Page 132 of Hot & Heavy

"Not good. Even Sam has gone into total meltdown. Won't eat, hisses at Ian all the time, keeps going to the closet where a shirt of yours still hangs."

Madrene tried to smile but could not. A lump formed in her throat. "Tell me about Ian."

"He's devastated. This is way worse than when Jennifer left him. I honest to God think he was relieved then. But now, it's as if someone—you—cut out his heart. The worst part is that he has totally shut down his emotions. He won't talk about it. Claims he doesn't care."

"I did not mean to hurt him."

"I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you, either. Can't you two work this out?"

"I don't know. I hope so." She looked at her sister-by-marriage who had become such a good friend to her. "We are not married," she confessed.

"Really? I had no idea. I mean, everyone said you were married in Baghdad."

"We were, but it was not legal."

"And my brother the rat refused to marry you again," she concluded. "Wait till I get ahold of him. I'll wring his stupid neck."

Madrene laughed. "No need for that. Ian did want to get married again… in a place called Lost-vague-ass. But I could not do it as long as he refuses to believe I have time-traveled."

"Oh, Maddie, he might not ever do that. I know I still have trouble accepting it."

"And Ragnor does not mind?"

"Sweetie, your brother would take me any way he could get me. And if he didn't, I would force him to."

She grinned. "Another thing. Dad has been here, and he's been badgering Ian to get off his ass and find you."

Madrene groaned. "That is just wonderful. If anything will make Ian do the opposite, it is an order from his father."

"You know Ian well. But he's too hard on Dad, in my opinion. Our father is overbearing and he has been especially hard on Ian, but his heart is in the right place. Ian just can't see that… yet."

"I had the same impression of your father."

"It's stuffy in here," Alison said. "Do you mind if I open the window?"

"No. Go ahead. I am so accustomed to the cold of the North that warmth like this is a treasure to me, as it was in the Arab lands. And, believe you me, that was the only thing I liked about the Arab lands."

"Yummmmmm. Smell that. Lillian must be making her famous lasagna."

"Garlic," Madrene said with alarm as her stomach roiled and she ran for the toy-let.

When she came back out, Alison remarked, "Still have a reaction to garlic, huh? Maybe you should get a checkup. It might be an allergy or something."

"Nay, it is only garlic that affects me so. As long as I avoid it, there is no problem."

"So, what are you going to do about you and Ian?"

"I need a little more time. I am relishing this time alone, with more freedom than I have ever had. It is only as I have had time to contemplate that I realized my life has been akilter for a long time. I have fought and fought and fought against one stricture or another. I am tired of fighting."

"You also need some time to heal from all the physical and emotional batterings you've had."

Madrene nodded.

"But in the end, being the eternal optimist, I am confident that love will win."

"I hope you are right," Madrene said, because there was something else she had realized in this time of reflection.

Freedom was not everything.