Free Source One by Allyson Simonian Page B

hardest months of my life. I’m doing my best to stay strong for Amber.
    Despite all the pain, I’d do it again. And not just because of Amber. The pain hasn’t tarnished the good memories.
    I can still think of his proposal and our wedding day and feel the happiness.
    Tennyson was right. “Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
    Amber closed the journal. Lay it back on the night stand. She pulled the covers up.
    She felt the same way about Brian. As much as she tried to ignore them, memories of his tenderness - of his love - flashed through her mind.
    The months they’d shared had been some of the happiest of her life. The happiest, if she was being honest.
    As painful as it had been these last weeks, she had never wished she hadn’t met him.
    Her mother hadn’t dated much in the years since her father left. But she hadn’t given up on love. Amber saw that now.
    “I won’t give up either, Mom,” Amber whispered. “I won’t.”

CHAPTER 22
     
    It was the last Saturday in June. The job fair at Second Street Mission had taken place that afternoon. It had been well attended and a big success.
    Now, Amber was meeting her friend, Brenda, at the restaurant she worked in.
    Amber was finally ready to repair things with her.
    She pushed thoughts of Brian out of her mind as she opened the door of the restaurant.
    She’d begin with Brenda. Next would be her dad.
    Then she’d concentrate on how to prove her innocence to Brian.
    Brenda greeted Amber. Several patrons were seated at the bar. Amber and Brenda took a table off to the side.
    Over a bottle of wine, Amber explained everything.
    “Why didn’t you tell me, Amber?”
    Amber shook her head. “I was afraid to tell anyone. Afraid of what would happen to my mom if I did.”
    Brenda nodded slowly. “I understand.”
    Amber sighed. “Anyway, I’ve missed you.”
    “Me too.”
    Brenda smiled. “So, who’s the heartthrob you’re dating?”
    Amber shook her head. “We’re not seeing each other anymore.”
    Brenda frowned. “Why? What happened?”
    ***
    Brian shifted in the armchair and glanced at the print on the wall of the hotel room suite.
    A writer from a software magazine was interviewing him and a representative of the smartphone company. Source One’s code was a key feature of the new phone model and would be prominently featured in the article.
    The writer was finishing up. Gathering some last details about the new model.
    Brian stared down at the coffee table.  He had put in so many late nights the past weeks. Nights where he’d barely seen Katie. It had been selfish. Bad for Katie. She was suffering the loss of Amber too.
    Brian drew in a long breath. He’d make it up to Katie. Starting tonight.
    Brian squeezed Katie to him when he got home an hour later.
    “Mrs. Quinn has the night off.  I was thinking you and I could go out to dinner then see the new Disney movie.  Would you like that?”
    Katie nodded and Brian went to get her jacket.
    The hostess led them to a booth half an hour later.
    Brian recognized the server walking down the aisle. It was Amber’s friend, Brenda.
    Brian could tell she recognized him and Katie too.  Her steps faltered as she approached them.  She quickly regained her composure and asked Brian what they wanted to drink.
    As she dropped off his credit card and receipt at the end of the meal, Brenda thanked Brian. She started to walk away. Then she turned back.
    “This is probably none of my business, but I’ve known Amber for a really long time. She never would have taken money from you. You’re accusing the wrong person.”
    Brian sat staring as she walked away.
    “What did she say about Amber, Daddy?”
    Brian shook his head. He drew in a breath. “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. Let’s go.”
    The next morning, Brian walked into his closet. He fingered the robe Amber had left there.
    He’d put off sending her clothes back. And she hadn’t asked for them.
    Brian squeezed the