Charles chuckled and looked at his watch. "It's four o'clock. Matt and Chris are meeting us here for dinner around five. You are staying to dine with us, aren't you?"

Lynn shook her head. "No. I need to get going." She hadn't expected this to take so long. She tried desperately to think of an excuse.

"We haven't seen you in over a week. Marie thinks that there's something wrong," Charles stated.

"Oh, you know, I get busy," Lynn said as she fumbled with her briefcase.

"You know what they say about all business and no play, Lynn," Charles kidded her. "I thought that's what you've been trying to escape from!" Then his face turned solemn. "Really, Lynn, this is our last night here, surely you can make time for dinner with us."

Lynn sighed. She could not tell them the truth. She could not tell them that she had fallen in love with their son's fiancee and that it just hurt too much to see her. But she didn't want to hurt their feelings either.

Reluctantly, she agreed. "Okay. I have a change of clothes in the car. Do you mind if I use your room to change?"

Charles smiled broadly. "Not at all. It will make Marie happy to see that you're okay. Thanks for reconsidering."

Lynn walked to her car and grabbed her change of clothes. She wished that she had scheduled their meeting earlier. She was mad at herself for agreeing to this. She wasn't only afraid of the hurt and anger that she still felt, but also of Chris's reaction. Chris had clearly made her choice. She had not received a phone call to the contrary.

She made her way up to Charles and Marie's room. She knocked on the door and received a warm welcome.

"Lynn, I'm so glad you're here! I was afraid that we'd leave without seeing you again!" Marie said while hugging her.

Lynn felt warm inside. Sometimes this couple made her feel more a part of the family than her own family did.

"We'll leave you alone to change. Meet you down in the restaurant, okay?" Charles smiled as he ushered his wife out the door.

Lynn nodded and locked the door behind them. She was anxious to change out of her clothes. They did not fit her anymore. The size was fine. The persona was not. She pulled on her black jeans and boots and tucked in her shirt. She placed each earring in its proper hole and tousled her hair. Looking in the mirror, she smiled. "Welcome back," she said to her reflection.

"How are you feeling?" Matt smirked as he tucked his shirt into his blue slacks.

Chris smiled as she put the finishing touches on her makeup. "Much better, thank you. What exactly is in that hangover special?"

Matt gestured as if locking his lips. "I'll never tell."

"Well anyway, thanks," Chris said as she dabbed perfume behind her ears. "It made my head stop aching." Then, placing the lid back on the perfume bottle, she leaned back on the counter and looked at Matt. "Have you got anything to stop the ache in my heart?"

Matt saw the pain in Chris's eyes and felt his own heart twinge. "Sorry, that's something that only you can cure."

"There's the Lynn Gregory we know and love!" Charles said as she approached the table.

Marie smiled. "The kids should be here soon. It will be nice to have the whole family here for our farewell dinner."

Lynn smiled and answered instantly as a waiter approached and asked if he could take their drink order.

"Definitely need a drink," Lynn answered. "Scotch on the rocks, make it a double."

Chapter Twenty-Three.

"Well, this is it!" Matt gave a sigh of relief as they walked through the lobby and toward the restaurant. "Tonight's dinner, good-byes at the airport tomorrow, and it'll all be over!"

Chris also sighed, but hers was not in relief. Hers was a nervous sigh. She wasn't quite sure how to return to her old life, now that a new part of her had been awakened.

Walking around the corner into the restaurant, Chris froze in place. Her heart jumped, and her eyes glued to the most beautiful sight she had ever seen*Lynn. Her face turned red and her body hot, as the s.e.xiest thing she had ever laid her eyes on caught her stare, softly smiled, then turned back to the conversation at hand.

Suddenly it all seemed so clear. Not even a small doubt remained in her mind. She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted. Chris turned around to face Matt, who was waiting behind her.

"I didn't know she was going to be here," he explained, then he asked impatiently, "What's the matter?"

"Suddenly it's all so clear, Matt," Chris said, almost in a trance from her sudden realization.

Matt looked confused. "What's clear?"

Chris looked up with tears of joy in her eyes, grabbed the front of his shirt, and pulled him out of his parents' sight. "Everybody has been telling me that you can't help who you fall in love with." Chris, still aware that Matt had no idea what she was talking about, continued, "It's true, Matt, I can't fight it anymore. I am utterly, irreversibly, in love with Lynn."

Matt looked into her eyes, knowing that she had finally uncovered her truth. "That's great, Chris, really great." Then, realizing his parents were waiting, he said, "You know, you could have picked a better time to come to this realization."

"Thanks for your overwhelming support, Matt," Chris said, lightly slapping his chest. Then looking back into his eyes, she said with a serious tone, "I need to talk to her."

"Okay, you can talk to her after dinner," Matt suggested.

Chris shook her head. "No, I really need to talk to her now."

"Chris*"Matt whined.

"Matt*" Chris whined back.

Matt sighed, and knowing that he was not going to win this fight, conceded, "Okay, I'll have her meet you in the ladies' room."

Chris nodded and squeezed his hand before he walked back into the restaurant. "Thank you."

Matt strolled over to the table, where the group was deep in conversation.

Marie looked up. "Matt, honey, where's Chris?"

Matt gave the answer that he had prepared on the way over to the table. "We had a little argument." Then looking at Lynn, he asked, "Lynn, could you go into the ladies' room and see what you can do?"

Lynn looked at him suspiciously.

Matt persisted. "Please, Lynn* she'll listen to you."

Lynn gave him a dirty look, rose and excused herself.

Matt looked at his parents, shrugged, and pulled out a chair.

"What was the argument about, dear?" Marie asked.

Matt sat down and scooted toward the table. "Mom*" he replied with an annoyed tone.

"Now, Marie, maybe it's none of our business," Charles said, placing his hand over his wife's. Then he looked at Matt. "Well, son, I thought you would have brought the subject up by now, but you haven't. Since we're alone for a minute, let's discuss the loan business. It's been five years, Matt. Now I know you've made a few payments, but are you able to pay off the remainder? You do remember our deal?"

Matt nodded and fiddled with his napkin. "Yes, Dad. I was meaning to talk to you about that."

"Go on," Charles replied.

"Well, you know, I'm not exactly in the position to pay off the loan, not right now. And I was thinking since I'm going to be getting married, and Chris has a life and career connections out here, well, I was thinking about an extension," Matt said, unsure how his father was going to react.

Charles chuckled. "You know, I had a feeling about this, Matt." Taking his napkin from his lap, he laid it on the table and began twisting the material. "We had a deal, Matt. I understand about Chris and all, but a deal is a deal." Pausing, he looked at his wife.

"Excuse me," Marie said as she stood. "I don't want to get into the middle of all this." Placing her napkin on the table, she walked out of the room.

Matt shrank back in his chair as his dad began plotting out his future.

"What will it take, about a month to close up your business here?" Charles asked. Getting no response from his son, he continued, "We'll get all your loose ends tied up here, then we'll move you back with us, where you can learn the ropes. We'll even fly you home every weekend to be with Chris. After she's through with school, she'll move out with us. I'm sure she won't find it hard to find a position, wherever she ends up."

Matt ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation. "Dad, nothing personal, but I don't want to be in the family business. I'm happy with what I'm doing now."

"Of course you're happy. I'd be happy too if I could ride on someone else's money, not really having to worry about making ends meet."

Charles was through with the conversation and signified it by placing his napkin back on his lap. The two sat in dead silence.

Lynn stood outside the door of the restroom, trying to gather up enough nerve to face Chris. Slowly, she pushed the door open and stepped in. Chris was at the mirror wiping away the tear lines on her face.

Seeing Lynn's reflection in the mirror made Chris's heart leap again. "Hi." She smiled shyly.

Lynn, trying to ignore the twinkle in Chris's eyes, said stoically, "You okay? Did you and Matt really have a fight? Or was this just a trick?" ae "I really need to talk to you, Lynn*" Chris slowly approached and, reaching out her hand, placed it on Lynn's arm.

Lynn remained in control. "So it was just a trick?" Turning, she started toward the door. Chris rushed over and blocked the way. Standing just inches away, their eyes locked. Chris struggled to think of a way to make Lynn stay and listen. This time she let her heart lead the way. Chris reached up and placed her palms on Lynn's checks.

Looking deep into her eyes, Chris whispered, "I love you, Lynn. I didn't realize it until I saw you just now, but I love you." Her heart racing, she slowly brought her lips up to Lynn's. But just before their lips connected, the door eased open.

"Oh my* excuse me," came the woman's voice.

The two glanced over in the direction of the voice, then saw the woman back out of the room, and out the door.

The two looked at each other in shock. Then, at the same time they exclaimed, "Oh my G.o.d, Marie!"

They stood frozen, but only for a moment. They had some damage control to do.

"What are we going to do?" Chris asked nervously.

"I don't know, I don't know," Lynn replied. Grabbing Chris's hand, she pulled her out the door of the bathroom. "I'll think of something, just follow my lead."

Practically running, the two made it back to the table, but not before Marie.

Marie quickly approached the table, her face white with shock.

"Marie, are you all right?" Charles asked worriedly.

"Matt, Charles, we have a problem," she said holding her hand to her forehead. Then turning to Matt, she said, "Matty, I don't know how to tell you this, but I think Lynn just made a pa.s.s at your fiancee!"

"Marie, what are you talking about?" Charles said sternly.

Marie, trying to say this gently, replied, "Charles, I went to the ladies' room, thinking that maybe I could help* then I saw them. I saw them* in a romantic embrace."

"Marie, are you sure you're not over exaggerating?" Charles questioned.

"Charles, they were, they were, they were kissing!" Marie finally spit out.

"I'm afraid she's right Charles," Lynn admitted as she walked up to the table.

"Lynn, you made a pa.s.s at Matt's fiancee?" Charles asked in disbelief.

"Yes, I*" Lynn looked at Matt and, willing to take the brunt of it, started to explain.

"No!" Matt said as he stood and placed his hands on the back of his chair. The charade was over. He was not getting his extension on the loan. There was no use continuing. He looked at Lynn, then Chris, then Marie. Then, finally, looking his dad straight in his eye, admitted, "Lynn didn't make a pa.s.s at my fiancee, because* Chris isn't my fiancee."

"What?" the parents questioned in unison.

"Mom, Dad, Chris isn't really my fiancee. The fact is*" Matt paused, swallowed hard, then blurted out, "the fact is, I'm gay."

The reaction from his parents wasn't as he had expected. Marie walked over and placed her hands on Charles's shoulders. Charles looked up at his wife, then they both softly smiled.

"Well, this certainly explains a few things." Marie sighed.

Matt didn't understand. "Mom? Dad?" he said, wanting an explanation.

"Please, let's all just sit down and discuss this." Charles calmly motioned for all to take their seats.

All seated, Charles took his wife's hand and squeezed it. "Matt, we've known about your lifestyle for quite some time now. Word gets around, you know."

Marie joined in the conversation. "When you told us about Chris, we just thought that maybe you had become, oh, what do they call it, bis.e.xual."

Matt couldn't believe what he was hearing. All of these years spent in hidin'g, for what?

"So, Chris, are you actually Lynn's girlfriend?" Marie asked.

Matt answered before Chris could reply, "Well, not in the beginning, it just kind of ended up that way."

Chris looked at Lynn. Then placing her hand over Lynn's, she said, "I think the verdict is still out on that. What do you think, Lynn?"

Lynn brought her hand up from her lap and placed it over Chris's. "I think that we still have quite a bit of talking to do*"

"Talking about what?" Marie asked.