30 Chapter 30

Although she buried herself in as much work as possible, even pulling potential clients out of the call-back file, the days seemed to drag by. Saturday was the expected date of Cruz's return. Before she went to bed Friday night she turned off her cell phone, unplugged the land line and finished off a bottle of wine.

When she awoke late Saturday morning, for a moment she thought the pounding she heard was in her head, a present from the empty wine bottle. But after stumbling into the bathroom and swallowing three aspirins with a glass of water, she realized the pounding not only continued but was accompanied by the furious ringing of her bell.

Pulling on a robe and pushing her disheveled hair back from her face, she went to the door and hollered, "Whoever you are, go away. No one's home."

"Open the damn door." Cruz's voice was loud and angry.

"Go away," she shouted again. "I have nothing to say to you."