Author Anon

Amanda opens her mail.

“Dear Dr. Steele,

I understand you are currently taking care of my son, Lucas. I thank you for watching him while I took some time to think things out. I have decided that it’s best for me to take him back to Florida. If you could be so kind as to bring him to me in Sunnydale, it would save me the extra trip of going back to Brighton. I have enclosed directions.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Van Ness”

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“So now that David is out of the woods, you’re ready to go back to London?” asks Paul.

“Of course,” says Tracy. “You asked me to stay until we knew what would happen to him, and I gave in.”

“Why are you so anxious to leave?” asks Paul.

“I’ve got my work to do,” says Tracy.

“Is that all that’s important to you?”

“There’s nothing else right now,” says Tracy.

“What about me?” asks Paul.

“What about you?”

“What about us? Don’t you think there could be something between us?” asks Paul.

“Paul, I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” says Tracy. “When I think of long-term relationships, I think of starting a family. I’m not ready. I don’t think my mother was ready to have kids when she did. We grew up with business and money matters. I don’t think I ever had a chance to be a kid. I promised myself that I would not do that to my own kids.”

“So, why can’t you?” asks Paul. “Look at Marie. She did it.”

“Yes,” says Tracy. “Isn’t that funny? I never thought much of Dan, yet now, Marie has a nice little family and is very domestic.”

“You can, too,” says Paul. “Stay here. With me. I love you, Tracy. I always have and you know it. Stay here and marry me.”

“It sounds pleasant. It sounds tempting. But I can’t. I’m just not ready.”

“So you’re going away.”

“Yes.”

“For how long?” he asks.

“I don’t know.”

“I can’t wait forever, you know.”

“I’m not asking you to. It’s probably best that you move on.”

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“Come on, Lucas,” says Amanda. “I’m taking you to your mother.”

A look of fear comes into his little face. “No!” he cries and runs to his room. Amanda follows and finds him sobbing on his bed.

“Lucas, I need to take you to your mother,” says Amanda, gently. “Don’t you want to be with her?”

“No. Stay here,” he says, still crying.

“I’m afraid I can’t keep you,” says Amanda. She starts to pack up his belongings. “You can keep all your toys. Would you like that?” He doesn’t respond. She picks him up. “Your mommy’s worried about you. She wants to see you.” She gets him bundled up and takes him out to the car.

On the way to Sunnydale, Amanda calls Michael. “I wanted to let you know that I can’t meet you for lunch,” she says.

“Why not?” asks Michael.

“Something’s come up,” Amanda says. “I’m taking Lucas to see Stephanie.”

“Stephanie? What are you talking about?” asks Michael.

“Stephanie wrote to me asking me to take Lucas to Sunnydale.”

“Sunnydale? Why? You know the police want to question her,” says Michael.

“I realize that. I figured I’d go meet her and talk her into coming back,” says Amanda.

“Darling, I don’t like this set-up.”

“What could go wrong?” asks Amanda.

“I don’t know, but be careful,” says Michael. “I love you. Keep me posted.”

“All right. I love you, too.”

Michael hangs up and calls Nicholas. “Amanda is on her way to meet Stephanie in Sunnydale. Is that Damian fellow still out that way?”

“As far as we know,” says Nicholas. “I was thinking of going there myself to track him down, but I don’t know how to convince him to talk.”

“Why don’t you ask Cody Daze if he could come with you? I think you should follow Amanda. Make sure she’s okay.”

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“What’s the plan, Stephanie?” asks Damian, coming up behind her in the woods.

Stephanie turns around, startled. “You scared me.”

“I see that,” says Damian. “Why did you sneak out?”

“I didn’t sneak out,” says Stephanie. “I just didn’t want to disturb you.”

“How thoughtful of you,” he says, sarcastically. “Are you trying to run away, again?”

“No, I think it’s time I went back to Florida.”

“Back to Florida? What for? You’ve got nothing left down there. I think you’re lying to me. I think you’re trying to run away from me.”

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Filed under: All That Glitters