"Is this your house!" Theresa all but squealed as the truck pulled up in front of the adobe building. "It's wonderful!"

Sydney was still dressed in her sundress from earlier, and Cole was in blue jeans and a t-shirt, but Theresa had put in a little more effort. She was dressed in a lovely flowing dress with high heels and an abundance of perfume. Sydney couldn't help but wonder if they had driven the entire way with the air conditioner on high because Cole was hot, or if he was trying to move the air around all of Theresa's perfume.

Sydney rolled her eyes at Theresa's comment as she opened the back door of the truck. Flora was so impatient that she jumped over her to get out of the truck. Timmy was a little more hesitant, at not only the jump, but the new location. Sydney felt him tremble a little, and she gave him a little kiss before she placed him on the ground at her feet.

Timmy stayed glued to her side as Cole led the way into the courtyard and then into the entrance hall with Theresa exclaiming about this and that the entire way. Instead of going out onto the patio this time, Cole turned left and led them down the hall and into a massive living room. There was a large fireplace that was big enough for a person to stand in and the adobe tiled floors continued, but here warm-hued rugs covered them. The furniture was mostly leather and wood with accent pillows scattered around. There was nothing personal in the room, and it was apparent that it was a room for entertaining and as such was very impressive.

As they entered the room Sydney noted Cole's parents, Aunt Viola, and Bridget. The only one without a drink was Cole's mother. She was sitting alone on a leather sofa, silently watching Howard and Bridget carry on a conversation while Flora settled at her feet.

She was dressed in a pair of nice slacks and a blouse while Bridget was decked out in a tight fitting red silk sheath dress. Sydney hid her smile of amusement as she looked at Aunt Viola who was wearing another velour tracksuit, this time in a dark purple. Aunt Viola's look of boredom passed as she noted the newcomers. Sydney couldn't miss her look of mischief as she looked at Theresa. She could almost hear the thought, fresh blood.

"Here they are, we were getting worried," Howard said as he greeted them, a sound of relief in his voice. "Come in, what can I get you to drink?" he asked, moving towards the drinks cart.

Sydney declined and watched as Timmy sniffed the air around him, trying to get a feel for the room.

"Who's that?" Viola asked as she squinted to see the dog better while lifting her cheek for a kiss from Cole.

"This is Timmy," Sydney supplied as Aunt Viola waved her over and lifted her cheek. Sydney took the hint and kissed the soft skin as Cole had done. So much for Theresa not knowing she had been to Cole's house before. She darted a quick look at Theresa, who looked confused as she was handed a drink.

Sydney joined Cole's mother, Maddie, on the sofa with a smile, but she barely returned the smile, and Sydney could sense the tension radiating off of her as she sat perfectly still.

"Where did you find him?" Aunt Viola looked over at Theresa as she sipped her drink, "And who's that one?"

"We found him at the bottom of a well," Sydney explained, and there was an odd silence before it was broken by Aunt Viola's shout of laughter as she got the joke.

"Did you really?" Maddie asked, bending down to greet the little dog that had moved to the sofa with Sydney.

"A little bit of Miss. Mitchell's dry wit, mother," Cole said, placing a kiss on his mother's cheek, the one next to Sydney, forcing him into his personal space. She took a deep breath, he smelled so good.

Maddie took the chance, while Cole was blocking her with his body, to squeeze Sydney's hand. Sydney wasn't sure if it was in appreciation of her joke or an offer of support because she had heard Sydney's intake of air. If Maddie had heard it, then Cole had heard it. Her eyes met his, but she couldn't tell what he thought as he pulled away.

"This is Theresa Ruiz, Aunt Viola. She's my teacher's aide, and she works on the dig site with Miss Mitchell and me. Theresa, this is my Aunt, Viola Easton, and my mother, Madeline Easton."

Theresa shook both of their hands with a smile and a hello.

After a few different conversations had begun around the room, Aunt Viola turned to Sydney. "Do you have five dollars I can have?"

Sydney didn't question her request. "Sure, it's in my bag though, do you need it tonight or will tomorrow work?"

"Tomorrow is fine dear," Aunt Viola said as she leaned back into her chair, a smug smile on her face. Sydney had a feeling she was up to something, but if the woman needed five dollars, she could spare it.

"Sydney Mitchell, isn't your father, Stanley Mitchell?" Bridget asked from across the room. Her eyes narrowed at her and Aunt Viola's exchange.

Sydney tensed. "Yes."

"That means your Angel's sister?" She eyed Sydney, and Sydney could see her making comparisons between her and her sister in her mind's eye. "You two are very different from each other, aren't you?" She gave a cruel smile.

"If you mean she's prettier than me, yes she is," Sydney said bluntly.

"No, that wasn't what I meant." Bridget frowned.

Sydney darted a quick glance around the room and noted that everyone looked uncomfortable with her statement except Aunt Viola and Cole, they seemed amused, and for some reason that made her angrier than Bridget's comment had.

"I can't imagine that you meant anything else. You're what, thirty-five at least? I hardly think that you hang out with twenty-two-year-old girls, which means that you can't possibly know my sister personality, and even if you did you don't know enough about mine to make that kind of statement."

Aunt Viola laughed. "She's got you there, missy!"

"You're a very disagreeable girl!" Bridget said defensively.

Sydney smiled at Bridget's very formal response. "I feel like I'm in a Jane Austen novel all of a sudden?" She was thinking of a scene with Elizabeth Bennet and Lady Catherine de Bourg.

"You were an English major," Theresa supplied.

"Then why on earth are you on an Archeological dig?" Bridgett looked confused.

"Yes, why are you?" Cole asked watching her closely.

Escape, she needed to escape.

"I think I'll just go put the finishing touches on dinner. Sydney, would you mind helping?" Maddie rose from her seat and started towards the door. Sydney wasn't going to second-guess the woman, so she jumped up following her toward the door.

Cole's eyes narrowed as he looked from her to his mother as they made their getaway.

Once they reached the kitchen, Sydney sighed in relief. "Thank you for the save."

Maddie nodded, not speaking, as she started to check the pots and pans that were on the stove and took out what looked to be a cold soup from the fridge. She was very different from the last time she had met her. She seemed much more reserved and less friendly.

They weren't in the kitchen for very long before Bridget joined them and Sydney watched as Maddie tensed at Bridget's arrival. Sydney didn't get it, if she didn't like the woman why was she in her house.

"I owe you an apology Sydney. I was rude, and of course you're right, I hardly know you or your sister well enough to make a comparison." Bridget's overly sweet smile didn't reach her eyes.

Sydney's mind ran away with all of the rude things she could say in return, but she didn't want to upset Maddie, so she remained silent, watching Bridget as she watched Maddie work.

"I don't know why you insist on doing all this yourself, Madeline. You could have an army of cooks if you wanted." Bridget's sweet smile returned.

"Would you like to help?" Maddie asked just as sweetly.

Bridget's eyes got wide at the thought, and she gave a tinkling laugh. "Me, I'm helpless in the kitchen." Then she turned and left before she had to help.

Maddie and Sydney looked at each other then started laughing.

"Nothing like a little work to scare the beautiful ones away." Maddie shook her head.

Sydney didn't take offense because she had the feeling that Maddie included herself as one of the less than beautiful ones.

"I detest that woman. I can't wait until she leaves." Maddie viscously ripped at a head of lettuce as she said it.

"Then why is she here?" Sydney reached for the cutting board and tomatoes then began to slice them.

"I'm a proud woman Sydney. I can't let her know that she bothers me. She hurt Cole, and so she hurt me. Her father is a friend of Howard's, and he called out of the blue, asking if she could stay with us while she was in town attending to some business for him. To say no would have let her know she hurt him worse than any of us want to admit."

Sydney closed her eyes. This was the woman who had made Cole so distrustful, she was the reason that Cole could never trust her. What if Cole still had feelings for Bridget, what if he was falling for her all over again?

Sydney opened her eyes and looked at Maddie. She nodded, letting her know she too had her worries about the woman.

"Why are Theresa and I here?" Sydney asked.

"It was Aunt Viola's idea. I think it's part of the troublemaker in her and part defense. It was only supposed to be you, but Howard said he felt rude not inviting Theresa. Aunt Viola is tickled, she can't wait to see all of you in action, vying for Cole's attention." Maddie gave a long suffering sigh at the thought of Aunt Viola's antics.

Sydney smiled. "I won't be competing, how could I?"

Maddie didn't answer that because there was no way she could.