Chapter 2:

April 24, 1997

Springfield, IL

Spaulding Enterprises 7:30 am

Amanda Spaulding was busy working on the arrangements for the cocktail party when her secretary told her that Blake Marler wished to speak with her. Amanda raised her eyebrows in confusion as she wondered what Blake could possibly want this time. Probably has something to do with Ross, Amanda thought. Boy was she wrong when Amanda met Blake in her office shortly after.

"Can I help you with something, Blake?" Amanda asked, with her best sweet tone she could talk in.

"Yes, you can," said Blake, coldly. The gall on this woman for attempting to be sweet with her.

"I assume this has to do with Ross?" asked Amanda.

"No it does not," Blake said coldly. "It's bad enough I know about the two of you kissing when Ross and I are trying our best, or at least I am trying to do my best to save our marriage, while you are too busy sinking your claws into him."

"I am not sinking my claws into Ross," said Amanda firmly. "He happens to be a very good friend, who I happen to be very fond of and who is going through a lot right now from your drunken one night stand with Rick Bauer."

"And you're there as the supportive friend, am I correct?" said Blake, who glared at her.

"Yes," said Amanda. "Look, Blake, I understand you don't like me very much, considering my past with Ross and our spending time together again. Probably even less now that I'm in a relationship with Roger."

"Is that why you decided to send him on a business meeting out of town, a few days before the cocktail party that I've heard you'll be throwing?" Blake raised her voice as Amanda turned her back to her.

Amanda's eyes narrowed in confusion as she turned around. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play games with me, Amanda," said Blake. "I know you sent my father out on a business meeting with some "very important clients" out of town just so you could spend more time with Ross."

"Blake, I honestly don't know what you're talking about," said Amanda.

"Don't you?" retorted Blake. "You probably did it to prove yourself a Spaulding to get in Alan's good graces again, especially since he thought of you as his daughter for so many years until he found out you were really his half-sister."

"Blake, will you please just listen to me?!?" Amanda shouted, unknowingly drawing attention upon her and Blake. "I don't know where you heard that I sent Roger out on a business meeting when last time I checked, his schedule was cleared when I went in to his office yesterday."

Blake's anger deflated as she stared at Amanda doubtfully, panting heavily.

"You didn't send him on the business meeting?" Blake asked, slowly.

"No, I didn't," Amanda insisted. "As far as I know, Roger hasn't shown up at work this morning. Blake, would you please tell me what is going on here?"

Blake didn't say anything as she realized her father had lied to her about the business meeting. It only reaffirmed her suspicions that something was wrong with Roger that he didn't want her or anybody else to know about. Roger had left Springfield without a trace as to his whereabouts. What was she going to tell Mom?

"I have to go," Blake said quietly. "I'm sorry for accusing you, Amanda."

She immediately left Amanda staring at her as she left her office in shock.

Amanda recovered immediately, when she saw the party planners staring at her before they quickly returned to work. She sat down in her chair and grabbed the telephone, dialing Roger's phone number, only to go to voicemail, so Amanda decided to leave a message.

"Roger, would you please tell me what the hell is going on here and why you haven't shown up to work yet?" said Amanda. "Your daughter showed up here just now, saying that I sent you out on a business meeting and--" Amanda paused. "Look, just call me whenever you get this. Alright?"

Amanda hung up the phone before picking it up again and calling the apartment complex.

"Hello, this is Amanda Spaulding," she said. "Is my fiance still in his room? His name is Roger Thorpe."

Amanda listened and sat up straight as the complex manager informed her that Mr. Thorpe had checked out last night, and paid him the rent for his apartment as he packed his belongings in his car and left shortly afterwards.

"So I see," Amanda said, monotonously. "Thank you very much for letting me know. Goodbye."

She slowly placed the phone back on the receiver as she quietly asked, "Where did you go, Roger?"

Oakdale, IL

Lakeview Hotel, same time

Roger had arrived in Oakdale at 10:30 pm last night, after leaving Springfield and immediately booked a room at the Lakeview Hotel. He walked into its lobby, which was already packed with customers, who were getting checked out by a blonde woman, who looked to be in her 60's and had a Southern accent that reminded Roger of the Lewis family, and had him hoping that she wasn't a distant relative to them.

"Thank you very much for staying here," said the woman. "We hope you come again real soon."

The customers nodded and waved their goodbyes to her, as Roger approached.

"Good morning, handsome," said the woman who smiled. "How did you sleep last night?"

Roger smiled back. "I slept really well, thank you for asking."

"Did you find everything to your accommodations?" the woman asked.

"I did," said Roger. "My room had everything that I needed."

"I'm very glad to hear that," said the woman, who nodded. "Will you be checking out now, gorgeous?

"Uh, no, not yet," said Roger whose slur was starting to bother him. "Uh, I plan on staying here for a couple days more, if that's alright."

"No problem, handsome," said the woman who smiled. "We appreciate your staying with us. Say, I don't mean to be nosey, but how long have you had that slur?"

Damn it, Roger thought.

"For several months now," Roger said honestly, albeit uncomfortably. "I thought it might be a stroke, but now I'm not too sure. I'm actually here to schedule an appointment here in Oakdale."

"Oh, well you are in luck," said the woman. "Because you see, my ex-husband Robert, who happens to be the father to my son Tommy, just so happens to be the Chief of Staff here at Oakdale Memorial."

"Is that so?" Roger asked, his eyes lighting up with interest.

"Oh yeah," the woman said, smiling before his eyes widened. "Say, I have an idea. How about I schedule your appointment with him?"

"That's really not necessary," said Roger, who shook his head as he raised his hands in protest.

"Oh, but I must insist," said the woman, giddily. "Besides, there's no finer doctor here in Oakdale than Bob Hughes." The woman smiled with pride upon saying her ex-husband's name, before it disappeared quickly. "Unless of course you count John Dixon, despite him being an obnoxious little--"

"If you could just call your ex-husband, I'd appreciate it very much," Roger slurred.

"What?" the woman asked, staring at Roger in confusion before smiling again. "Oh, of course. Where are my manners? I tend to flap my mouth all day with customers, I do apologize. I'm going to call Bob right now."

Roger watched as she grabbed the phone and dialed.

"Bob, it's Lisa," the woman said. "Listen, darling, I've got a customer here at the hotel who wishes to make an appointment with you."

Roger watched Lisa smile again as she listened to Bob's response on the phone.

"No, he's not my new boyfriend or my ninth future husband," Lisa said, causing Roger's eyebrows to raise up in surprise. "He is just a new friend that I have made along the way, and I really think that you should see him."

Lisa placed her hand over the speaker as she looked at Roger and asked, "What's your name again, sweetheart?"

"Roger Thorpe," he said.

Lisa uncovered the speaker as she said his name to Bob. She nodded her head before she said, "I'll be sure to tell him. Thank you so much, Bob. I appreciate it. Bye bye."

Lisa hung up the phone before smiling at Roger. "Okay, sweetie, Bob says he can see you at 10, so why don't you settle down and get some breakfast while you wait. Is that alright?"

"That's fine with me," Roger smiled. "Thank you very much, I appreciate it."

"Anytime, darling," Lisa smiled, nodding.

Springfield, IL

The Springfield Journal, 8:20 am

Blake arrived at the Journal, and found her mother discussing business with a female reporter, before she headed to her office.

"Mom."

Holly turned around and saw her daughter standing there.

"Blake, how long have you been here?"

"I just got in," Blake explained.

Holly's eyes lit up with understanding, as she nodded. "I assume you've already talked to Amanda about your father's business meeting."

Blake didn't reply, as she stared at her mother with fear in her eyes, dreading her mother's reaction.

"Honey, you're scaring me," Holly said nervously. "Is something wrong?"

"Could you please close the door, Mom?" Blake said, her voice choking up.

Holly nodded slowly, her daughter's tone was making her nervous. Whatever she had to say, had to be said without prying ears.

Holly closed the door, before she also drew the drapes. She didn't want anyone to see her or her daughter's faces as Blake told her whatever she had found out from Amanda.

"Sweetheart, what is it?"

"Daddy's gone, Mom."

"What do you mean, gone?" Holly asked confusedly.

"He lied about the business meeting," Blake said. "Amanda told me that she never sent Roger on a business meeting. He's gone, he's left Springfield!"

"Are you sure?" Holly asked as she looked at her daughter in shock, her heart's beating raised. Despite their awful past and Holly's current marriage to Fletcher, Holly still cared about Roger, her first love, father to her daughter Blake, very much. His leaving town very suddenly was starting to make Holly worry as much as her daughter.

"I'm certain," Blake said, rubbing away the tears in her eyes with the back of her left hand. "He's gone, Mom. Daddy's gone."

"Did he say where he went?" her mother asked.

"No," Blake said, shaking her head. "And I don't think he left a clue as to where he went."

"Oh, sweetie," said Holly, who got up and hugged her daughter. "Don't worry, we'll find him. I'll call Ross and see if he can find out anything."

"Daddy is not exactly on Ross' list of favorite people," Blake reminded her.

"That may be the case," Holly agreed. "But nevertheless, he knows how much Roger means to you, despite your marriage breaking up... along with his 'friendship' with Amanda Spaulding."

Blake frowned. "Mom, can you call Ross and tell him what's going on?"

Holly looked at her daughter, and saw how distressed she was, by Roger leaving and her separation from Ross.

"Of course, sweetie," Holly nodded. "Just go on home, okay?"

"I will," Blake said, before she stood up, about to open the door.

"Blake," her mother called.

Blake turned to her mother.

"I love you," said Holly.

Blake's eyes teared up as she remembered her conversation with Roger before he left town.

"I love you too, Mom," Blake choked up.

Holly ran and hugged her daughter again, as Blake sobbed in her mother's shoulder.

The door suddenly opened.

"Holly, why do you have the drapes down? I can barely see--" said Fletcher, who came in and stopped speaking when he saw Holly and Blake separate from their hug.

"I'm sorry, Fletch," said Holly. "Blake and I just needed a private moment alone."

Fletcher nodded.

"I should go," Blake said, before she walked past Fletcher, not greeting him as she left Holly's office.

"What was that all about?" asked Fletcher, who looked to Holly.

"You don't want to know," Holly said, honestly. As far as Fletcher was concerned, he did not care in the slightest bit what happened to Roger Thorpe, who he saw as a snake squirming his way back into Holly's life and wreck their marriage.

Fletcher nodded before he spoke up. "Relationship troubles?"

Holly stared at him.

"Excuse me?"

"Blake's still trying to fix her marriage to Ross?" Fletcher asked, his eyebrow raised.

"Something like that," Holly conceded.

"You know, I actually do feel sorry for Blake and her marriage with Ross, despite her being Roger's daughter and all," Fletcher said, as he embraced Holly. "I really hope they settle their problems once and for all."

"Me too," said Holly softly.

"Until then, how about you let me take out to dinner at Towers tonight?" said Fletcher, who smiled at Holly.

"Oh, I'd love to, but I have some things here I need to take care of," said Holly.

"Like what?" Fletcher frowned.

"Like--" Holly said, trailing off as she tried to find an excuse she could give Fletcher. Suddenly the perfect idea occurred to her. "Like interviewing Ross, who is on the shortlist for replacing our esteemed District Attorney, should he run for State Office this fall."

"Oh," Fletcher said, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Well that is certainly worthy of the Journal's attention. I'm very happy for Ross."

"As am I," said Holly, who nodded.

Fletcher tilted his head at her. "Are you sure there's not anything else going on?"

"No, that is all," Holly said, as she sat down behind her desk and grabbed the telephone. "Now if you excuse me, husband dear, I've got to call our new DA and see if he'll have lunch with me this afternoon to discuss his candidacy."

"Alright," Fletcher said, nodding. "Tell Ross I send my congratulations to him."

"I most certainly will," said Holly, who dialed.

"Love you," Fletcher said before he left the room.

Holly was about to shout back until Ross picked up.

"Hello?," Ross asked. "Ross Marler."

"Hello, Ross?" Holly said. "It's Holly."

"Holly, I'm sorry but now is not a good time," Ross said, irritably.

"Is everything alright?" Holly asked.

"No, everything is not alright," said Ross angrily. "I told the garage to fix up my car, and what have they done? Mixed up my order for a new muffler, gave it the wrong set of tires, along with a new paint job that I did not even ask for in the first place."

"Why? What's wrong with the paint job?" asked Holly, whose eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"It's pink, Holly!" Ross exclaimed. "They have completely cannibalized my car just I like they said they would."

Holly's eyes widened in shock before she starting laughing in surprise.

"Holly, this isn't funny," Ross shouted. "Now the press will be covering about my supposed choice in paint color for my car, and ruin any chance I might have in running for D.A. whatsoever, that is if I don't sue the garage for unlawfully tampering with my car and running a scam of an operation."

"I'm sorry," Holly said, as she wiped away the tears from her eyes. "I needed that."

"Yeah, haha, very funny," Ross grumbled, sarcastically. "And be sure to tell Roger about it. I'm sure he'll get a good kick out of it."

Holly's face fell as she suddenly remembered Blake's request. "Ross, Roger's gone."

Ross' expression changed in confusion. "What do you mean, Roger's gone?"

"He told Blake that Amanda sent him on a business meeting out of town, but it's not true," Holly said. "Blake confronted Amanda in her office today and found out there wasn't any business meeting. Roger left town on his own."

"Why would he do that?" Ross asked in confusion. "It doesn't make any sense on Roger's part to just leave town all of a sudden. Something must have happened for him to do so."

"I think you're right," Holly said. "Blake felt that he was keeping something from her when he told her that."

"Do you have any idea what it could be?" Ross asked, in his prosecutor's voice.

"Not in the slightest," Holly said, somberly. "I'm sure that Blake must have an idea, though."

"Alright, I'll talk to Blake when I see her at the house," said Ross, who nodded.

"Ross, can you keep this to yourself?" Holly asked. "I don't want Fletcher or the others to find out about this."

"Well they're going to find out at some point of his leaving Springfield," Ross pointed out.

"Yes," Holly said bitterly. "And I bet the whole town will throw a big celebration over that."

"I'll say," Ross agreed. "Look, Holly, don't worry about it. I'll see what I can do about finding Roger. Just take care of Blake and the boys, alright?"

"Alright," Holly said. "Ross? Thank you for doing this."

"I don't see how I couldn't," Ross said. "Roger is the father of the woman that I love."

Ross heard the words he had just said before clearing his throat. "I'll let you know the moment I find something."

"Okay," Holly said.

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye," Holly said sadly as the phone clicked.

She placed the phone on the receiver before she opened her drawer and pulled out a photo of Ross and Blake's wedding, when times were much happier, where Roger and her stood next to Blake, with Ed and Michelle Bauer on Ross' side.

"Where are you, Roger?" asked Holly, silently, before she pressed the photo close to her chest as close as she could.