It was her imagination getting the best of her. Someone was probably working down the hall. She walked further toward the concession stand. The glass was dusty and the shelves had been left to be stained, but right in front of her was a business card, face down.

Arianna picked it up and turned it over.

PIERPONT OIL

PARIS, FRANCE

She looked around again. Who would have left that there? Surely John or Zach had it in their hand as they’d walked through the lobby at some point.

Arianna tucked it into her pocket and headed toward the theater to find John.

The theater was beginning to look beautiful again. The sconces had been rewired and walls had been painted a beautiful golden color. As she walked toward the stage she realized the floor had been repaired and it was obviously ready for the chairs and red carpet.

A few men were working in the cat walk, repairing the beams. Lights flickered up in the light booth. Someone was wiring the switches up there too. It wouldn’t be long and there would be performers on the stage and patrons in the seats and she’d be behind stage lapping it up. Who would ever have thought that she would own the theater and not just dream about being in one?

John was on his phone when she opened the trailer door and walked in. He’d narrowed his eyes at her as cold air blew in, but when he’d seen it was her, his face softened, but only slightly. There was something wrong and she could tell by the way he held his body and tapped his pen on the desk.

Arianna walked to the far side of the trailer where there was a table, much like her table in her office, only this one was covered with blue prints of the theater and lists of jobs that still needed to be done.

John obviously knew the time frame for completion of the theater better than she had. She thought it looked almost done, but the number of items to be done on the list were many. Obviously, she didn’t know much at all.

She tried not to listen to the conversation he was having, that wasn’t part of her business, but his voice was raising and guilt was plaguing her—she should have stayed inside until he’d come for her.

A moment later he turned off his phone and let out a grunt. She figured that was prime opportunity for her to acknowledge him.

“Something wrong?” She had to ask the obvious.

“Inspection on the other build just failed. There is nothing we’ve done different than on any other building, but this certain inspector has a stick up his ass over Tyler Benson.”

“My nephew Tyler Benson?”

John let his shoulders drop and shook his head. “Of course not. Your nephew’s grandfather.”

“Who has been gone nearly five years?”

“Yes.”

Arianna could imagine his frustration. She walked around the desk, leaned up against it, and pulled John in front of her.

“I don’t think I ever met the man, but from what I’ve heard he was a very kind and generous man.”

John brushed her hair from her face and looked down at her. “He was. That’s why people like this make me so mad. But it’s a personal vendetta. Tyler fired his brother, so now he red flags us.”

“Is that even legal?”

“Oh, he’s straight up. Most inspectors would give you some time to fix things they find. This one wants to just close you down.” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “I’m going to have to head over there.”

“Will you be long?”

“Probably. Don’t wait up.”

She forgot words like those existed in relationships. Then again the last relationship she’d had, in which they were spoken, had been said when Eric was home with his wife.

There was hurt there and she didn’t realize it until John had muttered the same phrase. This time, however, she knew he was off to a job site and when the job had been fixed he’d be home to her.

“Maybe I’ll see if my sister can get away and we can steel away the other two and go out for a girls’ night.”

This time he laughed. “You think you can steel away three mothers from their families?”

Arianna smiled. “I think I can.”

But even as she said it she began to wonder. After all she was the only one without responsibilities to anyone other than herself.

As John began to gather his paperwork she sucked in a breath. That was what she wanted, a life free of the complications of building a family. It would work out perfect in the long run.

Theater ran late into the night and sometimes early into the morning. John’s job called for him to start early and obviously the job didn’t always end at five.

They were going to be perfect for each other in this relationship. But she really wanted some time with her sisters and now that he’d brought it up, she wondered if they’d be able to drop everything just to spend time with her.

Chapter Twenty

It had taken some finagling, but Arianna was seated at Olive Garden waiting for her sisters to arrive.

Madeline had walked through the door first.

Arianna hadn’t noticed how much her hair had grown back in a year. It was still very short and lighter than it had been before. But for the first time in a very long time, Madeline didn’t wear a wig or a scarf.

She hurried over to Arianna and kissed her on the cheek. Her skin was cold, and it gave Arianna a chill.

“I’m so glad you called.” Madeline pulled her coat off and set it on the back of her chair. “I’ve been craving breadsticks.”

Arianna pushed the basket toward her, and immediately Madeline bit into one.

“Yep, that’s what I wanted.”

Arianna laughed. “Thanks for coming.”

“Are you kidding me? I have missed our impromptu dinners. Besides, Carlos is grading exams. He’s not the nicest person when he’s doing that.”

“Oh, I’ve seen the wrath.” Arianna took a breadstick too, and then noticed Simone and Regan both had walked through the door, each carrying an infant seat covered in a blanket.

Arianna stood from her seat as they headed toward her.

Regan’s eyebrows were drawn together. “What’s wrong? Why did you have to meet us?”

Arianna’s heart sunk right into the pit of her stomach. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to be with all of you.”

“I thought something had happened to you.”

“No. I missed my sisters and John had to work late…”

“So I’m being ungrateful and paranoid?”