Abstract:
She rose halfway and continued reading one last sentence before answering.

On the other end, she heard the strong, deep, sensitive, but impatient voice of Andy saying, "Hi there." A smile appeared on her face, as she pictured him with his tousled brown hair, dancing brown eyes, and sheepish smile, all on a face ready to embrace anything the day offered him. Whenever she heard his voice, her entire demeanor changed.

Andy, in his own right, was intelligent and charismatic. He was a handsome young lawyer who welcomed life with zest “Tory,” he repeated impatiently but excitedly. "Did you hear me? I have been commissioned as Assistant U.S. Ambassador to Paris."

Tory was delighted but apprehensive at the news. She tried ineffectively not to show her anxiety, inquiring, "How and when did this happen?”

“I will tell you all about it at lunch. Meet me at Squires around 12:30. Okay?"

"Okay." Tory clicked off the phone, took a deep breath, and tumultuously wondered, “Why France? Why now?” She was too intelligent to delude herself all these years in believing that her past would never confront her. She shuddered at the overwhelming fear that suddenly engulfed her.