Broken Memories
Chapter 9
Melanie went about her day as usual with the exception that she was back in
Pittsburg. She woke at six, made a pot of coffee and watched the morning news.
In an hour the kids would be up and Lindsay would be downstairs making breakfast
and the mayhem would begin anew. She loved her family and wouldn't change a
single thing.
Only today was different. Today they were burying Debbie. Sipping her coffee,
Melanie thought back over the time she had sat in the diner all night and talked
to Debbie about Lindsay and JR. Debbie had been right when she'd told Melanie
that she had to let JR's parents be a part of her life, all of her parents.
Melanie knew in her heart that Debbie somehow understood that she and Lindsay
would end up together, and she was right. Debbie was almost always right when it
came to her kids. And in some ways they were all Debbie's kids.
She smiled to herself thinking about the night that Debbie went out with Carl
for the first time. They'd spent the evening helping her get ready and when she
looked in the mirror and smiled, Melanie knew they'd done the right thing. Her
heart ached at the loss of her friend.
Melanie tried to clear her mind and just enjoy the quiet for as long as she
could.
***
Darryll sat in his car just outside the gates of Briton waiting. He'd spent the
night watching house, waiting for her to come out. He knew she was a creature of
habit and she'd always liked early morning when she could just be completely
alone. He counted on it this morning. Counted on her not being that cautious
about her surroundings, and why should she, she had absolutely no idea that this
was all about her. He'd spent his whole life trying to get her to love him.
He lets his thoughts wander to the night of Alpha Gamma's Spring Fling. Melanie
had looked so beautiful when he'd picked her up. She'd worn a green dress that
brought out the green flecks in her eyes. Her hair was god awful short, but he'd
forgiven her for cutting it. She'd told him that all the girls had donated their
hair to Locks of Love when he'd gotten angry. It had been a few days now, and he
was getting used to her looking like some dyke.
They'd arrived ten minutes late to the Spring Fling, which he hated, but with
women you'd always be late. It was just something he'd had to learn to deal with
over the years. They'd gotten drinks and found a couch that was unoccupied. They
hadn't been sitting long when Miranda appeared as if from nowhere. Darryll
didn't like her; she seemed a little too friendly with Melanie, and he was sure
that given half a chance she'd try to steal her away from him. He vowed to keep
an eye on her and make sure she didn't get Melanie alone that night.
He was just reminiscing about their kiss at her dorm when he saw the porch light
at Britin go on. He grabbed his night-vision goggles and watched her as she sat
on the balcony sipping her coffee. As much as he wanted her right now he knew
the timing wasn't right. He had to wait until she was away from her blonde
lover.
***
Lindsay woke to the sound of a ringing phone. Fumbling she reached out for
Melanie's nightstand and found the cell that was getting louder by the second.
"Hello?" she answered with the fog of sleep on her voice. Opening one eye she
searched out the clock and saw it read 7:00 am. Only half listening, she
realized that the call was for Mel.
"Hang on, let me see if I can find her," she managed before rolling over and
looking for her slippers. It was just a matter of seconds before she saw the
light on out on the balcony. She opened the French doors and handed the phone
out to her partner. "It's for you," she said sleepily.
Melanie took the call while Lindsay went back inside to try to get a few more
minutes rest before the kids woke. Several minutes later Mel came and gathered
her clothes, heading for the shower.
"I have to go to the Center this morning."
"But today's Debbie's funeral and I could use some help with the kids."
"I know. lambkins, but I have to get this paperwork to them so that it can get
signed and processed before we head home. I won't be gone long, I promise and
I'll meet you at the service."
"Damn it Mel, I could really use your help. You know that Michael is going to be
a wreck and that's going to upset JR. And you're the only one she listens to
anymore."
"I thought we'd decided not to take the kids to the service. Isn't that what we
brought Kate along for?"
"Yes, but Kate isn't feeling well, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to take them
with us."
"No, leave them with the nanny. That's what we pay her for."
"But, sweetheart, if we leave them with Kate, then they'll probably get sick
too, and if they get sick, I have to take time off of work when we get home."
"No, pumpkin, if they get sick, then Kate can work extra days when we get home."
"Kate has classes that she has to make up. She really went out of her way to
come with us."
"Then let her do what I'm paying her a small fortune to do. It's settled, the
kids are staying here. Now I have to shower and get to the Center."
Within the hour Melanie was on her way to the Center, leaving Lindsay and the
kids completely unaware of the fate that waited for them.