Part 28 (1/2)

Charles chuckled and looked at his watch. ”It's four o'clock. Matt and Chris are meeting us here for dinner around five. You are staying to dine with us, aren't you?”

Lynn shook her head. ”No. I need to get going.” She hadn't expected this to take so long. She tried desperately to think of an excuse.

”We haven't seen you in over a week. Marie thinks that there's something wrong,” Charles stated.

”Oh, you know, I get busy,” Lynn said as she fumbled with her briefcase.

”You know what they say about all business and no play, Lynn,” Charles kidded her. ”I thought that's what you've been trying to escape from!” Then his face turned solemn. ”Really, Lynn, this is our last night here, surely you can make time for dinner with us.”

Lynn sighed. She could not tell them the truth. She could not tell them that she had fallen in love with their son's fiancee and that it just hurt too much to see her. But she didn't want to hurt their feelings either.

Reluctantly, she agreed. ”Okay. I have a change of clothes in the car. Do you mind if I use your room to change?”

Charles smiled broadly. ”Not at all. It will make Marie happy to see that you're okay. Thanks for reconsidering.”

Lynn walked to her car and grabbed her change of clothes. She wished that she had scheduled their meeting earlier. She was mad at herself for agreeing to this. She wasn't only afraid of the hurt and anger that she still felt, but also of Chris's reaction. Chris had clearly made her choice. She had not received a phone call to the contrary.

She made her way up to Charles and Marie's room. She knocked on the door and received a warm welcome.

”Lynn, I'm so glad you're here! I was afraid that we'd leave without seeing you again!” Marie said while hugging her.

Lynn felt warm inside. Sometimes this couple made her feel more a part of the family than her own family did.

”We'll leave you alone to change. Meet you down in the restaurant, okay?” Charles smiled as he ushered his wife out the door.

Lynn nodded and locked the door behind them. She was anxious to change out of her clothes. They did not fit her anymore. The size was fine. The persona was not. She pulled on her black jeans and boots and tucked in her s.h.i.+rt. She placed each earring in its proper hole and tousled her hair. Looking in the mirror, she smiled. ”Welcome back,” she said to her reflection.

”How are you feeling?” Matt smirked as he tucked his s.h.i.+rt into his blue slacks.

Chris smiled as she put the finis.h.i.+ng touches on her makeup. ”Much better, thank you. What exactly is in that hangover special?”

Matt gestured as if locking his lips. ”I'll never tell.”

”Well anyway, thanks,” Chris said as she dabbed perfume behind her ears. ”It made my head stop aching.” Then, placing the lid back on the perfume bottle, she leaned back on the counter and looked at Matt. ”Have you got anything to stop the ache in my heart?”

Matt saw the pain in Chris's eyes and felt his own heart twinge. ”Sorry, that's something that only you can cure.”

”There's the Lynn Gregory we know and love!” Charles said as she approached the table.

Marie smiled. ”The kids should be here soon. It will be nice to have the whole family here for our farewell dinner.”

Lynn smiled and answered instantly as a waiter approached and asked if he could take their drink order.

”Definitely need a drink,” Lynn answered. ”Scotch on the rocks, make it a double.”

Chapter Twenty-Three.

”Well, this is it!” Matt gave a sigh of relief as they walked through the lobby and toward the restaurant. ”Tonight's dinner, good-byes at the airport tomorrow, and it'll all be over!”

Chris also sighed, but hers was not in relief. Hers was a nervous sigh. She wasn't quite sure how to return to her old life, now that a new part of her had been awakened.

Walking around the corner into the restaurant, Chris froze in place. Her heart jumped, and her eyes glued to the most beautiful sight she had ever seen*Lynn. Her face turned red and her body hot, as the s.e.xiest thing she had ever laid her eyes on caught her stare, softly smiled, then turned back to the conversation at hand.

Suddenly it all seemed so clear. Not even a small doubt remained in her mind. She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted. Chris turned around to face Matt, who was waiting behind her.

”I didn't know she was going to be here,” he explained, then he asked impatiently, ”What's the matter?”

”Suddenly it's all so clear, Matt,” Chris said, almost in a trance from her sudden realization.

Matt looked confused. ”What's clear?”

Chris looked up with tears of joy in her eyes, grabbed the front of his s.h.i.+rt, and pulled him out of his parents' sight. ”Everybody has been telling me that you can't help who you fall in love with.” Chris, still aware that Matt had no idea what she was talking about, continued, ”It's true, Matt, I can't fight it anymore. I am utterly, irreversibly, in love with Lynn.”

Matt looked into her eyes, knowing that she had finally uncovered her truth. ”That's great, Chris, really great.” Then, realizing his parents were waiting, he said, ”You know, you could have picked a better time to come to this realization.”

”Thanks for your overwhelming support, Matt,” Chris said, lightly slapping his chest. Then looking back into his eyes, she said with a serious tone, ”I need to talk to her.”

”Okay, you can talk to her after dinner,” Matt suggested.

Chris shook her head. ”No, I really need to talk to her now.”

”Chris*”Matt whined.

”Matt*” Chris whined back.

Matt sighed, and knowing that he was not going to win this fight, conceded, ”Okay, I'll have her meet you in the ladies' room.”

Chris nodded and squeezed his hand before he walked back into the restaurant. ”Thank you.”

Matt strolled over to the table, where the group was deep in conversation.

Marie looked up. ”Matt, honey, where's Chris?”

Matt gave the answer that he had prepared on the way over to the table. ”We had a little argument.” Then looking at Lynn, he asked, ”Lynn, could you go into the ladies' room and see what you can do?”

Lynn looked at him suspiciously.

Matt persisted. ”Please, Lynn* she'll listen to you.”

Lynn gave him a dirty look, rose and excused herself.

Matt looked at his parents, shrugged, and pulled out a chair.

”What was the argument about, dear?” Marie asked.

Matt sat down and scooted toward the table. ”Mom*” he replied with an annoyed tone.