"THIS TIME AROUND"
By: gb
Chapter 12
Gillian paced the living room of Myrtle's boardinghouse with her arms crossed around her chest and her head down in deep thought.
Where was Ryan?, she wondered to herself. She had not heard from him the last few days and she had to admit that she was getting really worried.
Myrtle Fargate came into the room just then. Looking at Gillian, she felt sorry for her young boarder. She knew that Ryan Lavery was never far from Gillian's thoughts no matter what else she was doing.
Myrtle had always thought it a great shame that the two had never managed to work out their differences and come back together. She was so excited that Gillian was to have a child- Ryan's child. But then, she had lost the baby and things never were the same again. Deep in her heart, she knew that the two loved each other and always would. She also had it figured that Ryan's stubborness and stupidity had brought them to this impasse.
Oh, Ryan, she thought. How could you be so dense? How could you let a beautiful delightful thing like you lovely Gillian slip through your fingers and how could you even compare what you have with her to whatever is was with Hayley Santos?! Someone like this will only come around once, don't you know that?! You don't know how lucky you are!! She still loves you! You hurt her so terribly and she loves you, still. You don't even deserve her, you know.
Aloud, she asked, "Still nothing from Ryan, Honey?"
Gillian looked up and shook her head. Next to her grandmother, Myrtle was the most wonderful person, she knew.
"He called the other day looking for you." replied Myrtle. "Seemed awfully disappoited when I said you weren't here."
"I know it," Gillian said. "I had to work a couple of shifts at the hospital. Then Jake was keeping me so busy, I haven't had time to breathe. I meant to call him, it's just that..."
She didn't finish and Myrtle understood. "You're confused. I understand. You're finding it hard to trust Ryan intentions with you, aren't you? You don't know how genuine they are becaue Ryan has had so problems with this in the past."
"You're so wise, Myrtle." Gillian went over to her and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"But, I just called over to his place and there was no answer. I called SOS, his gym, I even spoke to Mateo and asked if he thought Ryan went over to see Hayley."
Myrtle heard the change in Gillian's voice as she mentioned the other girl's name.
"You didn't speak to Hayley?" she asked.
After a moment, Gillian said quietly. "We have nothing to say. I don't know how to talk to her. I still have so much anger, I don't know what to do. I don't understand her, Myrtle. Maybe she has real problems, but I just can't justify her reasons for what happened with Ryan. I'm sorry, I just can't."
"No one can blame you, Sweetheart. Your heart was broken and that's a natural reaction. You're only human. You're entitled to feelt this way. But don't let your feelings against Hayley come between your second chance with Ryan. He's the important part, here. If you want to go to him, don't let Hayley stop you. If Ryan loves- and I'm absolutely conviced he does- then Hayley can't change that. No person can. Those are Ryan's feelings, not Hayley's and she'll just have to accept that."
"Did I mention how wise you are?" Gillian smiled at the older woman and the two hugged close, with Myrtle's bright red short hair mingling with Gillian's long straight dark locks.
"I know you'll do the right thing if you follow your heart," Myrtle said matter of factly.
"Now be a good girl and call Ryan again."
Gillian went over to the phone and after she placed the call and received no answer, she thought about all the places that she had checked.
"You know, Grandmama said Ryan had been by Wildwind looking for me and he had this huge ugly cut on his handl, " Gillian said. "She said Ryan had wanted me to patch him up and then he left because I wasn't there. Do you think he may be terribly hurt and can't get help?"
"What makes you think that?" Myrtle wanted to know. "A cut on the hand isn't a major illness. Try not worry."
"I don't know, " Gillian admitted. "I just have this strange feeling. I always had all kinds of feelings- senses- when it comes to Ryan. I've never had them before with anyone else, but with Ryan, I don't know..."
"Now, you're just getting nervous," Myrtle tried to comfort her. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you and I drive over to Ryan's apartment right now and see if maybe he's just not working on something and not answering his phone or maybe he's taking a trip somewhere- people do that."
Myrtle didn't believe a word of what she was saying, but she could see that Gillian was working herself up into quite a state. Gillian did seem to have a inner connection with Ryan's thoughts and actions that Myrtle found unusual to say the least, but then sometimes love did that to people. Ryan was being mysterious in any event and it would do no harm to check this out.
Gillian seemed to perk up at this idea. "I don't think he's on a trip- he never mentioned taking one and I'm sure Mateo would have said something about it since Ryan works with him. Are you sure you don't mind coming with me?"
"I'll just get my purse and keys." said Myrtle ushering Gillian towards the door as the young girl grabbed her hobostyle bag from the sofa.
The two women went out the door and with Gillian thinking she was supposed to meet Jake for lunch, but deciding that he would just have to understand when she explained it to him later.
Once at the apartment complex where Ryan lived, Gillian and Myrtle went inside where they met with the manager of the place.
Approaching him, Gillian asked, "Excuse me, sir, but I'm looking for one of your tenants- Mr. Ryan Lavery. He's tall, lean- very good looking -lives in Mrs. Liza Chandler's former loft with her nephew, Mr. Scott Chandler..."
"Yes, I know them," he asked. "Are you a salesperson, because we don't allow soliciting here. Our tenants don't want to be bothered."
"Oh, no. " Gillian tried not to show how anxious she was now. "I'm Mr. Lavery's...friend and I haven't heard from him in a few days and I was wondering if he was alright."
The man was obviously not convinced as he looked doubtfully at Gillian and Myrtle.
"How can I be sure he knows you?"
Myrtle decided to intervene. "This is Mr. Lavery's wife- Gillian show him your driver's license. Now she is very worried. Won't you please help us?"
Gillian took out her wallet and flipping over the various leaves that held her cards and a photo of her and Ryan and one of Ryan by himself where he was smiling beautifully (her favorite photo of him), she found her drivers' license and held it out for the man to see.
He had taken note of the photos and her id and decided the pretty woman was telling the truth. Besides, after having met Ryan Lavery, he knew the guy had to have a beautiful woman somewhere- Lavery never dated and there was a tanline where he would have worn a wedding band and seeing this woman now he could understand why no one else would stand a chance whatever the situation between these two was that he had to have a place of his own.
"He came back here yesterday, " he said aloud. "He went up to his place and I haven't seen him back out since. I think he had a cut or something on his hand. Mr. Chandler hasn't been here in a several days. I think he's out of town."
"I knew it, " Gillian said to Myrtle. Turning back to the manager, she asked, "Could you take me up to his loft and let me in? I promise I just want to see if he's ok."
Seeing the concern on her face and the devotion in her eyes, the man grabbed at his keys and led Myrtle and Gillian up to Liza's old loft.
He opened the door for them and stepped inside and allowed them in. The three looked around the place and took note of it's messed up condition and called out Ryan's name, but there was not answer. Gillian walked towards the livingroom area, stepping over the piles of clothes, empty bottles, and newspapers and saw the broken pieces of glass around the coffee table.
"Ryan?" she called "Baby, it's Gillian. Are you here? Are you ok?"
Someone moaned from the floor nearby and Gillian looked down towards the sound. She gasped when she saw Ryan lying semiconscious on the floor, his head slowly moving from side to side as dried up blood seemed to surround him.
"Ryan!" she screamed bringing him to Myrtle and the manager's attention.
"Oh my God, he's hurt and I don't think he's conscious. Maybe he has broken limbs! Help, please!!"
The two came over to her as she bent down over Ryan, tears coming down like two rivers on either side of his face as she continued to call out to him in shouts that went out through the large room!....
end of part 12
(To be continued...)