Ruby Red 3 - A Romance for All Time (Complete)

Chapter 19

Standing in the hotel lobby, Sam stuffed his hands in his pockets. It was a ploy to keep himself from reaching out and pulling Ali close to him. Trying not to be clingy.

Being apart from Ali for so long, mixed with the talk of taking over her family's business had brought up old fears. Panic at her being away from him, leading a life without him, growing apart. Each had leaked into his thoughts causing his nerves to fray paired with an obsessive desire to touch Ali.

He recognized it was irrational. Knew Ali was committed to their life together. Trusted in their love. Still, a relationship required work. It was generally expected the people in it to be together. Not on opposite sides of the country.

As if she sensed his discomfort, Ali stepped closer to Sam and slid a limb around his, placing her hand on his forearm. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

They were meeting her mother for dinner. Sam had suggested Lynn come to the Diamond Club as a way to separate her from Jack. To her credit, the older woman had not mentioned Jack accompanying her but Ali had expressed concerns he might show up anyhow.

Looking into her sparkling sapphire eyes, Sam nodded. "I'm sure. If he shows up, I'll be on my best behaviour."

"That's my handsome hero."

Her words and close contact help steady his nerves. He would happily be her hero. Together they would make this work. Rid Jack from their lives once and for all. Get Stinson Studios back on its feet. Find a way to be together.

"Alexandria. Sam."

The pair turned to regard Lynn Stinson strolling towards them, dressed in a white pantsuit, pink scarf at her neck. Diamonds dripped from her ears, exposed by the tight bun her hair was pulled back into. Fuchsia lipstick matched her manicured nails.

For a moment Sam was struck by the similarities between the older woman before him and the former version of the woman at his side. When he first met Ali, she portrayed this same picture of perfection, not a hair out of place. Was Lynn using this illusion as her daughter had - to cover her own insecurities? Her own terrors? Despite the situation, Sam's heart went out to her.

Lynn Stinson approached. Alone.

Ali's grip on Sam's arm relaxed. Sam removed his fists from his pockets and flexed his fingers. Jack Blackhorne was not here.

Stepping forward, Sam kissed Ali's mother on the cheek. "Nice to see you again Mrs. Stinson. Sorry it has to be under such circumstances."

The woman brushed off his comment. "Yes, well it can't be helped."

Ali's grip tightened on Sam's arm. He slipped a hand behind her and placed it on the small of her back. A silent ''I'm with you' implied.

"And do call me Lynn," she preened. "We are going to be family soon after all."

"How was dad today?" Ali enquired.

"No change I'm afraid. I'd rather hoped to see you at the hospital this afternoon. I guess you were too busy."

Even Sam bristled at the insinuation. "My fault, I'm afraid. I kept Ali away."

"I'll be back tomorrow," his fiancée mumbled.

Lynn clapped her hands together. "Well, shall we eat?" Apparently, the chastising portion of the evening was over.

As they moved into the spacious restaurant, Sam looked around to see if he noticed anyone from when he worked here. The room had a soft glow to it, illuminated primarily by small clusters of candles on each table, recessed lighting on the floor and mirrored walls reflecting it back in waves of replications. Pockets of people paraded around imitating penguins in their black and white outfits. Every face looked fresh and new. He made a mental note to go out to the pool bar and see if Sarah or Ryan were working tonight later.

The trio sat down in one of the many maroon-coloured half-booths dotting the modern restaurant and ordered a round of martinis. Ali's friend Brenda had arranged a table with a view, overlooking the golf course while still managing to give them a sense of privacy with the surrounding pillars.

Sam watched Ali and her mother trade pleasantries, marvelling again at how alike the two were. In fact, as the evening wore on it seemed like she shifted more and more towards matching her mother's reserved, controlled mannerisms. Disappearing before him was his carefree fiancée, her light laugh, her teasing tone.

More alarm bells went off in Sam's head. If Ali stayed here, surrounded by these strained circumstances and old patterns, would she revert to the Ali of the past? The Ali who bottled up every emotion. The Ali who cut herself off from the world because of a sense of duty. This was more terrifying than his unfounded fears of Ali growing apart from him.

Deciding it was time Lynn got to know her real daughter, Sam interjected. "Did Ali tell you what she's been doing at the Harrington Foundation?"

Ali took a sip of her martini and Lynn smiled. "She mentioned she was helping you."

"Helping me. She's practically running the place."

"Not quite," Ali dismissed.

"Quite. You saved our... bacon, stepping in at the last minute with the silent auction. Everything was in a shambles and you not only whipped us into shape, but you made it a roaring success. All because of you."

Ali smiled into her glass.

Her mother sighed almost in boredom as if she had heard this all before. "Yes, well Ali was always good at throwing a party."

Sam's collar felt tight and he had the urge to loosen his tie. "It was a little more than that. She managed a whole team, negotiated deals with the vendors, found an amazing location..." Under the table, Ali placed a hand on his thigh. Sam let the tirade stop.

"I'm simply happy we were able to raise a decent sum for the charity. The Foundation does such good work."

Lynn nodded and studied her menu, ignoring the couple in front of her. "What's good here?"

It was all Sam could do to not reach over and rip the leather-bound paper out of the older woman's hand. Resist yelling at the woman to praise her daughter. Or at least pay attention.

Was this what it was like for Ali all her life? A mother who couldn't even be bothered to feign interest in her daughter's accomplishments never mind the daughter herself. It was so different from his family where everyone was in everyone else's business. Emotions running over, good and bad.

As he regarded his mother-in-law to be, he wondered at her. She appeared human, looked real enough. Where was her heart? Her soul? Was she hollow inside?

Ali gave Sam's knee a little squeeze. He regarded her in awe. He thought he admired the woman he loved for surviving her marriage with Jack. That was only the tip of the iceberg of the horrors in Ali's life. Now more than ever he wanted to shower this kind, generous woman with all the love in the world, Treasure her as none had ever before. Never let her wonder at his devotion to her.

Starting now. Sam couldn't resist whispering a few words of adoration in her ear. Sapphire eyes shimmed with love back at him. Tilting her head slightly to the side, Ali grasped his chin and pulled him to her for a quick kiss.

Then turning back to her menu, she announced, "The Alaskan salmon never disappoints."