Dru woke up shortly after six the next morning. The night had been rough; she had woken up several times every hour. When she got up, she peeked into the nursery and saw that both Lydia and Chloe were sound asleep.
Dru showered, thoroughly perturbed by the voice that came every five minutes. What she wanted was solitude, relaxation and peace. She did not want interruption.
When Dru came out of the bathroom, she saw an amazing sight. Through the window above her bed she saw the cliff in full majesty. The rising sun was in the distance, shimmering across the tranquil stream and the small lake it created. Luscious vegetation of a thousand colors surrounded the dazzling water. Dru had never before seen such an awesome sunrise, with the heavenly pinks and oranges overpowering the regular blues.
“He said it was beautiful,” Dru whispered to herself, “but I never imagined this.”
She left her room after dressing, intending to go outside for a better view. Upon descending the stairs, Rod Wathal pulled her aside to talk to her.
“I’ve been told you have some important papers that belong to your father,” he stated.
Dru did not like being intercepted, and she didn’t like the way he was talking to her. His tone was brusque and curt, showing he expected everything he asked for. He’s probably begging on the inside; Dru smiled at the thought.
“Yes, I do, at home.”
“We need those papers, Miss Bassey.”
“You’ve already told me that.”
“You have said you are going to get them. You will, of course, have to be accompanied by an agent.”
“So soon?” Dru asked, then realized something. “But then, this wouldn’t seem soon to you.”
“No, it does not. When can you be ready to leave? It will only be a day trip if you hurry, unless there are complications.”
“Well, I’ll have to gather Chloe’s things, and then-”
The agent’s eyebrow twitched. “Your daughter is not going with you.”
“Of course she is. I can’t just leave her here by herself!”
“Yes, you can, and yes, you will.”
“No, I won’t! It’s barely been a week since I first saw her; I am certainly not going to leave her yet!”
“Then you will need to give me enough information so I can find it myself.”
Dru hesitated. What was more important? And how could she possibly compare her child to her memories? It was her past versus her future. She had to make a choice.
“May I go outside and think for awhile?”
“Yes, but please think quickly. I do have people breathing down my neck about this.”
“Of course.”
Dru quietly opened the door and stepped outside. The breeze was heavy, but Dru was grateful for that. It suited her mood: both a flurry of activity and so tossed around.
As Dru approached the cliff, she saw that every hint of a cloud had been blown away by the wind. The view was every bit as beautiful as Drake had said.
I have to decide, Dru thought aloud.
She noticed a deer-like animal sipping from the stream. The scene was so very tranquil, so very much the opposite of her heart!
After standing for several minutes in deep thought, Dru turned back to the house and went to find Rod Wathal.
Within an hour, two cars had pulled up in front of the large house. Cade got in the first car and was driven to the airport. He was on his way to New York City to meet with Merry, whom Dru had just finished talking to several minutes ago.
The plan was for Cade to go and get the key to the safe from Merry and bring it back that night.
Dru was going to finish up the other end of the plan. She was on the phone at that moment, waiting to talk to Brian McLaoy, whose roommate was getting him.
“Dru?”
“Brian, I’m glad I caught you.”
“You didn’t call me at the end of the summer, Dru. You promised me you would.”
“Summer isn’t over until the twenty-first. I still made it in time.”
“You know what I meant. Why’d you call. We both know it wasn’t just the promise.”
“I am going back home today, and I’ll be stopping by in San Francisco.”
“You have to come see me. I’ll show you around campus and you can meet all my friends.”
“Listen, Brian, do you remember that key I gave you?”
“Yeah, sure. Still have it.”
“Have it ready when I get there, okay? My flight lands around noon. I have someone driving me over to your campus. You don’t have any classes this afternoon?”
“I have a class at ten. It usually lasts till one.”
“Okay, we’ll talk when I get there. Sorry for waking you so early.”
“Hey, it’s fine by me, I’ll just go back to sleep. Of course, you’ll have to answer to Quinn when you get here.”
“I’m sure I’ll do fine. See you later.”
Brian gave his goodbye and they hung up their respective phones.
Dru went back up to her room and finished giving Lydia an unneeded lecture. She gathered a few things she thought she might need and put them in a sling bag, then went downstairs.
After dropping her bag by the door, she went upstairs to see Chloe one last time before she left. She bumped into Christine when she entered the room.
Before Dru had a chance to say anything, Christine started talking. “Your daughter will be perfectly fine without you for one day. She didn’t have you the first day, as I hear, and I’m sure it won’t affect her too much for another day.”
“I feel horrible for leaving like-”
“I’ll help with taking care of her. Don’t worry, I’m qualified. I used to have my own kid and have plenty experience.”
“You have a child? Where is-”
“He died a very long time ago. I will tell the story sometime. Meahwhile, you need to get out of here or you’ll miss your flight.”
Dru exited the nursery and bumped into Drake. “Where are you going!” he demanded.
“I am going to San Francisco, and then stopping in Lafayette. I need to pick up some papers for evidence or something like that.”
“Can’t they do it themselves?”
“Yes, they could, if they knew where the papers are. Only I know, and only I am able to get them, because of how I set it up earlier.”
“I’ll go with you,” Drake decided.
“No, you are not coming with me. Beside the fact that I need to do this alone, you are going to stay and watch Chloe.”
Drake knew he would not win this argument, and since she had to go right away, he stopped giving excuses. He leaned down and gave her a light peck on the cheek, and then said, “Now get going so you can be back here faster.”
Dru smiled and flew down the hallway and stairs.
The plane made a clean landing, ahead of schedule. Russ, who was assigned to accompany Dru, rented a car and they were at the campus before 12:30.
Dru decided to check the directory for the number of Brian’s dorm. Moments later, she and Russ were knocking on the door. A tall, stocky guy with thick red hair opened the door.
“You must be Dru,” he said, addressing her. “I would know you anywhere.”
Dru held her hand out and said, “Pleased to meet you.”
“My name is Quinn Sytema. Brian should be home soon, but he told me to let you in if he wasn’t back yet.”
“Thank you,” Dru said as she stepped into the room. “This is-”
Russ cut her off and said, “Jordan Sayers. I’m accompanying Dru on her trip.” Russ gave her a look, telling her not to say anything.
They shook hands as Dru surveyed the room. It was a typical guy’s den area. On each side of the room stood a door. It must be a suite, Dru decided.
Russ and Quinn started talking, and Dru listened quietly. She did not have an extreme interest in college football, nor did she care to discuss the downfall of university sports, as they were doing.
After some time, Dru got up and looked out a window. It was a gorgeous day, with the sun shining and a slight breeze swaying the trees. The window overlooked a large courtyard, and nearly all of them were wearing shorts. It was a warm day.
Dru, too, was wearing shorts. She was wearing a V-necked t-shirt the same shade of green as her eyes and jeans shorts. She could walk outside and fit in perfectly, discounting her still-plump abdomen. She turned around to sit down again and found herself staring into a mirror. Actually, she decided, this covers it up pretty well. Unless she told them, no one would ever guess she had a baby six days ago.
A thought occurred to Dru suddenly: Brian never knew she was pregnant.
A buzzer sounded from a small, compact black box on a table near Dru.
“What is that?” Dru asked Quinn.
“That’s Brian. He’ll be up in about two minutes.”
“You guys have buzzers downstairs?”
“No, it’s something Brian and I rigged last week. If he’s wearing his beeper, when he walks into the building, the buzzer sounds, if it is on. Same thing works for me.”
“Clever,” Russ commented, and soon their conversation shifted to electronics and frequencies.
The door opened and Brian walked into the room.
He dropped his stuff onto a nearby chair and walked over to Dru. He opened his arms and Dru hugged him.
“It’s been a long time,” he stated.
“Sorry. Busy, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. You need the key?”
“Yes, I do. And then we need to head over to Lafayette.”
“So soon? I thought I could show you around!”
“There isn’t enough time.”
“Maybe next time, then. Come on, let’s get the key.”
Dru followed him through a door and was greeted by a thorough mess.
“This room is a pigsty!” Dru exclaimed.
“Thursday is cleaning day. Neither of us have any classes then.”
“And you actually set aside time to clean? I’m impressed, Brian.”
Brian claimed a sheepish expression on his face. “Well, at least we say we clean on Thursdays. We haven’t actually cleaned yet.”
Dru grinned. Brian handed a key to her after taking it off his keychain.
“You have to stay a little while. I told everyone I have a friend visiting.”
“Sorry, Brian, I really can’t. We have to go to Lafayette and a pick up some items.”
“You’re still with Drake!”
“No, I am not. Don’t freak out or anything, but the FBI took the search over a few weeks ago,” Dru said quietly. She walked out of the room and into the den to silence any questions he had.
When he followed her, she lied, “Brian, this is Jordan Sayers. He is going to Lafayette with me.”
Brian nodded and pleaded, “Dru, you have to stay longer. I was counting on talking with you for a while.”
Russ spoke up, saying, “If you want me to, I can go to Lafayette and pick up the stuff while you stay here. You could visit with your friends that way.”
Dru hesitated before deciding. “Sure. Here, let me write up some directions for you."
“No need, I already have them,” Russ said. “I’ll be going now.”
“You’ll be back when?”
“At 3:30. You must be ready on time.”
“Sure, see you then.” Russ walked out the door.
“So, how have things been going for you?” Brian asked.
“Pretty good,” she lied again. “And you? I am guessing classes just started within the last few weeks.”
“Two weeks ago. This is one of the early schools. Come on, I have some people I want you to meet.”
Brian led the way out of the room, with Quinn and Dru following. They stopped at another dorm down the hall and Brian introduced her to two more guys, Tyler and Todd. They left the building after talking for a few minutes.
They walked across the courtyard and in-between two dormitory buildings. They were now on one end of a much larger courtyard. Brian pointed out specific buildings as they crossed.
“That’s the Science Building,” he said, pointing to the left, “and next to it is the English and Languages Building.”
Dru simply nodded, hoping he did not expect her to remember everything he was telling her.
After some more pointing out, and stopping for another two-minute chit-chat, they were across the quad, walking into the library. “Why are we here?” Dru asked.
“There’s someone I want you to meet,” Brian said softly.
They passed a numerous amount of study cubicles and the reference section. They turned down a hallway and entered a little office.
“Quinn, Brian, hi,” came an excited voice. A woman that looked Dru’s age stood up and greeted them. She had long, wavy hair and deep, chocolate-colored eyes.
“Juli, this is Dru Bassey. Dru, Julianna Banks.”
Dru smiled at her and said, “Nice to meet you.”
“Charmed, I’m sure,” Juli said in return.
“Juli is originally from India,” Brian told Dru.
“India? I liked it there. How did you like it?” Dru asked Juli.
“You have also been, then. I would like to go back when I am older. For now I am working towards a business degree, and after that I intend to go home.”
“How much longer do you have to go?”
“If I keep working at my present rate, only another two semesters.”
Quinn explained, “She’s trying to kill herself by taking seven classes at one time.”
“Seven!” Dru exclaimed.
“It is not such a bother, not when I work hard.”
“Where’s Ria?” Brian asked her.
“I saw her five minutes ago. She is probably looking for a book somewhere.”
Another woman walked into the small office.
“Quinn,” she affirmed. She pecked him on the cheek before offering her hand to Dru in a handshake.
“Ria De Marco,” she greeted Dru.
The greeting was warm enough, but Dru felt as if she was being snubbed. However snobby the girl was, she most definitely had money. Her clothes were nearly screaming designer fashion and her nails were obviously professionally done. Her glistening black hair was curled gently at the ends and rested just below her shoulders; her flawlessly applied make-up complimented ice-blue eyes, and her tall, sleek body was postured perfectly.
“And you must be Dru,” Ria stated.
“Yes, I am, Dru answered her. She turned to Brian. “Have you been talking about me?”
“Only every day,” Quinn answered for Brian. “Don’t worry, though, all good things.”
“What sort of good things?”
“Let’s see,” Ria mused. “You’re a great dancer, you’re beautiful, you’re smart, oh, and we must not forget, a wonderful storyteller.”
“A storyteller? Where’d you get that one, Brian?”
“English. You remember, last November.”
Dru remembered the assignment and laughed.
“What do you say? Want to go over to Frank’s?” Quinn asked the group for approval.
“Anything is fine with me, as long as I’m back by half past three.”
Ria and Brian also agreed.
“You know very well I have a class in a few minutes. I cannot join you today,” Juli apologized.
“Want me to bring some pasta back for you?” Ria asked her.
“Sure,” Juli answered, already with concentration switched back to a textbook.
Dru followed the group across the quad again and into a parking lot. They piled into a king-cab pickup and drove down the street a little ways. Quinn, driving, parked in front of an old-looking restaurant called Frank’s Eatery.
The foursome walked through the doors and were greeted by a massive man. “Hey, how’er you kids doing?” his voice boomed across the room.
He seated them and they ordered French fries and sodas all around. The guys both got hamburgers, also.
For fifteen minutes they talked about anything and everything. Dru learned a great many things, most of which would be forgotten within the next week, she was sure. Quinn, she had figured out, was the funny-boy of the group. He had a joke about anything mentioned. Ria was rich, Dru found out, and after talking for a few minutes, realized she was not a snob. It was must have been a bad first impression, Dru decided.
They were all surprised when Juli sauntered through the door.
“Class was canceled,” she explained. “I figured I would do my homework later and visit now, since this is a special occasion.”
She pulled up a chair and joined in the conversation.
Dru was soon told how they had all met each other in such a short amount of time since the year had begun. Quinn’s parents and Ria’s parents had known each other when they were in college, and Quinn and Ria had met three years earlier at Freshmen Orientation, when they first started college. They had been friends ever since then, and Ria introduced Quinn to Juli when she enrolled the year before. Juli and Ria had met at their high school, after Juli moved to the United States for treatment of her cancer (now in remission). Brian and Quinn were assigned as roommates, so that was how he knew everyone. Of the four, Brian was the youngest.
A few minutes after Juli joined the group, another guy pulled up a chair.
“Hey, Quinn, you’ve been holding out on me. You never told me you knew so many great-looking girls,” he said.
Quinn made the introductions quickly. The guy’s name was Colin Lloyd, and was a member of Quinn’s psychology class from the previous year. Dru noticed his gaze lingered on Juli longer than anyone else.
“What time is it?” Dru asked, suddenly remembering she had to be back by 3:30.
“Oh, it’s ten after three. We better be heading out soon,” Brian groaned.
Quinn playfully socked Brian. “She hasn’t met Jill yet.”
Dru looked at Quinn with interest. “Jill?” she squeaked.
“Yeah, Brian’s gone on a date with her,” Quinn explained.
Everyone stood up at that time, so there wasn’t a chance to say anything more about Jill. As they walked out of the restaurant, Quinn whispered to Dru, “Brian and Jill make the cutest couple.”
Dru smiled to herself. Brian found someone, and would hopefully give up on her. Not only was it just anyone, though, it was someone named Jill. There were so many Jills that had led important roles in Dru’s recent life!
When they got back out of the car, Juli rushed off to do more homework. Ria split for a late class. They had lost Colin back at the restaurant. Brian, Quinn, and Dru headed back up to the dorm. They met a girl coming down the stairs while they were on the way up.
“You said you were going to be home,” she accused Brian.
“Plans changed and I couldn’t get ahold of you,” Brian offered feebly.
Quinn snickered, “Brian, aren’t you going to make introductions?”
“Jill, this is Dru, a very good friend from high school. Dru, this is Jill.”
The two women shook hands and eyed each other as they all went up the stairs. They entered the guy’s dorm suite and all plopped on the couches. They talked, mainly about Jill and Dru, for a couple minutes, and then a knock sounded on the door. As expected, it was Russ.
“Time to go,” he announced.
Dru said good-bye to Jill and Quinn and hugged Brian.
“I had a lot of fun today,” she told Brian. Russ had stepped inside and was talking to Quinn again, and Jill exited to the bathroom. Dru and Brian were quietly talking by the doorway.
Dru fished in her bag and pulled out a Polaroid shot of Chloe, who was looking very angelic and sweet. She showed it to Brian.
“I wanted to tell you earlier,” she started, “but there wasn’t enough time.”
“Who is this?” Brian asked.
“My daughter, Chloe.”
“Your daughter,” he hissed. “So that’s what happened to you.”
“Yeah. You were right. It was more than a little bump on the head.”
“So who’s the father? You did say-”
“It isn’t Cade,” Dru quickly inserted. “Because that is what you were thinking, isn’t it?”
“No, it wasn’t what I was thinking. I know it wasn’t Cade. I don’t think you ever realized this, but my father was your doctor in the hospital. I overheard him talking about a ‘sweet young lady who was taken advantage of; it’s a tragedy’.”
“Then you knew the whole time.”
“A lot. I just wanted you to tell me.”
Russ interrupted them, “We have to go now. You can always come back later for another visit.”
Dru said good-bye once more, and then they left.
The trip home gave Dru some time to think. After seeing Brian and his
college life, she wasn’t so sorry she was missing it. She supposed it would
always hold a bit of yearning for her, but that wasn’t where she belonged.
“I am a mother, now,” she told herself. “And I am going to act like one.
But how?
.
Get your free homepage today!