HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN

Part 5

By Meloira

Amanda sighed as sounds of the party drifted in through the briefly opened door. And where was she? In the ladies’ restroom. Again. It seemed that’s where she always ended her nights out--alone in the coldest place in the house.

Sighing, she tugged on her dress yet again. What had possessed her to where the shortest dress in her wardrobe? The stupid scrap kept riding up her thighs, refusing to behave. Rolling her eyes in frustration, Amanda leaned toward the mirror. What she saw pleased her. Yes, there were a few lines around the eyes, but she could live with those. As for the rest of her, she did try her best to keep in shape. All in all, she felt she was a damn good catch.

"Then why do men just keep throwing me back?" she muttered to her image. She was young, attractive, successful, and wealthy. Surely someone of the male persuasion could want her. Yeah, right. They why was she the only person at this stupid part without a date? Even that Cindy woman was at Rachel’s party with Cass, the only man in Bay City society she could count on to show up stag at every event.

The door to the restroom opened and Amanda once again heard the noise from the ballroom. Her mother’s party was going full swing. She supposed she should be out there enjoying herself or even getting to know her future stepfather. At the moment though, she felt like doing neither. Amanda was in one deep funk and she hated it. Of course, always being the lone female at every gathering she attended didn’t help much.

Grabbing her purse, Amanda let the restroom and walked through the lobby. For a moment, she hesitated. Party? Or loneliness? Amanda threw up her hands and without looking back made her way to the hotel’s front door. Great. It was raining. Now what? She couldn’t stay here, not where everyone could pity her and whisper behind her back. Poor little Amanda can’t get a man of her own. Amanda felt tears welling up. What was wrong with her? The possibility of pneumonia was wonderful compared to pity.

The cold rain stung her skin as he stepped out on the street. Within seconds she was soaked through and shivering, but it was better than staying at the party. Amanda felt her face flush as the tears finally began to fall. Just as she turned the corner, she bumped into a rather solid object that caught her before she hit the ground.

"Amanda? What in blazes are you doing?"

Amanda looked up at the man holding her. In the wet darkness she couldn’t make out who he was, but she didn’t care. His warm arms were holding her so snug and securely. God, it had been far too long since a man had touched her, held her. Even as benignly as this. The thought made her cry even harder.

"Amanda, sweetheart, are you all right?"

She could feel his voice rumble in his chest, but she wasn’t listening. The tears kept falling as she snuggled her head into the space between his shoulder and his neck. The man was whispering soothing words and shielding them from the rain with his umbrella. The heat their bodies created was welcome in the cold rain. She knew she was taking advantage of a total stranger, but she couldn’t help herself. He just let her cry until the tears slowly evaporated.

"Amanda?" Her name was a soft whisper swallowed by the howl of the storm. Amanda recognized the voice. She pulled away from him, but didn’t release herself completely. Looking up, she encountered concerned eyes. Concerned eyes framed by gray hair.

"Carl." She had been crying her heart out in the arms of her former stepfather. The man she hated. Well, the man she thought she hated. Why wasn’t she mortified? "We should really stop meeting this way." Her words didn’t sound as funny as she’d hoped.

"Is everything all right? You’re not injured are you?" For the second time that day, Carl pulled out a handkerchief. This time he used it to gently wipe the remains of the tears from her face.

"You know Carl," she laughed huskily, "you’ve really got to stop wasting those things on me."

He smiled at her as he finished his ministrations. "I’ve quite a stash of them you know. I like to keep them handy for the occasional damsel in distress."

Now she felt self-conscious. Slowly, she pulled away from him, but remained under the umbrella.

"I didn’t thank you for this morning did I? I’m sorry, can you forgive me?"

"There’s nothing to forgive."

Amanda couldn’t look at him. Why couldn’t she look at him? Amanda mentally kicked herself. It wasn’t as though she was attracted to him or anything.

"Was something wrong just then," he said, "or should I ask?"

She forced herself to look at him. Under the umbrella they were mere inches apart, so it wasn’t easy. "Nothing. It was nothing. Just hormones I guess." Amanda took a good look at him. "Carl! What happened to you? You look like you’ve been dragged through the mud. And where are your shoes?"

"Who, me?" He bent over to retrieve the shoes he’d dropped after she bumped into him.

"Yes, you. There’s grass stains on your pants and grass in your hair." She reached up to said mane and began plucking out debris. "Not to mention the huge rip in your shirt. How unlike you Carl. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’d been mugged."

Carl laughed. "Very nearly true. Vicky’s boys insisted I play with them. Hence, the disheveled man you see before you. Thank God for the rain, perhaps most of it will be washed away before I get inside."

Amanda giggled as she attempted to rub dirt from the side of his face. Realizing just how intimately she was touching him, she shivered and withdrew her hand.

"I should be getting back inside." She made no effort to leave. "I’m sure Mom’s wondering where I’ve disappeared to by now."

Carl watched as Amanda shifted uncomfortably. "Ah yes, the engagement party. By some curious twist of fate, it’s in the very hotel I’m staying in."

"Really?"

Carl understood her unasked question. "No Amanda. I do not plan to make a scene and try to ruin yet another Cory family function. That sort of behavior is part of my past."

"Carl, I wasn’t implying…"

"I know. I wanted you to know though. There’s nothing for me in Bay City now, except the occasional visit with my goddaughter." Carl beheld Amanda by the glow of the lamplight. He realized she had changed since he’d gone. When had she begun to look so much more fragile and unhappy?

"You should go. We both should. I am in dire need of a shower and sleep." He tried to move, but her question stopped him.

"Are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes. I thought it wise not to stay too long. Besides, I have a life I need to return to."

"Mom told me Cindy’s your daughter, not your girlfriend."

"She’s correct. Now, if you’re okay, we should be moving on. You’re welcome to share my umbrella."

"No." Her abrupt answer stopped him. "I can’t go back in there."

"Shall I get a cab to take you back to the mansion then?"

Amanda started to shake from the cold. "I don’t live at home anymore."

"Oh." He sounded surprised. "Well, you shouldn’t stay out here. Not in that tiny bit of a dress anyway. The rain doesn’t seem as though it’s going to let up either, so you don’t have many options."

"Actually, I think I would like to stay out here. Maybe take a little walk. My apartment’s only a few blocks away, so I wouldn’t be out in this too long."

Amanda thought he was about to insist she return with him to the hotel, and for a second, she considered it herself. Instead, he was the one who relented.

"If that’s what you wish my dear. Here, take this." He thrust the umbrella at her and she accepted. "Just be careful and don’t stay out too long." He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Don’t worry, you’re quite a lovely young woman. Someday, some man will wise up and snatch you from the depths of your loneliness."

Having said his piece, he stepped out into the downpour. Amanda watched him walk away and smiled. The man had always been able to guess her secrets, and now she really believed he’d changed. She wanted her mom to be happy, no one deserved it more, but now she was beginning to think Rachel had been wrong in letting Carl go.

"Hey Carl!"

The man in question turned.

"You know, you still look pretty good on that white horse."

Throwing her a jaunty salute and a smile, Carl continued on his way.