She took the next exit and looped into downtown. Amazingly, there was a parking spot right across the street from the Timess office. She pulled in and parked.
And wondered what the hell she was doing here. She didnt even know if hed be working today. She knew nothing about his life now.
They were separate. Divorced. What had made her think hed want to see her?
You hear that, Papa? Your Angela is afraid.
It was true. And it was no way to live.
She flipped down the mirror and checked her face. She saw every wrinkle that time and circumstance had left on her.
"Damn. "
If only there was time for a chemical peel.
Be brave, Angie.
She grabbed her purse and went inside the building.
The receptionist was new.
"Im here to see Conlan Malone. "
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No. "
"Mr. Malone is busy today. Ill check--"
"Im his wife. " She winced, corrected herself. "Ex wife. "
"Oh. Let me--"
Henry Chase, the security guard whod worked this building for more years than anyone could count, came around the corner. "Angie," he said grinning. "Long time no see. "
She let out a relieved breath. "Hey, Henry. "
"You here to see him?"
"I am. "
"Come on. "
She smiled back at the receptionist, who shrugged and reached for the phone.
Angie followed Henry to the bank of elevators, said good-bye, and went upstairs. On the third floor, she stepped out into the busy center of Conlans life.
There were desks everywhere. On this holiday weekend, many of them were empty. She was glad of that. Still, there were plenty of familiar faces. People looked up, smiled nervously, and glanced toward Conlans office.
The ex-wifes visit was worry-worthy, apparently. No doubt, word of her visit would spread from desk to desk; reporters loved to hear news and pass it on.
She tilted her chin up, clutched her purse in sweaty fingers, and kept moving.
She saw him before he saw her. He stood at the window of his corner office, talking on the phone. He was putting on his coat as he talked.
In that instant, everything shed repressed came flooding back. She remembered how he used to kiss her first thing in the morning, every day, even when he was late for work, and how she sometimes pushed him away because she had other, more important things on her mind.
She knocked on the glass door.