10.

The phone rang and he nearly jumped out of his skin. He ran over but stopped before he picked up. Calm was what he needed. Surely not a breathless call of her name. "Hello?" He listened intently as his brother's voice broke through.

"Corny, we've been frantic, "he yelled, "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay Cam, no worse for wear." He replied tremendously disappointed.

"Candy said you didn't show up at her house, Dad is worried sick. Where have you been?"

"In a basement."

"In your basement?" Cam asked, "That wasn't very smart. Why didn't you evacuate like they said?"

"No, a basement, at the station. It's a really long story." He just wanted to hang up and start dialing her number. He owed his brother more than a quick conversation. He explained something that sounded good enough to pass the smell test. Cam seemed satisfied. "Listen Bro, call Dad and Candy for me. My phone is still flaky and I don't want them to get half a call. Would you do that?"

"I guess." He replied, "But they will want to talk to you. When will you be here?"

Oh Lord, not now. "I'm going to stay put until the trees are cleaned up. The roads are totally blocked." Or at least blocked enough for the national reporters to broadcast. "Tell Dad I'll be there Saturday. Send my love."

"But Corny……" he tried to interject.

"Can you hear that crackling?" he crunched the nearest piece of paper, "Cam are you still there?" he yelled holding the phone away from his mouth. "I can't hear you, I'll call you back." He hung up fast. Waited a minute and dropped the receiver down to the counter. Not now Bro, just not now.

What the hell was Velma's number? Where did he have it? He ran out and began searching through his desk. She was always such a control freak, day or night her employees should call her if sick or injured. So she could tell them make it in or forget your job. She was like a mother, a wicked stepmother. Every employee's nightmare. He flipped a book and the number stared at him. YES!

He ran back to the phone, pounded it back on hook and picked it back up. Dial tone. He ran his finger around the dial. As it connected his heart jumped. It was busy. No doubt Velma calling people to report to the rubble for tonight's news. He had to let things happen in their own time. No sense rushing anything. He would see her when he could, because after all that had happened, he believed things worked out the way they should. He would be willing to bet on it.

Amber looked in the mirror. Her hair was flat, her eyes were unlined and her lips were pale, but her most prized possession hung around her neck. Where was she going to put this? Mother often went through her room, reading personal notes and diary pages. She knew it. Where was it that this was safe? Where she would never find it? Only on her person. Amber frantically searched the drawers. A safety pin! Perfect. She weaved the chain around and ran the pin through the ring. It was pinned safely in her bra. Until she could find a safer place, this would have to do. School might give her an idea or perhaps with some good thought, she could come up with a place, but where it was made her feel secure.

She was fighting with the buckle on one of her shoes when she heard the phone ring. She tiptoed out and tried to listen to who it was. The only time her mother used that voice was when she spoke with the Chairman of the Board. Damn. Oh well, maybe he had some ideas about a studio. Just one step closer to where she wanted to be. Within his sight, dancing by his side, she didn't care at all, just near.

"Amber." Her mother whined, "The Chairman wants me down at WBAL this afternoon. They are going to lend us space for the live shows until our building is repaired. No news broadcasts but your show will be back on. Finish getting dressed and come with me."

"Oh, oh Mother, I want to see if Link is back." She pronounced her well practiced lie, "If we can't shop, I'm going to see if anyone is at the soda shop. Maybe I can find the kids."

"Link, of course you should find him." Velma knew the Link/Amber couple was extremely popular. Good for what she needed, "but I'm going to have to take your car. Call around, maybe one of the kids can pick you up."

"No problem, Mother." She smiled that golden smile, "I'll be here when you come back."

She held her breath until the door slammed. The car flew out of the driveway and Amber watched it speed down the street, swerving to avoid the work crews that cleaned up trees. She counted to sixty and ran to the phone. Everyone had his number. She had gotten it from Vicky's book when she wasn't looking. She frantically dialed. Busy. She dialed again, busy. She hung up the phone and sighed. Get that hair up and try again.

Her hair pony tailed, eyes framed with black mascara and good to go. She went back to the phone and dialed. It rang. Twice. He picked up. "Hello?"

Suddenly all the emotion of the past two days came up into her throat. She couldn't speak. "Hello?" she heard him say again.

All she could manage was to whisper his name.

"Are you okay?" she heard through the phone, "Is your mother there?"

"No, she's meeting with the board." She choked out, "I want to see you. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. A few stitches aren't going to get me down. Hey, Link is on his way to your house. You need to talk to him. He's worried about you."

"I don't want to see Link, I want to see you." She cried.

"I don't want you to see Link, I want you to see me." He replied, "but that isn't how it's going to be is it? Remember what we agreed? You have to keep it up. You can do it."

She swallowed. "Yes. I will, but when can I see you?"

"Where's your car? Mine's gone."

"Mother has it. And she saw. She saw your cross. She asked me about it."

"What did you say?"

"You gave it to me to give to your sister. She expects me to give it back."

"Are you ready to give it back?" he asked apprehensively.

"Of course not!" She admonished him indignantly.

"Then we'll work it out. Tell Link to bring you to 'Finian's'. Everyone is meeting there and I can walk. I'll see you there, okay? Don't be long. I'm heading over now"

She hung up the phone and didn't feel any better as Link arrived.