Break In

Six

"Phoenix!" Ana called out. "We're going to be late."

The five year old boy came running from his room with his Spider-Man backpack already on. He grabbed the lunchbox from Ana's outstretched hand and continued to the garage. He opened the door and as Ana was about to warn him for the millionth time she heard the door hit the brick wall. With a sigh she held back the growling and locked the door behind her before hoping in the drivers seat.

God knows she loved the boy but sometimes she wondered what was going through her head when she agreed to take Cathy's baby. Even if she had changed her mind, Cathy had passed away after giving birth in her bathroom alone and she couldn't let the baby go into foster care. She hadn't known at the time who the father was, Cathy kept that a secret but the older Phoenix got it was clear to Ana.

After graduating and completing her internship with a newborn, Ana and Phoenix had moved to San Diego where she worked for the city council. She had spent the last four and a half years rising through the ranks to become the head of city planning. Her new role as of today, if they made it to school drop off in time.

Once Phoenix was safely deposited on the school grounds Ana raced across the city to her office building. Her briefcase was full of the plans awaiting her approval and she needed to get to them before the council meeting later that day. As she ran into the building she knocked into someone and she swore as her case fell open.

"Sorry, excuse me." She said as she bent down to grab the papers.

"No, sorry it's my fault I'm lost." A soft woman's voice said.

Ana looked up and saw a lady she hadn't seen since high school a d smiled. "Ileana, how are you?"

"Oh my gosh, Anastasia Cano." Ileana smiled back. "I haven't seen you in what? Eight years?"

"Something like that." She laughed. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I work for Santo Padre's city council. They sent me over to get some files on the shared highway plans." She explained tucking her hair behind her ear.

"You're my 9 o'clock." Ana said closing the full briefcase and standing up. "Come in my office, we have lots to catch up on."

Ana had pushed her other appointments back and spent most of the morning with Ileana, even taking her out for lunch. They had caught up on all the gossip Ana had missed over the years and her heart clenched when she heard about Ez going to prison. She hadn't spent a lot of time with Angel's mom or dad, they were always working and he preferred to steer clear when they weren't. It was still sad to hear Marisol had been murdered and Ez imprisoned.

The only topic that never came up was Angel and she was thankful for that small reprieve. Ileana told Ana all about Emily and her scary husband, the reason Diana didn't talk to her daughter anymore. It was sad these families that ignored their family members when they were alive but she had no one thought them fools.

After Ileana left she saw the address and phone number for Emily and wondered whether she should reach out. She didn't exactly have many friends here and it was good to catch up with Ileana. Deciding she would, she grabbed her phone and dialled the number.