"None of the girls have heard from or seen Taylor or her mom," Summer said on speaker. "Maybe they've moved."
"Amber says she thought she'd heard something about how Veronica had married some professional Russian athlete and moved away," Seth added.
"You two seemed awfully chummy at lunch."
Seth seemed to recognize Summer's tone. "I was trying to pump her for information."
"For someone who treated you like crap in high school, she was sure interested in what you had to say today."
"Guys," Ryan said.
"We also went to Taylor's Korean restaurant. Seung Ho's helping out there during Spring Break, and he said he hasn't heard from Taylor in about six months." Seth said, obviously trying to change the subject.
"Ryan," Summer said gently. "Maybe she's not here."
"I think we need to regroup. Have you had lunch? The newpsies eat like birds, and I'm starving for a burger," Seth said.
"She's here."
"Now that she's not restricted to boats and trains, Taylor could be anywhere," Seth said.
"I'm parked outside of her house."
"What?" Summer shouted. "How'd you find her?"
"Actually, I ran into her on the boardwalk while I was waiting for you." His palms tingled slightly as he remembered cupping her face. Her skin had been cool but just as soft and smooth as he remembered.
"What happened?"
Almost smiling at Summer's excited voice, he explained, "She was hiding behind these huge sunglasses and a scarf." He absently fingered the scarf beside him as he recounted the details of the last half hour.
"What're you going to do?" Seth asked.
"I don't know," Ryan admitted. "She's driving this crappy little car and lives in this little townhouse. There's something going on here, and I can't figure it out."
"Does Taylor know you followed her?"
"I doubt it. I was careful."
"I'm starving, Summer's starving, and I bet you haven't eaten anything at all. Let's grab something at the diner and come up with a plan."
Ryan agreed and called Kirsten and Sandy to update them.
"How'd she look?" Kirsten asked.
"Tired. Sad. She's lost some weight."
"She was thin enough already," Kirsten said.
Sandy spoke from the other extension, "Did she look like she was ill?"
"I'm not sure, but I'm guessing her passing out's not a good sign."
"At least you found her," Kirsten said, the relief and worry in her voice echoing Ryan's own emotions.
"Keep us posted, son," Sandy said.
"Will do." Ryan hung up as he entered the diner and found Seth and Summer sitting at the booth where they'd spent so much time.
"We ordered for you," Seth said. "We figured you'd want the usual."
"Thanks," Ryan said, although his mind was still on Taylor. Now that he'd seen how frail she looked, he wasn't interested in food. He just wanted Taylor and some answers.
Summer placed her hand over his. "You found her. That was the hardest part."
Ryan sighed. "Until about an hour ago, I would've agreed with you. But she's hiding something –" He broke off as the waitress delivered their food.
"Look, honey, manna from heaven," Seth muttered, grabbing the ketchup.
They ate quietly for a few minutes, giving Ryan a chance to go over Taylor's every move. It was obvious that she was hiding something, but did it have something to do with her health? Why was she living in such a small place? Had her mom kicked her out again? She'd stayed with Julie last time, but Julie'd told both Summer and Kirsten that Taylor hadn't stopped in LA. For some reason, Taylor hadn't returned to the Sorbonne to finish her last year. The more he thought about it, the more questions he had.
"That's it," Summer said, slamming down her empty glass. "We're leaving here and heading to Taylor's."
Ryan and Seth looked at each other.
"We're all sitting here with tons of questions, while the one with the answers isn't far away." Summer paused. "Taylor's our friend, and it sounds like she needs us."
"It's why we're here," Ryan agreed.
Twenty minutes later, they pulled across the street to Taylor's townhouse.
"That's it?" Seth asked from the passenger seat, scrunching his nose.
"I'm sure it's nicer than it seems," Summer said loyally from the back seat. "Knowing Taylor, it's very clean inside."
"Let's find out." Seth suggested.
"Hold on a second," Ryan said as the door opened.
Taylor stepped out and held the screen door open for her mom. Veronica, wearing dark sunglasses, reached for Taylor's hand and let her daughter help her down the sidewalk and into the car.
"You're right; Taylor has lost a lot of weight," Summer whispered. "But it looks like her mom's the sick one."
"Why're you whispering?" Seth asked quietly.
Summer stared at her boyfriend. "Why are you?"
Taylor ran back to the house, closed the door, and got into the driver's side of her car. After a few seconds, she started the car and drove away.
Summer slapped Ryan on the shoulder. "Follow them!"
"But be stealth," Seth advised sagely.
In short order, they arrived at the back entrance of the hospital and watched Taylor and Veronica – both hiding behind large sunglasses and looking around furtively – walk inside.
"What now?" Seth asked.
"You two stay here. My dad worked here for years, and remember, I was a candy striper."
"I still say you should've kept that outfit," Seth said, grinning.
Summer rolled her eyes and got out of the car. "I'll be back."
Seth asked Ryan how things were going and then proceeded to regale Ryan with his own college stories while they waited. Ryan caught a few words here and there but spent most of his time focused on the hospital, question after question running through his mind.
It seemed like hours before Summer returned, although it was probably only about thirty minutes.
Closing the door, bottle of water in her hand, Summer relayed what she'd found. "Taylor's mom has breast cancer. According to the nurses, Taylor's been taking care of everything – her mom, the business, and the finances."
"What do you mean finances?" Seth asked, taking the water bottle and helping himself to a drink.
"It turns out that Veronica never got her own health insurance, so they have to pay for everything themselves."
"That explains the apartment and crappy car," Seth said.
"While her mom does her chemotherapy, Taylor volunteers." Summer smiled. "Evidently, Taylor's skills haven't changed much since high school."
"So people are scared to look her in the eye and run away as fast as possible?" Seth asked.
"Let's just say that that after she instituted a series of elder mixers and succeeded in hooking up a few randy octogenarians, she was placed in charge of reading to the coma patients."
"I so don't want to picture that dance," Seth groaned.
Ryan grinned. The thought that Taylor was still being the Taylor that he loved made him feel relieved. He felt bad about Veronica, but he was so… grateful that it wasn't Taylor.
"They enjoy her energy; it's just that it's a bit –"
"Much?" Ryan offered.
Summer smiled back at him.
"What about the weight loss?" Seth asked.
"The nurses say that they don't think Taylor's been taking care of herself very well. She seems to be shouldering the burden all alone. They'd been wondering where all of her friends and other family were."
"What'd you tell them?" Ryan asked.
"I said that we were here now and that Taylor was going to get our help whether she wanted it or not. They're going to keep our conversation a secret right now, though. I told them it was a surprise."
"Good." Ryan said as he started the car.
"What's the plan?" Seth asked.
"I'm heading over there tomorrow morning."
"What about Veronica?" Seth asked. "She'll be there."
Summer waved a piece of paper in the air. "Why don't you call Taylor and schedule a rendezvous? This is her new, unlisted cell number."
Seth looked at her as Ryan took the paper. "'Schedule a rendezvous'? Have you been reading romance novels again?"
"Only the ones you've finished," Summer shot back, grinning.
Ryan stared at the piece of paper and smiled at Summer. "Great job."
Summer bowed her head modestly, "Thank you, thank you very much."
Ryan pulled out his phone and hesitated. "What if she'd turned it off?" Gesturing to the hospital, he asked, "Don't you have to turn off your cell phones in there?"
"In designated areas," Summer acknowledged. "Why don't we go to a movie or something, and you can call her afterward?"
As difficult as it was waiting, Ryan agreed but said, "You two go out. I'm going to head back to the hotel."
"Are you sure?" Seth asked.
"I have some work to do anyway."
"Dude, it's Spring Break."
Ryan gave Seth a look.
"Okay, okay. We'll grab our rental and meet you back at the hotel later. To the pier, Jeeves."
Holding back a snort, Ryan left the hospital, already anticipating hearing Taylor's voice again. In the meantime, he could work on some ideas he'd gotten for Grease.
