that night is etched into my memory."

"Were they fighting a lot?"

"Actually, no. They both got home from work early so they took me to the movies."

"What did you see?"

"The Land Before Time."

"Awesome movie, a little heavy, but dinosaurs are always cool."

Angela nodded. "We ordered a bucket of popcorn that I swear was the size of my dad's torso. After that we got burgers and fries for dinner and ice cream cones for dessert." She picked up a fry from her plate before continuing. "When we got home that night there was such a terrible thunderstorm going on. I wasn't afraid of them during the day, but…I don't know, some things are scarier at night."

"A lot of things are like that."

"I was putting on my pajamas and mom came in to fix my hair for bed. She must've noticed I was jumpy with the storm and offered to sleep in my bed with me. Looking back it's weird because she never did that. If I got scared of a storm I was like any other kid and climbed into bed with my parents. But we crammed into my bed and stayed up way past my bedtime talking and listening to music." The last thing she remembers from that night was her mom's voice, singing along with Patti LaBelle on the radio as she fell asleep.

"Do you think she knew she was leaving the next day and was trying to soak up all the extra time with you that she could?" Angela said nothing. "You'll have your chance to ask her soon."

She shifted away from him. "Are you insane? I can't ask her that."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to know the answer. The answer doesn't matter. The end result is the same. She still left."

"Don't you want to know why?"

"There's not a why in this world that could justify it and make it better."

"I know that. I just meant for you, for your peace of mind. You deserve to know why."

"My mother didn't love me enough, okay?! There's your why. My mom didn't love me!" Angela realized every set of eyes in the diner were now trained on her. "Get up."

"What?"

"Move." She gestured for him to get out of the booth as he was blocking her in. "I'm leaving."

"But Angela-"

"Either move or you're ending up on the floor."

Eric got out of the booth and watched as she tossed some money on the table. "I was going to pay for-"

"I'll call you later."

"But-" He reached for her hand, only to have her yank it away.

"Not now."

"At least let me give you a ride home."

Home. The word echoed in her head like a gong. Was it home? Was it her home? It was Nan's home. It was where her mother grew up. But was it hers'? "I'll call you."

/

/

Cory took a deep breath and stared at the front door. He considered turning tail and running, but he'd come this far. Besides, he had a college scholarship riding on this. Before he could have any more hesitation raised his hand and rang the bell. Seconds later he was staring up at Angela's father. "Hello, sir."

"Hello, Matthews son not dating my daughter."

He laughed nervously. "Ha-ha. Good one, sir. Is Angela home?"

"Did she know you were coming?" The closer it got to Monday the more distant and withdrawn Angela was becoming. He couldn't imagine her making plans.

"No, this is a surprise."

"Maybe you should come back later. I don't think-"

"Who is it, dad," she asked, standing on the bottom step.

Cory took his chance and ducked below Sgt. Moore's arm. "It's me, Angela," he said, waving.

"Cory?" Did Eric send him over to check on her? After yesterday she supposed she wouldn't blame him. "Why are you here?"

"I have to talk to you. It's kind of important."

"So why are you standing out there?"

"Your bouncer won't let me in."

She smiled. "It's okay, dad."

"You'll vouch for him?"

"Yeah."

Alvin stepped aside and let Cory in. "I'll get started on dinner," he said to his daughter.

"Actually, sir, if you could stay…I need to talk to the both of you."

"Me? What could you possibly have to talk to me about?"

He followed Angela to the living room. "Do you remember the documentary competition for NYU Film School? The one that you told me to go for?"

"Yes."

"Well, I took your advice and I entered. The top prize is a scholarship in the film program."

"That's great, Cor, but what does it have to do with me and my dad?"

He scratched the back of his head and shifted his weight back and forth on his feet. "You see when you applied you couldn't just throw your name out there. You needed to also submit the topic of your documentary. And I wracked my brain trying to come up with an idea, really, I did, but nothing was good enough. I was this close to giving up and accepting my defeat until a couple weeks ago."

"What happened a couple weeks ago," Alvin asked.

"My parents decided to have a barbecue." Cory launched into a pitch similar to the one he'd given his dad and hoped his nerves weren't evident. "So, what do you think," he asked when finished.

"You want to make a movie comparing me and your father?"

"A short film and I don't think it's a comparison as much as it's showing the lives of two men and the paths they took. You and my dad are about the same age, have similar interests, joined the military right out of high school, my dad got out after six years and you made it your career. I think it's an interesting story to tell."

"You do?"

"If you think about it it's really like that poem about the fork in the road. You're each other's road not taken."

He glanced at his daughter. She'd been oddly quiet since the explanations started. "How in-depth are you looking to get? The military is not all fun and games."

"Look, sir, I'm going to be honest with you."

"That's always a good start."

"I have no idea how in-depth or far-reaching I'm going. I'm winging it and flying by the seat of my pants which is not at all normal for me. All I want to do is to tell as compelling a story as possible and unfortunately I have to do it in thirty minutes or less."

"Like a pizza delivery?"

"Sort of. Only I think a scholarship is better than a free pizza."

He once again looked to Angela. "It's certainly an idea."

"Thanks, sir."

"When do you need my answer?"

"The sooner the better. No pressure though," he added at the end. "I have to have the final draft submitted by December 1st and filming, editing, and post-production take time. That doesn't even get into all the prep work."

Angela finally spoke up. "You're doing this in addition to your normal class load? After how overwhelmed you got last year?"

"You're the one who told me I should go for something that I wanted, something that was mine and had nothing to do with Shawn or Topanga." He shrugged. "I want to try for this scholarship."

This was what she got for trying to be a supportive friend. Who knew it would come back to bite her in the ass like this? She only had herself to blame. "And this thing is the only way?"

"It's the best idea I have come up with so far. Actually, it's the only idea I've come up with." Angela didn't look happy and her father seemed mildly interested at best. Still, his main concern- aside from the scholarship- was staying in her good graces. "I don't want to hurt anyone or bring up bad memories. That's the last thing I want. Just give me a chance. If I screw up I can edit and focus on other things and-"

"Or scrap it," Angela asked.

Cory shoved his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, sure, if it's really not working yeah…I'll pull the plug. Like I said, I'm not trying to hurt anyone, especially you. You're one of my best friends. You're one of the last people I'd ever dream of hurting."

Best friends? The words alone brought flashbacks to flowers, balloon bouquets, not being able to even shower or use the bathroom in peace without him lurking around, and worse- incessant questions about her feelings. She couldn't endure another of Cory's friendship campaigns. She barely survived the first with her sanity intact.

"So is it a yes?" He could practically see the pro and con list being written in her head.

"If it's okay with Angela, I'll do it," Alvin agreed, "provided I have veto power if things get too personal."

"Of course. Angela?"

She sighed. "Yeah, sure, whatever. I don't care."

It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement, but it was good enough for him. "Yay!" Cory ran over and wrapped his arms around Angela in a tight hug and lifted her off the ground. "Thank you. You won't regret this."

"For your sake that had better be true."

/

/

Alvin drove around the parking lot a few times before ultimately choosing a spot in the back. "Here we are." Angela was staring out the window. She'd said nothing the entire drive over. "Angela?" He touched her arm, startling her. "Sorry."

"What?"

"We're here."

She looked around and realized only now that they were no longer driving. She'd been so lost in her head she wasn't paying attention. "Why are we so far away from the door?"

"Lois isn't here yet. I don't see her car. I'm not sure if your mother is riding with her or renting a car but I wasn't sure if you wanted to be the first to arrive or to show up at the last minute."

"No," she muttered quietly. "I guess your military training comes in handy in all walks of life, huh?"

"How do you mean?"

"You're staking the parking lot out for mom."

He frowned. "It's nothing as sinister as you make it sound. I just want you to be ready for what you're walking into."

"I wish you could handle all this for me."

"I would if I could, but you're an adult now, sweetheart. There are legal documents that require your signature."

"I already told Aunt Lois I don't want anything. I'm keeping a few of Nan's Bundt cake pans. Those are all I need. And maybe I'd like one or two of the blankets she crocheted. Anything else I don't-" Angela froze when a little blue car went flying by.

"What is it?"

"Your surveillance skills are slipping, soldier."

"Excuse me?"

"You used to brag that you could hear the enemy coming from 30 clicks out."

He smiled despite their current circumstances. It was good to know she remembered the little moments, even the ones where he'd been exaggerating to make his little girl think he had supersonic hearing. "Maybe it would be best to not walk into that building thinking of her as the enemy."

"Seriously? You're saying this? You?"

"Yes."

"Dad, she left the both of us."

"I'm well aware."

"So why don't you hate her?"

He stared at the steering wheel, unable to come up with an answer. While he would never forgive Camille for abandoning Angela, he didn't blame her entirely for their divorce. It was a complicated situation and the signs were there long before he decided to heed their warnings. "She gave me you. How could I hate her after that?"

She rolled her eyes. "You pick the weirdest times to be sentimental."

/

"Mr. Olsen should be here soon," the secretary said. "He was on his way back from our secondary office and got stuck behind an accident with nowhere to turn around. He just called from his car phone and police finally arrived to redirect traffic so hopefully it won't be too much longer. He apologizes for the delay."

Lois nodded. "Thank you." She walked back to the chairs and sat beside Angela. "It's going to be a bit longer, honey. Even high-priced attorneys aren't exempt from getting stuck in traffic."

"Great," she muttered through a sigh.

"I'm sorry. You know I wouldn't have you here in the same place as Camille unless-"

She covered her great aunt's hand and offered her a small smile. It wasn't her fault. "It's okay, Aunt Lois. I know. Where is she anyway?" Angela saw her mother once, briefly, when she walked in.

"I asked her to sit around the corner. We're going to all be crowded into the lawyer's office together. There's no need to overwhelm ourselves with the awkwardness now."

"Thanks, I appreciate it, but you don't have to do that."

"Hush. Let's just get through this in one piece as best we can, okay?"

"Yeah."

Alvin stood. "I know they offered us coffee, but I think I'm going to get a bottle of water from the lobby. Would anyone else like anything?"

"No thanks, dad."

"No, thank you."

/

He was feeding coins into the vending machine when the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. The staccato of high heels clacking on the porcelain floor echoed in the vestibule and a floral scent wafted through the air. "You still wear Chloé," he said, seeing her reflection in the front panel of the vending machine.

Camille looked up. "Alvin." She hadn't realized anyone was over here. She'd needed to collect herself before hearing her mother's final wishes. "I didn't expect to see you."

"Angela asked me to come." He turned around to face her. It was criminal how little she'd aged. She still looked very much like the young woman he met twenty some odd years ago when she was singing in a nightclub. "I've been in town for a bit to visit for her birthday. I was supposed to report back to base yesterday but called in some overdue favors and pulled a few strings to stay an extra couple days."

"Wow," she said, mildly impressed. "Look who finally learned the meaning of the word vacation."

He was not expecting the verbal jab. But given their past, the criticism wasn't without merit. "I'm trying."

"Good, I'm glad."

They stood there awkwardly for what felt like an eternity but likely was no more than a few seconds. "Though it is a bit delayed, I hope you'll accept my condolences for your mother. She was a wonderful woman."

"She was, wasn't she," Camille asked, a wistful smile on her face. "She was such a force of nature."

"There's an understatement. I remember the first time you brought me home to meet her."

"Oh, I remember. She refused to prepare her best dishes because she didn't want to waste her good cooking on someone who wasn't sticking around."

"Even when she was half-assing it, she still served a four-star meal." Alvin shifted the water bottle between his hands. "I always said the army could've used her interrogation skills, though."

"How do you mean?"

"I never told you what she said when you left us alone?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so."

"She said, and I quote, "You might be tall, son, but if you ever hurt my baby a few well-placed kicks will knock you right back down to size.""

"You never told me that," Camille exclaimed, laughing along with him. "That's fantastic and totally like her. Claudia was not one to suffer fools."

"No, she was not. Angela reminds me a lot of her. They have the same spirit."

"Aunt Lois said the same thing. It doesn't surprise me. They were always simpatico when she was a little girl."

"Um…dad?"

If Alvin had to describe the look on his daughter's face in that moment it would be somewhere between shock and horror with a flash of fury tossed in for good measure. "Yes, sweetheart?"

She had prepared herself for seeing her mother and for her parents to be in the same room. Angela was as ready for that as she was capable of being. But to see them talking and laughing like old friends? "The lawyer's here."

"I should get back out there." She smiled briefly at her former husband. "It was nice seeing you, Alvin."

"Yes."

On her way out of the vending area Camille stopped in front of Angela. "I uh-at some point I think we should-"

"Don't you have a husband to get back to or have you run out on him, too?"

"Angela-"

"Oh, you'd better not say anything in her defense, dad, not after everything she did."

"I'm not defending anyone," he said, walking closer so the whole lobby didn't hear their conversation. "But this is neither the time nor the place for discussion."

"What discussion? Mom left and we never saw her again until Nan died. End of story. No discussion needed." She crossed her arms and glared at her father. "And after everything that's happened you're standing here talking to her and laughing?! Seriously, dad?"

"We were discussing your grandmother. I offered my condolences."

"Whatever," she scoffed.

"Angela, were you able to find-" Lois stopped in her tracks when she came upon the trio in the lobby. While it was jarring to see Camille and Alvin in the same space after all the years, let alone see them together with their daughter, what captured her attention was her great-niece. She thought of a time last year when a stray cat got into her house and her husband had trapped it in the basement and tried to catch the poor thing to get it help. Angela very much reminded her of that cat at the moment, back into a corner and looking for any way out. "Mr. Olsen is ready to see us now," she announced. "Lawyers already charge an arm and a leg. Let's not waste anymore of my sister's money by dawdling down here unnecessarily, okay?" She wrapped her arm around Angela's shoulders and led her away. "Come keep an old lady company."

"Who's the old lady?"

She kissed her forehead. "Good girl."