“I messed things up bad, mom.” Talking to her mom felt really good.

“So, he didn’t know about Sydney?” Her mom let go of her hand and reached over to the box of tissue on their table she handed it to Sarah. “Blow your nose.”

Sarah did and then continued. “Not exactly.”

She told her mom the entire sordid story. About Angel assuming Syd was a girl, and how she wanted to tell him the truth so many times and how finally he found out the truth in the worst way. And then how she’d called him to tell him she was leaving and how cold he’d been telling her to be happy.

“So, he thinks you’re staying in Arizona?”

Sarah bit her lip. “That’s what I really wanted to talk to you about.”

Her mother’s eyebrow went up.

“Mom,” Sarah’s voice fell almost to a whisper. “I can’t go back.”

Her mom shook her head but her expression was kind. Sarah looked away. “Honey, I want nothing more than your happiness. Look at me.”

Sarah turned back at her mother’s tired eyes. There was no way she would argue with her. When she first arrived in California she was so bitter she didn’t care how angry her mom would be when she moved back to Arizona. But after seeing her today, her heart yearned to give her mom any pleasure no matter how minuscule.

“Listen to me, Hon,” She cupped one of Sarah’s hands in both of hers. “I know right now this seems like the end of the world. And you’ll never know how sorry I am that I wasn’t there for you when it happened. But give it time. Things have a way of working themselves out. Angel will understand...”

Maybe it was Sarah’s expression. She couldn’t even pretend to believe that this would somehow get worked out, but her mother stopped mid speech. She leaned over, a tiny smile rising from the corner of her lips. “I have good news.”

“What?”

“Well, I wasn’t going to say anything until I knew for sure, but you look so sad.” Her mom pretended to pout. “My lawyers found a loop hole in my case.”

For the first time since she’d been there, Sarah thought she saw a twinkle in her mother’s eyes. “What does that mean?”

Her mom sat back with a cautious grin. “Well, I won’t know anything until we go to court and that won’t be until after the holidays, but according to my lawyers, if everything goes well I could be out by early spring.”

Sarah jumped out of her seat, causing one of the guards to look at her funny. She gave him a crooked regretful smile and then hugged her mom. “Oh, my God, mom! That’s the best news ever.”

Her mom beamed then went back to being serious. She motioned for Sarah to sit back down. “But you have to promise me you’ll stay in California until then, Sarah. It’s not that much longer.”

Sarah felt an uneasiness set in her stomach but nothing could take away the joy of what she’d just heard. The smile was still pasted to her face and she felt the lump in her throat again. This time it was joy that had her choked up, an emotion that had been so foreign to her all week. “Okay, mom,” she smiled. “Whatever you want.”

*

Carina was a tall busty girl with blonde hair. Not at all what Sarah would have thought was Sydney’s type. But the girl loved her music and that alone could have Sydney talking for hours.

She didn’t offer much at all for conversation, but was polite. Sarah hoped they could become friends, especially if Sydney was in this for the long haul. But so far things had been awkward at best.

After just a few days of being around them, Sarah finally accepted it. Her and Sydney’s relationship was one that was going to take some getting used to by any third party.

Sarah was so used to being completely uninhibited around Sydney. She had, after all, grown up with him. Around Carina she had to catch herself before doing things she didn’t even do around Angel. Like belch.

It was so easy to get right back to the way things had always been, and start laughing and carrying on. It amazed her that although she could never get Angel completely off her mind, being around Sydney really helped.

Christmas day at Sydney’s was the same as usual. Mr. and Mrs. Maricopa were blasting the Christmas carols in the kitchen while they finished up dinner together. They were going to have a few family members and Carina over for dinner.

Sarah could barely hear the television in the front room over the music but it didn’t matter, she practically had the movie memorized she’d seen it so many times.

Sydney walked out of the kitchen shaking his head. “They’re already hitting the eggnog.” He chuckled.

Sarah barely looked up from the T.V. She sat on the floor using some of the pillows she’d used from the night before to plop against. Sydney turned to see what she was watching.

“Pride and Prejudice again?” He sounded disgusted. “Geez haven’t you seen that like a hundred times?”

Sarah ignored him, still staring at the television, but smirked. He sat down next to her and picked up the remote from the floor. Next thing she knew there was football on the screen.

“Hey!”

“Now this is more like it.” Sydney grinned.

“I had the remote first and I’m your guest.” She reached over for the remote but he put his arm up and she couldn’t reach.

“I’m telling,” she smiled wickedly. “Mrs. Maricopa!”

There was no way Sydney’s mom could hear her over the loud music in the kitchen and Sarah knew it. She got on her knees to try to reach it but Sydney fell back laughing and she fell onto him. She had her hand on the remote and Sydney tickled her in the ribs. Sarah instinctively flinched and started laughing.