Angel took all the information down and hung up. He picked up the phone again and started dialing Sydney’s parent’s cell. He thought it’d be better if he knew something before he laid the news on Sarah.

He let it ring twice and thought about it again. It was already his fault they hadn’t been able to get a hold of her earlier. He knew she’d want to know as soon as possible. He hung up and walked out into the restaurant. Sarah was walking toward him with a tray in her hand. She smiled proudly. He walked straight to her and took the tray away, setting it down on the bar counter.

He looked over his shoulder. “Sof, take over Sarah’s tables.”

He put his attention back on Sarah and took her by the hand into the office.

“What’s going on?” Sarah asked.

Angel sat her down on the chair in front of the desk and closed the door. Sarah began to look worried. “What’s wrong,” she said. “Is this about the coffee I spilled? ‘Cause it didn’t get on-”

“It’s about Sydney.” There was no hiding the concern in his voice.

Sarah’s eyes opened wide, he could see her searching his eyes. “Angel, I was gonna-”

“She was in a car accident this morning, baby.”

Her expression went slowly from confusion to panic. “What? Oh my God!” She jumped from her seat, and rushed over to her purse. She pulled out her cell phone. Her hands shook as she fumbled with her phone.

He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Relax okay? I have Syd’s parent’s cell phone number so you can call them directly.”

Her eyes shot up from her phone. They were already welled up with tears. “You talked to them?”

“No.” He walked toward her. “They called Valerie at your aunt’s when they couldn’t get a hold of you, and she called here when she couldn’t get a hold of you either.”

Sarah inhaled deeply, her face crumbling. “Did she know anything?”

Angel shook his head. “No.” He turned around and walked over to the desk picking up the paper with all the information. He walked back and handed it to her. Her breathing was all over the place. “Sarah, calm down.”

She took the paper from him and started dialing. Angel watched as she waited for someone to answer. He braced himself, hoping for the best.

“Frances?” She was almost in tears. “Yeah, it’s me. How’s Sydney?”

She clutched the paper Angel had handed to her at her chest and listened. She stared at Angel. “Oh, thank God,” she said. “I was so scared.”

Angel exhaled relieved. “No, no, I’m glad you called.” she said. “So, what happened? Why was an ambulance called?

She was on the phone for a few more minutes, and Angel sat down on the desk chair, leaning all the way back. He watched as Sarah hung up and looked at him. He held his arms out for her to come to him. She walked over and sat on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her. “So, she’s okay?”

Sarah nodded. “The ambulance was called because Sydney complained of pain in the stomach. They wanted to make sure there was no internal bleeding.”

“Was there?”

Sarah shook her head and took a deep breath. “No.”

Angel leaned his forehead against hers. “How are you doing?”

She smiled weakly and shrugged. “I was just imagining the worse.”

“Sarah." He kissed her head. "Tomorrow, when my parents are back, we can drive out there so you can see her.”

She pulled away from him and sat up. “That’s like a five hour drive, Angel.”

“That’s okay,” he caressed her cheek and smiled. “We can leave early.”

She stared at him blankly, and then shook her head. “I already told the Salcido’s I’d watch their kid’s tomorrow afternoon. I can’t cancel on them now. I’ll be fine once I talk to Sydney.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” She smiled. “But thanks, that’s very sweet of you.”

She stood. “I better go help Sofia, she’s probably swamped.” She slipped her cell phone in her pocket.

Angel frowned. “You don’t have to go back to waiting tables, Sarah. What if Sydney calls you?”

Sarah smiled and padded her pocket. “I have my phone.” She walked toward the door, stopped then rushed back to kiss Angel. “You’re such a sweetheart. Thank you.” She smiled and walked away again.

Less than an hour later, Angel watched Sarah from the hostess desk. Her face lit up when she answered her cell. Her eyes filled with tears as she talked and he knew it had to be Sydney. There was no doubt how special Sydney was to Sarah. Angel smiled, feeling a small pang in his heart. The chances of her changing her mind about staying were dismal at best.

**

Sunday morning Sarah called Sydney early, to see how he was feeling. She’d just got off the phone with him when Valerie walked into the room. “So, Angel still doesn’t know Sydney’s a guy?” She sat down on Sarah’s bed.

Sarah winced, and shook her head.

“You should tell him already, Sarah,” Valerie said. “Alex says he’s never seen Angel like this. He’s really fallen for you. If he’s that into you, I’m sure he’ll understand or try to anyway.”

Sarah thought about how she’d almost spilled it yesterday, when he first pulled her into the office and said he needed to talk to her about Sydney. Her first thought was he’d found out somehow and she was ready to plead if she had to, for his understanding. Then he told her about Sydney’s accident and she’d lost it.