When Angel arrived at Red’s Barn is was a lot less crowded than it had been on Saturday night. Mondays were not busy. At least she could smoke in the bar, which was a welcome relief. The bar was owned by a man everyone called Red. He had been there Saturday night and he was there tonight.

“Nice to see you again darlin’,” Red smiled as he tipped an imaginary hat to her.

“Thanks,” Angel smiled at him warmly.

Angel was feeling hungry and she ordered some chili cheese fries. Red’s Barn was famous for their burgers and chili cheese fries.

Red was one of those people who minded their own business, so he didn’t ask Angel a lot of questions. She ordered tonic water instead of vodka, because she was determined not to make the same mistake she had made her first night in town. She sat quietly smoking a cigarette and sipping her tonic water, waiting for her chili cheese fries.

Lou and Merlin were regulars at the bar and when they saw Angel again they didn’t waste much time. They both plopped down in the empty bar stools on either side of Angel. “Hello darlin’, we never did get to have our fun the other night,” Lou grinned at her.

By now most of Angel’s memories of Saturday night had returned. She remembered Lou and Merlin attempting to take her in the back room and have their “fun.”

“Nice to see you boys again,” Angel said, “I guess I was a little drunk the other night.”

Merlin chuckled, “You sure were sweet thing.”

Angel hated that all she could think about at that moment was that if she were still in Reno neither Merlin nor Lou would be able to get this close to her. It would take more than their weekly salary combined for them to get a seat next to her. She hadn’t just been paid for her good looks, but she had been thoroughly schooled in many other things. She hated this about herself and shuddered in disgust.

“Are you cold darlin’?” Lou asked with concern when he saw her shudder.

“Listen boys, I’m kinda tired. Do you mind if I just sit here alone for awhile?” She took a long drag on her cigarette for emphasis.

“No problem,” Merlin smirked.

“We’ll catch you another time doll,” Lou smiled.

Merlin and Lou walked over to the billiard table. They thought Angel was way out of their league, so they really weren’t all that disappointed when she brushed them off.

Angel looked down at her chili cheese fries and wondered why she had come back to Argus Falls. It didn’t make much sense that she would be able to start over after everything she had been through and what she had become. She suddenly felt like crying, but she was sick of crying. Just when she thought she couldn’t feel any worse, Jordan Parker walked in and sat down next to her.

“Giving it another try I see,” Jordan said with raised eyebrows.

“What’s it to you?” Angel asked bitterly.

“I’m just trying to be friendly,” Jordan said.

“You really don’t need to be friendly,” Angel assured him.

“Of course I do,” Jordan said.

Angel was not in the mood to talk to Jordan. She took a drag on her cigarette and deliberately blew smoke in Jordan’s face.

Jordan tightened his jaw and snatched her cigarette and stubbed it out in a nearby ashtray and then looked sternly into her eyes, “Those things are harmful to your health.”

Angel tightened her jaw. Years of behaving herself came in handy at times like these. She loathed Jordan Parker. She stood up with disgust and moved down a few seats, dragging her chili cheese fries along with her. She casually took out another cigarette and lit it, staring into Jordan Parker’s ice blue eyes as she took her first drag.

A smile of amusement crossed Jordan’s face. Red placed a beer in front of him and Jordan took a swig before standing up and moving down right next to Angel again. She blew smoke in his face again.

Jordan was not amused. He snatched the second cigarette from her and stubbed it out just like he had the first one, “I told you those things were harmful to your health, and if you light another one, you’ll find out just how harmful.”

Angel couldn’t believe it, “Why is that Parker? Are you going to ‘spank’ me if I smoke?” Her voice came out more daring than she intended, “In case you hadn’t noticed, I can smoke in here,” and she began to take out another cigarette.

Jordan grinned at first and then snatched her pack of cigarettes and crumpled the whole pack in his hand, dropping it on top of the bar. He wasn’t sure what had gotten into him because he never acted this way.

Angel was furious and she looked up to see if anyone was watching. No one seemed to be paying any attention. Red was at the other end of the bar polishing glasses and everyone else seemed to be occupied with other activities.

Jordan took a swig of his beer and began to feel a little guilty about his ridiculous behavior. Something about Angel seemed to bring out the worst in him.

Jordan’s intolerance was the last thing Angel needed. She angrily stood up and headed for the door. Maybe Red’s Barn wasn’t where she wanted to be after all.

Jordan threw some money down on the bar and followed her, “Angel,” he called.

Angel didn’t respond to Jordan’s voice. She kept walking towards her old Ford Mustang, searching in her purse for her keys. She was about to get inside her car and leave when Jordan grabbed her by the arm, “Listen Angel, I’m sorry.”

She turned to look at him and there were tears in her eyes, “Leave me alone.”

Jordan realized what a jerk he had been. He let go of her arm and watched her get into her car.

As luck would have it, the Mustang picked that very moment to stop working. Angel cranked the engine several times and all it did was sputter. She pounded the steering wheel in frustration as tears ran down her face.

Jordan felt horrible. He reached down and opened the car door and gently took Angel by the arm and pulled her up out of the car. She was like a limp doll as he held her in his arms and she buried her face against his chest, sobbing. She paused only briefly to hammer her fists against him in protest.

“I think maybe we need to start over,” Jordan said after awhile.

Angel couldn’t seem to stop crying. As much as she hated to admit it, Jordan’s arms gave her a feeling of comfort that she hadn’t felt in a very long time. Despite his ill manners, there was something about Jordan that made Angel feel safe.

“My name is Jordan Parker,” Jordan began, “And it’s nice to meet you.”

Angel began to laugh, “Nice to meet you Mr. Parker, I am Angelica Pirelli.” Angel had not used her real name in a very long time and it sounded foreign.

“You aren’t related to Frank Pirelli are you?” Jordan asked.

Angel laughed, “As a matter of fact he’s my brother.”

“Well he wouldn’t approve of us talking like this,” Jordan laughed.

Angel knew she should push him away, but instead she rested her head against his chest and let herself feel comforted.

Jordan found her irresistible and after a few minutes he tilted her chin up so he could kiss her. She found his lips tender and warm and every ounce of her body responded to his kisses. Their kissing became more urgent and Angel was soon feeling wet and tingly and wanting a lot more than just kisses.

“Can I offer you a ride home?” Jordan whispered to her between kisses, and they both knew he meant a ride to his place.

Angel pressed her head against his chest and just then Frank’s truck roared up and came to a screeching halt, “There you are,” Frank said as he got out and strode over to them, “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“Hi Frank,” Angel said and quickly detached from Jordan.

“You just can’t keep it in your pants can you Parker,” Frank said with disgust.

“Angel’s car wouldn’t start,” Jordan said, “I was just offering her a ride home.”

“I bet you were,” Frank said bitterly and he balled up his fist in anger.

Jordan turned and looked at Angel, “Listen, this may seem like an awkward time, but if you are looking for a job, I need a receptionist,” he said and he pressed a card into her hand.

“Get out of here, she’s not working for you,” Frank spat angrily.

“Why don’t you let her decide what she’s doing,” Jordan said as he turned and walked back inside Red’s Barn.

“Let me see your keys,” Frank said angrily as he looked at his sister.

“They are still in the car,” Angel said absently as she stood holding Jordan’s card and thinking about his offer. The idea of a mundane 9 to 5 job was appealing to Angel on a certain level because she had never had a “job.”

“I’ll have your car towed to the garage tomorrow where I can really take a look at it,” Frank said in frustration after awhile, “Let’s go home,” and he took her by the arm and led her to his truck.

Angel was glad to be on her way home with Frank. The only stop they made was to purchase more cigarettes, much to Frank’s chagrin, but he did it for Angel especially after she told him how Jordan Parker had behaved.

***

Mia tried not to let her frustration show as she sat at the dinner table with her grandparents, but her grandfather could tell by her behavior that she had probably heard the same rumors he had. The only person who still seemed to be in the dark about Angel’s return was Claudia and she kept wondering why no one was eating, “Is something wrong with the food?” She finally asked.

“It’s perfect,” Martin winked at his wife.

“Eat up Mia, you look like someone punched you in the stomach,” Claudia teased.

Mia attempted to smile and take a bite of food, but she struggled.

Martin looked down at his plate and puzzled over what to say, “I think Mia has heard the rumors,” Martin finally said. He never allowed anyone in his home to speak of Angel, so he was about to break his own rule.

Claudia looked up surprise, “rumors?”

Martin cleared his throat, “People are saying a strange woman came to town the other day and she looks a lot like our dead daughter, Angelica.”

Claudia’s fork made a loud clatter as it dropped to the table. Her mouth hung open in surprise and she tried to speak but couldn’t.

Mia’s eyes grew big. She was shocked that her grandpa was being so open about her mother’s return.

Martin suddenly seemed a lot more interested in his food. He began to shovel spoonfuls of food into his mouth. It was the most awkward moment the three of them had ever experienced.

“After all these years,” Claudia said almost under her breath.

Mia stared at her grandpa as he ate.

Claudia’s mind was racing and tears began to well up in her eyes.

“Don’t start,” Martin said when he looked up into his wife’s eyes, “She’s dead to us.”

“No,” Claudia said and the word caught in her throat, “She’s not dead to me.”

Martin pounded his fist on the table, “Yes she is.”

Mia slunk down in her chair.

Claudia was usually deterred when Martin got upset like this, but not this time. “She is our daughter,” Claudia said with determination.

Martin gritted his teeth, “Go upstairs Mia,” he barked. He didn’t want her to hear them argue, which was something that never happened.

Mia didn’t want to leave the table. She wanted to tell her grandpa that she wanted to see her mother and she sat there debating.

Martin was angrier than usual and when Mia didn’t get up to leave, he became enraged, “Mia, if you don’t get upstairs right this second, then I want you to get me the belt,” and he motioned over toward where the belt hung.

“Martin,” Claudia said in disapproval. It wasn’t like Martin to threaten Mia with the belt for something like this.

Martin’s threat was all the motivation Mia needed. She stood up from the table and rushed up the stairs. Tears stung her eyes and at that moment she hated her grandfather worse than anything.

Claudia stared at her husband after Mia was gone, “It’s time to give up this grudge,” Claudia said to him.

“I won’t have a daughter who is a prostitute,” Martin raged, and pounded his fist on the table for emphasis, “She’s not welcome here.”

Mia paused at the top of the stairs when she heard his words. She was feeling sick and queasy. A prostitute?

“I don’t care if she’s a prostitute, whore, murderer, or whatever,” Claudia said, “She’s our daughter.”

Martin abruptly stood up from the table and Claudia flinched, afraid he might hit her, even though he had never hit her before. He glared at her momentarily and then before completely losing his cool he stormed out of the house. He didn’t want to make things worse than they already were.

When Mia heard her grandpa leave, she rushed back down the stairs to find her grandmother still sitting at the table with her face buried in her hands.

“It’s OK Gram,” Mia said rushing over to comfort her grandma.

Claudia turned to look at Mia through tear filled eyes. She touched Mia’s face with affection and then softly patted her on the hand, “I’m sorry your grandpa is so stubborn about this Mia.”

Mia hugged her grandma, “It’s not your fault.”

Claudia knew deep down that Mia was right and it wasn’t her fault, but somehow she couldn’t help feeling that if she had been able to stand up to Martin years ago, Angel may never have left home and things would have been different.

Claudia had grown up with an alcoholic father who was abusive. As a little girl, Claudia’s life had been unpredictable and volatile and she had been timid and shy as a young woman when she had married Martin. She loved Martin and unlike her own father Martin was a good man who was religious and took good care of his family. Martin very seldom drank and hardly ever drank to excess. Claudia loved Martin with all her heart and even though all her married life she had been afraid to stand up to him about anything, she still loved him.

Martin had always ruled their home with an iron fist. Claudia could never get used to the big black leather belt that hung on the nail near the back door. Over the years it had not only been a source of embarrassment for their children, but for her as well.

Mia’s sobs were heartfelt as Claudia held her and rubbed her back with affection, “It’s going to be OK Mia, you’ll see.” Claudia tried to comfort her granddaughter even though she wasn’t sure it was going to be OK.

“Popoff is so stubborn,” Mia sobbed.

Claudia nodded, “Yes he is, but he’s a good man and we need to remember that.”

Mia knew her grandmother was right and that her grandpa was a good man, but for some reason she felt as though she was being stabbed in the heart with a knife. She clung to her grandma with all her might, “I know it might be wrong, but I want to see my mother.”

“I know, me too sweetheart,” Claudia said in a choked voice, “Meeee, tooooo.”