"I'm a lawyer," Larry answered, "a litigator."

"Oh, that's nice. Where do you practice?" Daniel was just full of conversation, but Larry wasn't. He wanted to finish eating and find Ally as soon as possible. Damn this man, he thought.

"I'm solo practitioner and I live in Boston," Larry spat out, trying to talk fast as to maybe speed up the small talk progression and go look for Ally.

"Daniel, why don't we-" Jamie started, but then they heard the door.

"Ah! That must be Paul!" Daniel stood up. Paul entered the room. "There you are! I was worried," Daniel went over to Paul who had a happy-go-lucky grin on his face. This of course, bothered Jamie because she knew he had been acting off and strange almost the whole past week.

"You look awful happy Paul, what have you been up to?" Jamie asked, prying.

"Did ya meet a girl?" Daniel hinted, elbowing Paul in the ribs for effect.

Paul finally spoke. "No Dad, Jamie, I just," he paused and smiled wider. "I just had a really good night."

"Um, Paul," Jamie started. "This is, Larry, Sam's father," Paul looked at Jamie funny, making Jamie wonder even more.

"Oh," Larry stood up and offered his hand. Paul moved closer to Larry and took it, shaking it questionably. "Hi Larry."

Larry noticed something familiar about him. That smell, what was that smell? Larry took a deep breath. He smelled Ally, Oh shit! I knew it!!! Larry began to panic and Jamie noticed. "I need some, some fresh air," Larry mumbled as he made his way outside. Jamie gave a frustrated look to Daniel who nodded his head in agreement and she followed him.

"So Paul, where HAVE you been?" Daniel half-scolded his son. "I've been worried sick! Mr. Paul's fiancée has turned up missing as well, so I was really worried!"

"Dad, you won't BELIEVE who I found!"

Larry staggered outside and fell down onto the porch stair, a horrid look on his face.

"Larry, what's wrong?" Jamie probed. "What happened in there?"

Larry struggled with the words. "He, that boy, Paul," he said his name, as if he were saying something forbidden, "he smelled like, like, Ally," Larry looked at Jamie with fear in his eyes.

Jamie was taken aback. This was getting a little too ridiculous for her. "Larry, you just miss her. Stop it, stop it right now!"

Larry leaned his nose over towards Jamie and inhaled. "Well YOU don't smell like her and you're a woman!" Larry growled back at her, Jamie shut her mouth, have been put in her place.

"Well, Larry, I," Jamie didn't know what to say. "Well what exactly do you want to do?"

Larry looked Jamie straight in the eye, "I wanna know where Paul was," Larry was dead serious and Jamie knew it; there was no talking any sense into Larry now. All he knew was his sense, his mind, his thoughts, his presumptions. And for some reason, Jamie found herself believing in Larry.

"She left Paul! There's no way!" I roared at Paul, who had that look of joy on his face, only to be erased by confusion.

"Dad, I don't think you know what you're saying. She left, yes, I know this. But I found her; I brought her back to me. She's at the other cabin sound asleep and she's not going anywhere. She promised," oh how I hated seeing the hope in his eyes. Paul had always been troubled about his mother, and anything said about her would always set him off. Paul would go absolutely crazy, there was no denying it; but I can't keep anything from him any longer.

"Paul," I wrapped my arm around Paul's shoulders and led him to the couch to sit him down. "Elisabeth," I took a deep breath, this is hard on me too. "Your mother, died two years ago from tumor cancer. She's gone son, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"But you're wrong dad! You're wrong!" Paul stood up shrieking at me, and then he took off towards the door. I stood up and tried to go after him. Paul grabbed the handle of the door, stopped and turned around. "If you don't want her, I'll have her. She's my mom and she still loves me! Fuck you!" Paul opened the door and stormed out, running past Larry and Jamie who were sitting on the porch step.

Larry stood up very suddenly and looked at me, "Where's he going?" he demanded, pointing towards Paul who was getting into his 4-Runner.

I looked at Larry's still pondering face and suddenly it clicked. Paul had disappeared as soon as Larry had shown up with Jamie claiming his Ally was gone. The picture, Larry kept saying Ally while looking at Elisabeth's face. Oh my god, I'm such a fool! "Larry," I took a deep breath. "We've got a problem."

Just keep going! Just keep going Ally! Larry, think Larry. His warm arms, his strong embrace, telling me everything's gonna be okay. Think Larry! I kept peddling towards the lake; I was almost there. I was petrified at the thought of Paul coming back and realizing I left him, yet again I guess he would say. But what could I do? I wasn't his mother. I would have had to have had him when I was what ten. I don't THINK so! I reached the bike path that I remember riding on with Larry some hours before. It was a good thing my bike was still around, there was no way that I could have gotten anywhere on just running alone. I started flying down the bike path peddling with all my might wondering if I would ever come to familiar ground. It looked like I was on the other side of the lake and I had a long way to go. Thinking of Larry was all I could do to keep me peddling. I really was so very tired. Think Larry, your fiancée, your true love, your one.

I took a deep breath and let myself coast down a rather steep hill, struggling to maintain control of the speeding bicycle. I decided not to take the main road in case he came back and saw me and could snatch me back up again. This can't be happening to me! I'm supposed to be on vacation with my man! Damn!

He's wrong! She's back, she's here, and she's mine! All mine! She loves me! Damn him! How could he tell me my mother was dead when I just saw her sleeping on my couch? What a foolish old man. I hope he doesn't come and find me! I'm going to have to go somewhere else with her. No, maybe if he sees her, it'll work out better. Yes, if he sees her, he'll understand and then he can't tell me that she's not alive and here. Perfect.

Paul was driving down the street towards the other cabin when he saw a figure on a bicycle. "What the hell?" he said out loud.

Ally happened to be that figure on the bike and she stopped suddenly and looked Paul in the eyes. Shit shit shit shit!!! Oh my god, what am I going to do? Ally plastered a smile on her face and started to ride towards her. She was surprising herself at how fast she was able to think. Paul rolled down the window. "What the hell are you doing mom?"

"I was just taking a ride. I needed some fresh air. Oh Paul, did you really think I was leaving you again?" She got off her bike and walked towards him, peeking her head inside the window.

Paul looked stunned. He didn't see a way for a woman to be smart enough to think so fast, so he believed her. "Well, um, why don't you put the bike in the back of the truck and we'll go back to the house and play a game or something," as Ally smiled gleefully, so he thought, to that remark, Paul's face lit up once again.

Paul turned off the engine and got out to put the bike in the back. Ally got into the car and took a deep breath. Damn that was close, Ally thought, breathing another sigh of relief. What am I gonna do? Larry, help me!!! Ally screamed inside her head.

"You mean Paul thinks that Ally is his mother?" Jamie was holding the picture frame yet again, looking rather confused. I can't believe this is happening. Daniel was telling us that this troubled young man thought that my Ally was his mother. She's only like thirty-one, what the hell!!! This man was sick! I have to get Ally back. He might do something to hurt her! NO!!!!!!

"Afraid so honey," Daniel responded looking at the floor. "I can't believe I didn't get him help before. I never knew it was this serious."

"Didn't know it was this serious?" I ask unbelievably. I'm so furious I could kill someone! "How do you not notice? I mean shit Daniel!" I was getting REALLY worked up now.

"Larry!" Jamie hissed at me. "Calm down! Daniel is just as upset as you are. His kid has gone crazy. RELAX!"

Daniel has his head bowed. "No Jamie, it's okay. I really do deserve this; I should have seen it coming. More so, I shouldn't have let him leave." Daniel stopped and looked me dead in the eyes. "The good thing about this though, is that I know where they are."

I handed Daniel his coat, "Then what the HELL are we waiting for?"

This boy could be a lot of fun, I noticed. We played yahtzee for what seemed like forever, just laughing and having a good time. I relaxed for the first time since I had been there. Where's Larry? You would think he would have made some attempt to find me. But remember Ally, he has NO idea where the hell you are. I sigh and it catches Paul's attention.

"Are you okay mom?"

Shit! "Um, yeah, I'm fine, just a little beat I guess," I yawned.

"Okay, well this time why don't you actually try and get some sleep, okay?" he joked. How sweet, he seems so worried about me. Damn this is really hard.

"Okay, you too. Oh, you never told me where you went before," I could resist. I needed to know if he was gonna leave again and how much time I would have if he left again to try and get away.

"Oh mommy," Paul ran over to me and gripped me in a hug. "He tried to tell me that you were dead and that you didn't exist and you left and, and," he was hyperventilating.

"Relax Paul," I tried to shush him up and start rubbing his back. "It's okay honey, I'm here," ugh, how juvenile, I just called Paul 'honey.' I am too maternal, has anyone ever told me that?

He looked up at me, he had started crying. Damn this is gonna be hard. "But you're here, and you're not going anywhere. And even if you do," he pulled apart from me and reached into a bag sitting on a chair next to where he was before. My eyes opened in terror; he had a gun. OH MY GOD!!!!!

"Now why would you use that on me Paul?" Ally asked nervously.

"Well you just can't leave me again. I couldn't take it. I went crazy while you were gone you know. I'm surprised no one tried to lock me up," he was stroking the gun with one hand and sniffling as he continued. "People tried to tell me you weren't ever coming back and that you never really loved me. I told them all to leave me alone and that they were wrong and that they'd see someday. " He looked up at Ally, both hands still on the gun. "I told them I'd find you and I knew I would," he paused, "and I have." He smiled at Ally who mustered a scared half-smile.

Ally was too terrified to move. "Can you put that gun away?" she halfway pleaded, fear in her eyes.

"Oh, it scares you?" Paul seemed immediately concerned. "I'm sorry," he reached for her shoulder and she shivered, noticeably, he withdrew. Paul's mood suddenly changed. "I'm sorry to scare you, but if that will guarantee," he stressed guarantee, "that you won't leave me again, I have to keep it around. I can't bare to be alone again in this world."

"Come on Daniel! Can't you drive any faster?" Larry was pushing Daniel. Talk about a back-seat driver. I kept my mouth shut up in the front passenger side seat though. If I said anything, it would just make it worse. Larry was obviously in pain, the love of his life had been kidnapped under the impression of being someone else's mother. This really is a sad case. I can't believe Paul. Well, maybe I can, but still. Daniel must have noticed the puzzled look on my face cause he reached over to grab my hand and squeezed it, comforting me some. Poor Daniel too! He must be going through hell as well. His only son is going crazy. How the hell are we going to get through this? I wonder if Paul is a violent person. He seemed violent with words, but he didn't seem violent physically. I actually hope that Ally is okay. I mean I really understand Larry now; more so than before. The loves of his life come first. There's Sam, adorable Sam, my baby boy as well as his. Then there's his job, which he loves, and trust me is REALLY good at. Then there's Ally, his Ally. I really get it.

We pulled up to another cabin and rolled to a stop. Larry jumped out of the car immediately and Daniel ran after him. I pulled the break for the car, Daniel had forgotten to in the midst of grabbing Larry and holding him back. I listened to the conversation as I slowly made my way out of the car.

"Larry!" Daniel grabbed his arm and whipped him around.

Larry stopped and glared at Daniel. "God knows what he's doing to her in there!"

"Larry!" Daniel repeated. "He thinks she's his mother, not an old lover. I DOUBT we have to worry about anything like that! I'm sure she's fine." I walked over slightly beside Daniel but nonetheless in between them.

"Listen, I just wanna get Ally back, and get her away from this god awful place, okay?" Larry started to sound distressed instead of mad.

"Daniel," I decided to intervene. "What are the odds that Paul has hurt Ally?"

Daniel took a deep breath. "Well," he looked at Larry. "How cooperative is she with insisting people?"

"She's a lawyer too, I think she's okay from her end, but your son, I don't know if I trust him!" Larry's eyes were filled with fright. Poor thing.

"Why don't we just go in?" I suggest and I walk towards the door.

"Jamie," Daniel started to try and stop me.

I looked back at him and gave him that don't fuck with me look. I opened the door and what I saw, well, oh my god.

I felt Larry behind me and he lunged forward, I tried to stop him, but he kept going. Paul was holding a gun and Ally was right in front of him. Paul's eyes widened at Larry who was lunging at him, I ran to get in front of Larry and tried to back him up when I felt a sharp puncture in my back and I fell to the ground.

I heard Ally scream when I saw Jamie fall to the ground. Oh my god! What just happened? Did she really save my life?

I screamed as Jamie hit the ground, not knowing what to do or think. My instincts, well they were blocked. I was frozen looking at Jamie's body as she was shaking slightly and Larry bent down to her. Then I saw some strange older man come towards Paul who had a stunned look on his face.

I jumped as mommy screamed next to me. I didn't mean to fire it, really. Oh my god, did I just kill a person? Well that's okay, I think he wanted to take my mom from me and she just got in the way. Poor Jamie, she really did seem nice. Oh well, as long as my mom isn't hurt. What's daddy doing?

Oh my god! Jamie! I stood there for a split second, stunned and then I lunged at Paul, who sat there stunned. What had he done? He shot someone! What did I do? I should have gotten him help before! Shame on me!

Daniel ran over to Paul and took the gun then grabbed his arms and brought them behind his back. Ally backed up a little bit, standing there in shock, and then she moved towards Jamie.

"Jamie," she clasped her hand. "What were you thinking?"

Jamie was struggling for breath. "Ally, he loves you. Don't," she gasped for breath and Ally squeezed her hand tighter. "Don't let him go," she finished and then looked at Larry.

"Jamie, I," Larry was stuttering. If Ally could have, she would have enjoyed seeing him stutter for the first time in his life. "Jamie, thank you, you, you saved my life."

"No Larry, don't," Jamie started convulsing and Larry grabbed her in his arms.

"It's okay Jamie, hang in there, we're gonna get you some help. Don't go dying on me now!" A tear rolled down Larry's face.

Daniel had managed to hold onto Paul while dialing 911 that soon came with a cop car for Paul and an ambulance for Jamie. Now Daniel was sitting with Jamie who was in a hospital bed unconscious. They had gotten the bullet out of her back but while in surgery, they hit a nerve and she went into a comma and her recovery was questionable. Paul, on the other hand was immediately admitted to a mental institution, no hesitation. Daniel wanted him off the streets, immediately and to seek the help he obviously needed.

Daniel hadn't left her side or dropped her hand and he had been talking to her. "Jamie, you can't, you can't leave me now. I need you. You're the best thing in my life since Elisabeth. True, she left me, what could I do? She fell for someone else and left Paul and me. I should have been more attentive to Paul. This would have never happened. I blame myself entirely! Now if you'll just get better, then I'll make it up to you, I'll spend my entire life making up for it, if you let me. I," he stopped and wiped a tear from his eye. "I love you Jamie."

Meanwhile, Larry and Ally were in the waiting room sitting on a couch holding each other tight.

"I was so scared Ally. I thought I'd never see you again. I blamed myself you know," Larry was stroking Ally's hair.

"I blamed myself Larry. I was the one who was being a selfish bitch. I'm so sorry. I thought I would never see you again either," Ally just squeezed Larry's waist tighter, not wanting to ever let go. "What do you think will happen to Jamie?" Ally asked thoughtfully after a minute or two of silence.

"I don't know Ally, I just don't know," Larry sighed.

A YEAR LATER

Well here I am, my wedding day. Who would have thought it would ever happen? I always thought I would marry my first love. But I guess time has a funny way of working things out.

Larry and Ally made their way down the aisle and then the music started. Everyone turned to watch Jamie walk down the aisle in a beautiful flowing white gown, holding onto her dad, beaming. Larry glanced over at Daniel who had a smile glued to his face, then down to his adorable son who was grinning ear to ear looking at his mom. Next he looked down at his own wedding ring and then finally over to Ally who was noticeably 6 months pregnant holding her stomach and a bouquet, looking radiant and right back at him with a soft smile on her face.

Yep, he thought, time sure does have a funny way of working things out.

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E-mail me at Allygurl018@aol.com