Chapter 4
"Logan," Carolyn said into the phone. It had been a busy morning, and she was buried under a mountain of paperwork: evidence logs, expense reports, personnel evaluations. She was happy to hear Mike's voice on the other end of the line.
"Hey."
"Hi."
"Andy's got a crazy idea."
"Oh?" She asked, skeptical.
"He wants to borrow the car and go see Katie at Yale."
"Andy? Wants to go see Katie?"
The two had grown up together. Katie was the closest thing to a sister Andy would ever have. And like most siblings, they enjoyed each other's company only to a point. Andy had been complaining about having to visit Katie for most of his teen years. He loved her, he loved to talk to her, to email. But it was completely out of character for him to want to give up an entire Friday night to visit her.
"Prom thing, I think," Mike hypothesized.
"Oh…" Carolyn was starting to piece it together, now. "And who is he planning to take with him?"
"Only Darren."
"Hmmm…"
"I told him I'd have to talk to you first."
"What do you think?
"I think it's a long drive, on a busy interstate."
"And?"
"I think he'll be safe with Katie. He can spend the night there if he has to."
"Let me talk to him."
She heard Mike hold out the phone and say, "she wants to talk to you."
"Connecticut, hey?" Carolyn asked.
"Yeah, Mom, I know it's far, but Darren will be with me and he can navigate for me and we can take the GPS and Katie will be waiting and she can drive the whole time we're there."
Carolyn smiled and almost laughed. He sounded like he was 5 years old again. "Darren's parents know about this plan?"
"He's going to ask as soon as we know if you'll loan us the car."
"Let me talk to your Dad." Again, she listened as the phone transferred hands.
"Hi."
"I guess it's okay with me as long as you put the fear of God into him about driving on the freeway. And Darren too, for that matter. And they have to head back by 10:00 or spend the night there. I don't want him falling asleep at the wheel."
"Sounds good to me," Mike said.
"All right." She listened to Andy's cheer as Mike told him yes, then waited for Mike to return his attention to her. "Mike?"
"Yeah, babe."
"I'm gonna work late again tonight. I have to get these evaluation reports in by Monday morning, or I'll be in deep shit."
"Okay. I'll call my girlfriend, have date night with her."
"Idiot. Katie's in Connecticut."
"Oh. Yeah." He smiled. "I'll be here when you get home. You want dinner?"
"I'll just have something delivered."
"Love you."
"You too. Mike, remember. Fear of God."
"I'm on it."
The boys made it to New Haven a little faster than they should have, but they pulled in safely and parked behind Katie's dorm. Darren spent a few minutes checking his hair in the rearview mirror before he climbed out.
"You all pretty, now?" Logan asked.
Darren just grinned and followed his best friend inside. Andy checked in at the front desk, and they called Katie's room for him. In a few minutes, she came down the hall, dressed in jeans and a scoop neck long sleeve t-shirt. She wore the necklace her Dad gave her for graduation, a little cross exactly like the one her Mom wore, only on a little longer chain.
Darren was speechless. He licked his lips and watched her give Andy a hug.
Then it was his turn. Katie hugged him easily, but he was as rigid as a stone. "H-hi, Katie," Darren said, and licked his lips again.
She smiled at him, then turned to Logan. "Lisa said we can just walk over and get her anytime."
The group walked together out into the night, Katie telling Andy all her best stories of college.
They did not see the woman behind the wheel of the minivan that was parked across the street.
"Oh, shit! I forgot to call Dad and tell him we're here!" Andy exclaimed, and yanked his cell phone out of his pocket.
"Andy?"
"Sorry, Dad, I forgot to call. We're okay. We're here."
"Say hi to Katie for me."
"You got it, Dad."
"Ten o'clock, don't forget."
"Yessir."
Katie's friend Lisa, as tall as Andy and dressed in a loose, knee length skirt and a tie died hippie looking blouse, walked outside and joined them on the sidewalk. Katie introduced them, and Andy shook her hand politely. She didn't seem his type, but she was pretty.
They walked another block to the coffee shop, and the boys held chairs for the girls until they sat down.
"Wow," Lisa said. "You don't get that kind of treatment every day."
Katie spoke for her friend. "Andy's Dad is as strict as mine about manners. And Darren's just a good guy, aren't you, Darren?"
He blushed, and Katie smiled.
"They have food here?" Andy asked. The boys were famished.
"Yeah, sandwiches." The group looked over the menu and placed their orders.
"Did you talk to your Dad?" Andy asked her.
"Yeah, he and Mom came down last night. It was kind of weird."
"What do you mean, weird?"
Katie glanced over at the others, not sure she wanted them to overhear. "I'll tell you later, Andy. I need to tell somebody."
He looked at her with great concern, but he didn't ask for more information.
A/N I'd love to get some reviews about now!
