Chapter 11

Pine Valley Di/Aidan's house

"Uncle Del!"

"Hey kid. So Julia just dropped you off?"

"Yeah, she had to go to the hospital for work and well, since Daddy's away she said you have to watch me."

"Alright then, c'mon in."

"So why are ya staying with Aunt Di and Uncle Aidan? Did something happen with your book; is it not a good one?" Kate asked innocently.

"Okay, who gave you that idea? Hmm? Let me guess, your daddy told ya right?'

"Well, kind of..." Kate said shyly.

"Well kind of!" Del laughed as he tickled his niece on the chin until she giggled.

"I'm staying with Di and Aidan simply because they asked me to housesit for the weekend. And my book is fabulous by the way."

"Whatever you say Uncle Del!" Kate rolled her eyes and went to the guestroom. She decided before dinner to call Emma but remembered she was off on a camping trip. Then suddenly her cell phone started buzzing.

"Hello, Kate speaking, oh hi Little A. What's going on? You like never call me. How's J.R and Whitney? How's Europe?"

"Well actually I'm not in Europe. I'm at the Chandler Mansion. We flew home last night. Dad got a call from Grandpa."

"What about? Is anything wrong?"

"Well, I'm calling from up in my bedroom. Whitney told me to go play for awhile, so there's something big going on."

"Do you have any idea what?"

"Well, oh wait, there's yelling! Grandpa is saying that he and Miss Krystal just broke up, because. Oh I can't hear why! Whitney just told Daddy to close the door."

Kate didn't need to hear the rest of the story. She knew exactly why Mr. Frosty and Krystal weren't together anymore.

"Kate! You still there? Hello!"

"Oh, sorry Little A, I, um, got distracted for a second."

"Do you know why Grandpa and Krystal are broken up?" Little A asked curiously.

"Uh, yeah. Little A, I...I think you're a bit too young to know why. But, there is a reason. Um, they fell out of love."

"Oh, like my dad and my old mommy did."

"Yeah, kind of. Little A, I gotta go now. I'll talk to you later, yeah um. Bye."

Kate didn't want to tell Little A the real reason that Krystal and Adam had broken up, she already knew exactly what was going on. She also knew how upset she was by it all, and cared for her nephew Little A too much to make him feel the same way. She thought to herself as she angrily hung up the phone.

"Hey, kid! Dinner's ready!" Del said as he came into the guestroom. "Hey are you okay? You look kind of glum."

"No, no I'm fine. Uncle Del. Is it okay if I take a walk? I'm not that hungry."

"You? Not hungry. You aren't sick or anything?"

Del said as he felt her forehead.

"No, I'm fine. I promise."

"Sure, I guess it's alright. Besides I have some work I could do anyways. Just don't wander too far off, only to the park if anyplace. And if it starts raining come back home."

"Are you sure everything's okay?" Del asked curiously as he handed Kate her jacket.

"Yup." Kate said as she walked out onto the porch. As she made her way to the playground, she couldn't help but get angrier as another realization set in. Since Krystal and Adam had already broken up, maybe the real reason her dad was away was so he could be with Krystal for the weekend. This thought just depressed her all the more as Krystal was the last person she would ever want to see her father with.

After a few minutes she decided to make her way back home when all of a sudden she heard a sound coming from the bench by the bushes. As she was about to run back inside she realized the sound was someone crying.

"h.Hello? Is anyone there?" Kate said softly as she headed towards the noise.

As Kate walked over she saw a person on the bench with her head in her hands.

"Who, who are you? Can I help you? Why are you crying?"

Kate asked as she moved closer to the person, who looked up in surprise and was about to stand up, but then suddenly she paused as she recognized the little girl standing in front of her.

"Miss Misty? Is that you?"

"Kate?" Misty looked up in astonishment.

"Yeah it's me! What are you doing in the park? Are you lost?"

"No, sweetie I'm fine, really. I just got back to town and came here to clear my head. What are you doing here so late?"

"Same thing as you, just wanted to think a bit." Kate said as she sat down next to her old teacher. "So are you gonna be teaching me again? Because the lady who's our new teacher is real mean. My class misses you!"

"Oh Kate, I don't know yet. I had a well, change of plans and don't really know what my next move is, anyways don't worry about me. You should be getting back home, it's getting dark out. You aren't here by yourself are you?"

"Yeah well, I, um. Uh oh." Kate said with embarrassment as Del came running over to the bench.

"Hey you! Get away from my niece right now! Kate you should know better then to talk to strangers! C'mon, it's getting dark!"

"But Uncle Del, Miss Misty isn't a stranger."

"Well who is she?" Del asked as he looked at the tired looking brunette standing next to his niece.

"My name's Misty, actually. See I was Kate's old teacher and I saw her wandering around the park this late and came over to make sure she was alright. I'm so sorry if I caused any trouble."

"No, it's, it's no trouble at all. I'm Del Henry, Kate's uncle."

"It's nice to meet you." Misty said as she went to shake Del's hand but stumbled on a tree root.

"Hey are you okay?" Del said as he helped Misty to her feet.

"Yeah, fine. Just a tree root, I'm gonna go. I'll see you later Kate."

"Wait, Misty! Let me walk you back to your hotel, I mean no offense but you don't look so good right now. At least let me make sure you get home safe."

"Uh, well actually. I was just going to find a room right now. It's late. You should get Kate back home. I'll be fine."

"Hang on, why don't you just stay with me? I'm house-sitting for my sister, and you look like you need a place to crash."

"Oh no it's way too much trouble. You barely even know me, and, no it's fine. I'll be fine."

"C'mon. Just come on back. You can stay tonight and I'll help you find a place to stay in the morning."

"Please Miss Misty?" Kate asked.

"Hey look Kate would really like it, and besides it's dark out, and you never know what idiots are out here at night."

"Well, I don't know. I."

"It's settled then, Follow me!" Del said enthusiastically as he led the way back to the house.