Chapter 4: A Knock at the Door

After Angela loaded the ice cream cart into the truck and pulled into traffic, her thoughts were still spinning. What the hell had just happened? One minute she'd been in Griffin's arms, and the next, she'd found herself admiring his fiancé's engagement ring.

She had to admit it was exquisite. A large solitaire orbited by tiny pearls. Griffin always had excellent taste. But, if that was the case, what was he doing with Savannah? They'd never been well-suited to each other. Griffin was confident and outgoing, while Savannah had always been quiet and reserved. Then again, that was years ago. Savannah had clearly changed. It was amazing what money could buy.

That wasn't fair, she told herself, immediately feeling guilty at her unkind thoughts. She couldn't blame Savannah for falling for Griffin. Had Angela really hoped he'd still be single after all this time? Startlingly handsome and wealthy, he would be considered a good catch for anyone, including someone of Savannah's social standing. If not Savannah, some other beautiful socialite would surely have snatched him up. Angela had relinquished her claim to him when she moved to Boston and cut all ties with him as Cookie had dictated. If anyone was to blame besides Angela, it was Cookie Graystone.

Angela and Savannah had been friends almost as long as she and Griffin. The three of them had been inseparable, navigating the subways and exploring the city as soon as they were old enough to go out on their own. Though Savannah and Griffin lived in the luxurious neighborhood of Park Avenue and Angela hailed from a working-class borough in Queens, they all attended the same private school where Angela's mother had taught English Literature. Free tuition for Angela was one of the perks of the job.

Angela sighed as she approached the bridge linking Manhattan to the suburbs. No, no matter how tempting it was, she couldn't blame Savannah for loving Griffin. Though she had to admit that it still hurt. Wasn't there a girl code against that kind of thing? How could she ever look at the two of them and not feel betrayed? Would it always be this awkward between the three of them? No, the reality was, Angela had made her choices long ago, and now she had to live with the consequences.

She resolved to smile and congratulate Savannah and Griffin if she ran into them again. It was the right thing to do. Then, she'd get on a plane and head back to her life in Boston. That was where her future was now. She'd take one of the plum jobs she'd been offered and start dating again. Maybe she'd even buy a house if things worked out as she'd hoped. She didn't know why she'd been hesitating. Maybe Griffin's engagement was the catalyst she needed to finally move forward.

By the time she got home, she'd convinced herself that it would be best to forget the kiss between her and Griffin. After all these years, they had simply been overwhelmed by the unexpected encounter. Old feelings had persuaded them they felt something that wasn't there. They'd simply been swept away by the moment. It didn't mean anything, and it never would.

By dinner time, Angela convinced herself of her story enough that she mentioned seeing Savannah and Griffin at the park to her father. "You'll never guess who I ran into today in Central Park," she said casually as she handed her father, Jack, a plate of pasta and sat next to him. He might as well hear it from her. The gossip would get back to him at the ice cream shop soon enough. Desperate to get out of the house, he'd started coming in a few hours a day. He spent most of that time gossiping with the regulars.

"Who?" Jack asked, immediately interested. He liked hearing about Angela's day. He often complained that when she returned to Boston, the house would be quiet and lonely again.

"Griffin," she said, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

Her father frowned and looked concerned. "Really? Griffin? How was that for you?"

"Fine," Angela answered, aware she was trying too hard to sound light. "He's engaged. You'll also never guess who he's marrying?"

Her father raised his eyebrows but didn't try to guess.

"Savannah," she announced, avoiding his gaze.

"Savannah Sheddington?" her father asked, putting down his fork.

"The very one," Angela said, stabbing a piece of tortellini.

"I never liked her," he said sullenly. "I always warned you there was something about her that was untrustworthy."

"I know," said Angela. "But she never did anything to hurt me." Until now, a bitter voice crept back into Angela's head. No! She wouldn't go there again.

"She was too quiet," he complained. "I always wondered what was going on behind those sharp eyes of hers. She seemed sneaky, like she was waiting for a chance to strike."

"You make her sound so sinister," Angela said. "I think she was just shy. But you'd never know it if you saw her now. She looks like she stepped out of a magazine."

"Money can't buy character," her father clucked. "I'm sure she was glad once you were out of the picture so she could pounce on Griffin. She always had eyes for him."

"Dad, we were kids," Angela gently scolded him as if it was a lifetime ago. She was sorry she'd brought it up. He was making her feel worse, not better.

"I call them as I see them," her father said matter-of-factly.

"Well, try to be kind. She asked about you."

"Hmm," he grunted, sounding unconvinced. "So, how was Griffin?"

"Happy," Angela said, washing down a piece of pasta stuck in her throat with a gulp of water.

"He's working at the hospital downtown."

"Doctor, right?" her father asked.

"Heart," Angela answered, thinking how he had broken hers.

"So I guess Cookie got her way," he said, frowning. "I never liked that woman either. She and Savannah are two of a kind."

Angela frowned back. "That's not fair, Dad. You know Griffin always wanted to be a doctor. I'm sure he's very happy."

"If I remember correctly, he wanted to work with the underprivileged. I doubt there's too many of them on Park Avenue."

That was true. Griffin had always talked about working with Doctors without Borders or volunteering at a free clinic. After all, he'd inherit enough money to last him three lifetimes. "Give him time," Angela assured her father. There's no harm in him establishing himself first. I'm sure he'll find a way to give back. It's important to him."

"At least it was," her father said doubtfully. "We'll see how socially committed he is once his mother and Savannah get done with him.

"I hear both the Graystones and the Sheddingtons give very generously to charity," Angela corrected him.

"Maybe," her father admitted. "But I wonder how generous they'd be if it weren't a tax right off."

"Dad," Angela warned.

They both turned at the sound of a sharp rapping on the door. Her father craned his neck to try to see around the curtain. "Who could that be?" he asked.

"No idea," Angela shrugged, as she got up from her chair. As she approached the door, she pulled back the curtain and stopped dead in her tracks. A stern looking woman with a large purse stood on the porch, her nostrils flared as though she smelled something bad.

"It's Cookie Graystone," she said, her stomach dropping.

"Speak of the devil," her father grumbled. "What does she want?"

"I have no idea," Angela said, turning the door handle. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.