I’m desperate at this point. I’ve hired my own private investigator to locate Reese. So far, still no leads to go on. I’ve questioned my father repeatedly and his answers are always the same. He emphatically denies having anything to do with Reese leaving me. As much as I love Reese and want her back, I still manage to make my classes. I’ve worked too hard to throw away my college career, but it’s the nights that are the most difficult to face alone. I no longer feel her presence in my apartment or smell her perfume. I ransacked my home in search of a photo that went missing from my bedroom, my only conclusion was that Reese had taken it when she left… a parting gift from our relationship?
My mother has implored me to re-join the land of the living and put Reese behind me. How can I do that? I have no closure to our relationship. I left to go to work, and when I returned, I found her gone. None of this makes any sense to me, and I don’t see how I will ever be able to move on from Reese. Until she faces me and tells me directly that we are over, I’m not moving on. Not that I would ever accept that anyway. She knows how much I love her and would lay my life down for her. I gave her that heart locket as a sign of our love and commitment for each other. How could she just lie to me like this? No! She wouldn’t do that. I know she wouldn’t. Someone scared her off, and I only can think to keep directing the blame toward my father. It has to be him, but again, why? What does he have to gain by making Reese leave? This is what I need to find out.
My week was short with spring break upon us. I had just left a meeting with my advisor, and he informed me that I had successfully passed my last course, and as far as my college days go, I was finished. He asked me if I would walk with the rest of my graduating class, and I told him that I would think about it. I’m quite sure nothing would please my mother more, then to see me walk with my class. Of course it would hit the New York papers and society page. How silly of me to want to miss a photo op for the Reed Family.
My parents planned on hosting a party in my honor up at their Hampton Estate. My mother begged me to say yes. and after listening to my mother drone on about it, I finally did concede. As long as the bar was fully stocked, I would attend my party and numb my pain while I endured it.
Just as I was about to leave for the Hamptons, the private detective that I hired appeared at my door. I was taken by surprise, but was hopeful that he located Reese.
“Mr. Reed, I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”
“Of course not, John, please come in. Can I offer you a drink?”
“No sir, I’ll be brief. I took a chance by stopping by here tonight. I know you’ve been anxious to hear news about your girlfriend.” It’s all I want. I want Reese back.
“So what’s in the file? Spit it out, man!”
“I’m sorry sir, but not much. I’ve tracked her to California, Los Angeles to be precise. She is doing some modeling work out there.”
“Are you kidding me? Los Angeles? This is good news. Have you talked to her? Let her know that I’m looking for her?”
“That’s just it, sir. She was in Los Angeles, but not anymore. My men lost track of her three days ago.”
“What the fuck? You knew where she was three days ago, and I’m just finding out now? What kind of game are you playing, John? Did you really locate her, or are you trying to derail me from finding her?”
“Sir, I work for you and you alone. I had other cases that needed my attention. I assigned my best men to Ms. Mitchell, and I had no reason not to distrust them or doubt their ability to track her.”
“Then why did they lose her? Something does not add up, John. From the beginning of Reese leaving me, and New York, nothing about this sounds right.”
“Sir, some people just don’t want to be found. Here is my report and some surveillance photos from the last time my men spotted her.”
“Let me see the photos.” I take the envelope from John’s hands and tear it open. I peruse each one, and my eyes immediately find something terribly wrong with the pictures that John has provided. The woman in these photos are not Reese. I would know my girlfriend anywhere, this woman is not Reese. “What the fuck? This is not Reese!”
I lunge at John, grabbing him by his neck. I grit my teeth as I demand to know what the hell is going on. He denies any wrongdoing, and he sticks to his truth. “Who put you up to this? Was it my father, Phillip Reed? Tell me now!”
John gets out from under me, and delivers a right hook to my jaw. I bounce back up and charge him with all that I have. He goes down crashing over my table and shatters the glass along with it. I’m now grabbed by two other men who I don’t know. One holds my arms behind my back, while the other punches me in my stomach. John stumbles up, and calls them off of me. Too late, the damage is done. I could feel a rib, maybe two, broken, and blood is dripping from my brow.
“Get the hell off of me!” I shout at the men. They release me as John gives them a warning look.
“Both of you get out!” John shouts back. They leave my apartment, and I slump down to the floor.
“Mr. Reed, I’m sorry about that unfortunate incident. I did the job that I was hired for. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to give you the answers you needed.”
“Just get out, you lying bastard.” He drops the files at my feet before walking out the door, never saying another word to me. I feel my ribs throb as I try to stand, but to no avail, I’m rooted to the floor. As I sink lower in my despair and feeling the broken glass under me, I silently whisper…this is rock bottom.
AS I CONTINUE to build on the lies I have created, I silently sit in the shadows watching the tall figure enter my car. With my drink in hand, I don’t look over to him and just ask my question.
“Did you deliver the report and pictures, per my request?”
“I did, sir, but he didn’t believe the woman in the photo was Ms. Mitchell. Mr. Reed became violent with me, and had to be subdued.”
“Is my son hurt?” I feel as if I am choking on my words.
“He might have a few broken ribs, but I can’t be sure. I was still trying to get my bearings after he struck me. My men not knowing the situation took down your son and subdued him. Mr. Reed, please know we never meant to do that.”
I don’t respond to his feeble excuses. “Here is your payment. This conversation never took place. Get out!” He simply takes the envelope from my hand and retreats in to the darkened night.
This was not how I wanted this to go, but it needed to happen to deter Walker from his futile attempts on locating Ms. Mitchell. Enough time has gone by, and still he has received no word from her. So far, she has kept her end of the bargain, and stayed away. I call the one person that I know can get through to him, and make him see that Ms. Mitchell leaving him was for the best. It’s time to put the next part of my plan in motion.
I scroll down my contact list and call the very person that can help me…help my son. She answers on the second ring.
“Elizabeth, Phillip Reed here.”
“Hi, Mr. Reed, how are you?”
“I’m fine, dear… just fine. I’m happy to have caught you. Are you planning on attending our party for Walker this weekend?” She sighs on the line.
“Mr. Reed, I don’t think that’s a very good idea that I show up at your home. I have tried for weeks now to reach out to him, and he evades me at every turn. I don’t know how to help him.”
“Elizabeth, my son is very stubborn and he’s nursing a broken heart right now, but you are the one person that can heal him. He cares for you very deeply, and I know you return his affections. Please don’t give up on my son, and try again? It would make his mother and me so happy.”
“I’ll try, Mr. Reed, but I’m not sure what I can do.”
“Please, Elizabeth, call me Phillip. We have known each other for far too long for these pleasantries. I just phoned the doorman at Walker’s building, he hasn’t left the city yet. Why don’t you go check in on him and maybe you two could drive out together? Elizabeth, are you still there?”
<
br /> “Yes, sir, I am. Okay, I will try stopping by, but I make no promises.”
“That’s all I ask, my dear. Good luck with my son, and I will see you both tomorrow.”
I let out the breath that I was holding while speaking to Elizabeth. Randolph has informed me that he hears sounds coming from my son’s apartment. Thank god he’s not badly injured. Elizabeth will find him, help him, and then I can finally report some good news back to her father to get him off my back. She has to get through to him, she just has to. I wait for more than an hour observing my son’s building, and then I see Elizabeth step out of a cab and enter inside. I breathe a sigh of relief and signal my driver to take me home.
ENDING MY STRANGE call from Phillip Reed¸ I struggle with my internal indecisiveness. Walker is in need of help. He has shut out the world after his girlfriend suddenly left him. I question why? They were clearly in love, and he repeatedly told me how he felt about her. After his very public display of affection for her, I knew I had lost any chance of ever being with Walker. Was his father right? Am I his match? No matter what, I will always be his friend first. He needs a friend who he can trust. He will hate it, but I will be that friend.
I arrive at Walker’s building and casually step inside. His very nervous doorman walks quickly behind me as I reach the elevators. I think to myself. Don’t worry sir, I won’t have you fired for not doing your job. I turn to greet him.
“FORGIVE ME MISS, but it’s customary to announce guests.” Not knowing this man personally, I look over to his shiny name badge that graces his well pressed jacket.
“I understand that…Randolph, but Mr. Reed is a very close friend of mine, and I’m sure he will see me.”
Not questioning me, he steps aside.
“Very well miss, I’ll escort you up.”
I raise my hand up and halt him where he stands. “No need to do that, I know the way, but thank you.”
As I wait for the elevator to arrive on his floor, I silently pray that I can help my friend. I love him so much and all I want for him is to be happy. I go to ring his bell and see the door slightly opened. I reach into my purse for my can of Mace and go in with guarded steps. I call out to Walker and hear no response until I see him slumped down on the ground and covered in blood.
“Oh my god, Walker! What happened to you? Who did this to you? Were you robbed?” I hear the panic in my voice as I kneel down to help Walker. Oh how my heart hurts, as I take in my broken friend.
“REESE, YOU’VE COME back to me. Oh baby, I need you so much.” He gazes into my eyes and grabs me by the nape of my neck toward him. Crashing his lips onto mine, he thrusts his tongue in my mouth, and although I know I’m not Reese, I welcome his kiss until he realizes who I am. He suddenly pulls back.
“Elizabeth? What are you doing? Why are you here in my apartment?”
Now I’m the one that is taken back. “I can ask you the same question. I came here to check on you, and I find you injured. And your door was opened, by the way. You kissed me, Walker. Are you drunk?”
“I’m sorry, Elizabeth, I don’t know what came over me. I think I hit my head, I don’t feel so well.”
“You smell like a brewery, no wonder you feel like shit. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up, and if you are really hurt, I’ll take you to the emergency room.”
“What would I do without you?” he asks me, as I easily get lost in his beautiful eyes.
I wrap his arm around my shoulder to help him off the floor. I softly answer his question. “Let’s hope you never have to find out.” Please let me love you Walker, and make you forget about her.
He’s struggling against me. “Can you stand, Walker?”
“Yes, just give me a minute.” I help him into his bathroom. I wash his face with a warm cloth to see where he’s hurt. He has a small cut above his eye; I don’t think it will need stitches. He lets me tend to him. It feels so good to help him, and he’s allowing me to. He winces in pain when I touch his stomach. I slowly lift the hem of his t-shirt and pull it up and over his head. I’m treated to the sight of his beautiful chest and ab muscles. He is perfectly defined, but I do notice some bruising on his side.
“What happened here?” I point to his ribs.
He scoffs. “A…disagreement.”
“That’s all I get? Come on, Walker, what happened here tonight?”
“It’s not your problem, Elizabeth. Please just let it go.”
“Okay, I will for now. Can I take a look at your ribs?” He nods, and I carefully examine him. I don’t even know if Walker knows this about me, but I am a trained E.M.T. While I was still discovering myself back in my freshman year of college, I decided to get certified in this area. It drove my parents crazy, but it was something to do. Turns out, I was pretty good at it. I of course didn’t pursue this as a profession, but I never forgot what I learned. After examining Walker, I concluded that his ribs are most likely bruised. He’s not having any difficulty with his breathing. As a precaution, I wrapped his ribs with a tight bandage and secured it with some pins. He didn’t want to go to the hospital, so this would have to do.
“Okay my patient, you’re good as new.” I try to smile to lighten his darkened mood.
“Am I, Elizabeth? I don’t think I will ever be the same again.”
“You will, Walker, you just have to give it time. Do you want to talk about it? Maybe I can help?”
“The only one that can help me is Reese, and she’s gone. I want to die Elizabeth, just fucking die, and finally be free of this nightmare that I’m living with.”
Slap! Elizabeth shakes her hand.
“What the fuck, Elizabeth! Why in the hell did you hit me?”
“I hit you because you said something so stupid. How could you, Walker? So your girlfriend left you, oh poor you. You think you’re the first guy to ever have this happen to him? Pull yourself together, and grow the fuck up!”
The room is beginning to spin, and I lash out at my only friend. Here she is trying to help me and all I feel right now is hate. I scream at the top of my lungs. “What do you know about it anyway? Tell me, Elizabeth! What do you know?” I find myself grabbing my friend by her delicate arms, and begin to shake her.
She never did take my shit. “Get your hands off of me! What the hell is wrong with you?”
All my fight is gone. I simply give up. “Go home Elizabeth, there is nothing for you here.”
“I’m not going anywhere. You need me Walker, please don’t shut me out, or turn me away.”
“I need Reese. She is all that I need.”
“Well Walker, she’s not here. I’m here and I need you. Can’t you see how much I love you? I’ve always been here for you. You’ve never seen what’s right in front of you, someone who loves you and will devote herself to you, if you let her. I’m right here, Walker! Please see me?”
“Elizabeth, you don’t know what you’re saying. You deserve so much better than half of a man that wants someone else. You are my best friend, and I can’t hurt you like that. Please just turn around and GO now. Get out!”
“No! I’m not going anywhere.” She is determined to drive me over the edge with her stubbornness. Her beauty doesn’t escape me. I’m not blind. Elizabeth Townsend is beautiful, intelligent, and simply kind hearted. She is like no other in our circle of friends. Yes, at first she was cool to Reese, but I know it comes from a good place. I know she loves me, but always stepped aside anytime someone new came into my life. Now she stands before me, and I can take her right now, and she would be willing to submit to me without question. Can I do that to her? I’m not drunk enough.
“Come here.” I instruct her. I was already feeling guilty for raising my voice at the one person that has never let me down. I can’t say the same for me. She once again is at my side and willing to do anything to comfort me, even offering her beautiful body. Elizabeth, with no fight left in her, walks easily into my welcoming arms. I fold her into me and whisper “Thank you” in her ear. I kiss the top of he
r head and hold her for a few minutes. Savoring her touch and welcoming the comfort of her embrace. I lift her chin, and find myself getting lost in her eyes. I see the love she feels for me. She deserves so much more.
“It’s late, how about we order some dinner and you stay the night.” Her eyes now light up, and I can almost see a sparkle. I have to be careful not to lead her on, so I rephrase. “You can have the guest bedroom, and I will be in my room.” I don’t miss the disappointment in her eyes, but she nods and goes to my kitchen for the menus. I haven’t seen anyone so familiar with my home since Reese, but I remain quiet and leave Elizabeth to it, while I change my clothes.
I phone my mother, and I tell her that she can expect me tomorrow late morning. She bids me good night, and I find Elizabeth waiting for me by my fireplace.
“I hope you don’t mind, it was a bit cool in here.” Visions of making love to Reese flash through my memory.
“I don’t mind.” I lied. “Elizabeth, I need you to understand that I’m in love with Reese, and I am not giving up hope on finding and reconciling with her. I don’t know why she left, but I fear I will never be able to move on until I know for sure. I meant what I said on New Year’s. I care for you very deeply, but my heart belongs to Reese and I can’t envision the thought of hurting you. Do you understand?”
“Walker, I’m no fool, but I can’t help that my heart only wants you. I have loved you for as long as I can remember. Please don’t give up on love and the possibilities that love can bring to your life. I know I can make you happy. Please think about it? Okay?”
“Okay, Elizabeth, I’ll try.” Her eyes light up like diamonds, while my heart continues to ache for the one that I love. I know just by agreeing to think about it, I have done the unthinkable, and have undoubtedly led her on. I told her what she wanted and needed to hear. Yes, I’m a bastard, but I can’t help what my heart wants.
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