“You’re not that old,” I say firmly. “So you can’t use that as an excuse.”
“I couldn’t think of any other way to get you two together, and honestly, it was your dad’s idea.”
“You could have asked me,” Ace interjects wryly.
“And say what?” Mom is shaking her head. “Hi, this is the woman who thought you weren’t good enough for her daughter a decade ago, but well, things change, so now that said daughter is divorced, would you please come take her out because she still thinks about you?”
“I suppose there’s that,” he admits, trying to hide a smile at my mother’s sarcasm.
“I don’t know what to say about any of this,” I admit after a moment. “Reconnecting with Ace has been the best thing to happen to me in a long time, but the lengths you went to for it to happen don’t sit well with me.”
“I suspect not, and your father knew it wouldn’t.” She digs around in her purse. “This is for you. From your dad. He said I couldn’t give it to you unless and until you and Ace were together.”
I take it from her numbly, staring at the handwriting on the outside of the envelope wistfully. I still miss him so much, seeing his familiar handwriting brings tears to my eyes and I’ve been doing too much crying today.
“I’m going to go back to my hotel,” Samantha says stiffly, getting to her feet. “I know I’ve hurt and upset you, but that was never my intention. I just wanted to do something to make up for the disaster of a marriage I forced you into.”
“You didn’t force me to marry him,” I whisper, blinking back more tears. “I wanted babies. You provided an option for me to have them. It just didn’t work out the way we hoped.”
“Yes, but it was a disaster that hurt you in the end, and you wouldn’t have married him had I not introduced you.”
“Well, the thing with Douglas is water under the bridge. I don’t even think about him anymore.” And certainly not lately.
“My colleague who’s in Cologne talked with Sandra last night.” Ace speaks up.
“You heard from Chains?” I turn in surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because he sent me the message while you were having your panic attack, so I just read it a few minutes ago.”
“What did she say?” Samantha asks quietly.
“Turns out she resents Shannon for coming in and becoming the new teacher’s pet, so to speak, with the administration and the other teachers. When Samantha contacted her about playing this little trick on Shannon, as she called it, she said it was the perfect opportunity for some payback.”
“I thought she was my friend,” I mutter, shaking my head.
“And I played right into her hands.” Mom looks a little shaken, more so than before, and I don’t know whether to hug her or tell her to snap out of it.
“Look, they probably want us off the boat,” Ace says. “Let’s go to the hotel and relax for a while. Shannon didn’t get much sleep last night, and then her panic attack probably didn’t help. Let’s spend the afternoon getting some rest, and we can meet up in a few hours.”
“Yes, that sounds like the best plan.” Mom gets to her feet and puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Shannon. I hope you know that.”
I nod numbly and watch her go. Then I rest my head on Ace’s shoulder. “I wish we could drive back to Cologne so I could sleep in my own bed tonight. I really need something familiar.”
“Then hang on and let me see if I can make that happen.” He jumps to his feet and runs after my mother. He’s gone for about ten minutes and then comes back in. “Okay. Her driver offered to take us back to Cologne. We’ll ride together but she’ll stay at a hotel near your apartment and you can sleep in your own bed tonight. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.”
“You’re very efficient,” I say softly.
“I try.” He reaches out his hands and I take them, letting him help me up. I feel better now, though still mildly nauseated.
“We have to talk to Chris and Aubrey, tell them our plans.”
“I already did. They’re going to stay here tonight and get on their flight tomorrow. So go say your goodbyes and let’s get out of here, okay?”
“You and I have to talk too,” I say softly.
“It can wait until we’re alone and you’ve had a little rest.” He kisses me. “Come on.”
Five hours in the car with my mother could have been torture, but she seems to sense that I’m not interested in talking and doesn’t push the issue. I doze for about half the time and we’re almost in Cologne when Ace’s phone rings. He doesn’t look happy as he answers, and I have a feeling it’s his boss.
