MacKynzie
6/6
A Hidden Past Part 6 (finally)
Confrontation
Note: denotes flashback
"Oh, hey, Lucas. Fancy meeting you here." Gaia stammered out nervously. "Lucas, there's something I need to talk to you about."
Lucas' eyes narrowed. "Oh?"
"Do you mind if we go somewhere a little more private?"
Lucas smiled, she hadn't disappointed him. "Sure, how about your quarters?"
"Okay."
The ride to her quarters was long and awkward. Well, not really long, but it seemed like forever.
They got off the MegLev and then walked to Gaia's quarters. She opened the door and went in, Lucas following her.
"So....." Lucas said, questioning.
"Well, Lucas, this is really hard to say, and I may be way off base here, but.....Ah, hey, let's have a seat."
Lucas nodded and they both sat down. He almost smiled at her nervousness. Almost. He was nervous too, but Lucas would never show that to her, not to anyone.
"Lucas......remember when we met, at that diner?" she paused as he nodded,"Well, there was something I noticed about you, when we were sitting there --"
Lucas cut in, "Is this about the smoking thing? If it is, rest assured, I quit. No need to get all freaked out about it." Lucas faked an earnest look, just toying with her.
"No, no, I'm glad you quit, but this isn't about that." she said, surprised that he would be the one to bring that up."When we were sitting there," she continued, disconcerted by the clear blue eyes that just gazed back at her, "I noticed your hand." Gaia stopped, not exactly an earth-shattering statement. "There was a scar on it, it was pretty...obvious."
"Yeah," Lucas held up his hand for inspection,"I cut in on a steel mesh fence. I was trying to jump it. I also got a bruise on my neck. Don't ask me how I got a bruise way up there." Lucas faked a chuckle. He really didn't want to have to threaten her with what he knew, so Lucas figured he might as well try to deter her and explain the injuries away.
Gaia frowned, doubting herself for what wouldn't be the first time. Jumping a fence, that sounded plausible enough. Lots of kids jumped and hopped over fences. She took a deep breath, it could be a ploy, though. Gaia herself had told many similar tales that sounding completely probable to any adult that had bothered to ask about her bruises and scrapes.
No, she had to go on, even if it was only a hunch. And then, all of a sudden, she remembered what he had told her when they first met...
"That's a very interesting scar you have there. How did you get it?" she questioned, curious.
"I, uh, burned it on a hot pan."
"Lucas, I don't believe that." Gaia paused, watching him carefully; he didn't even blink.
"Oh?" Lucas asked curiously.
"Lucas, does your father hurt you?" The words came out in a rush, Gaia almost jumped out of seat, surprised that she had just come out with it.
"What?! What the hell are you talking about?! Why the hell would you even say anything like that? I can't believe that you asked me that!" Lucas did jump out of seat as he practically shouted at her.
Gaia just sat there, in a daze. Lucas bored holes into her, but she didn't seem to notice. He nearly smiled, musta convinced her. But no, that wasn't it at all. Gaia was remembering something that she had all but forgotten. It was her English teacher, a young man then, who had asked her something very painful.
"Gaia, there's something I need to talk to you about." He stopped as they sat down,"I noticed a bruise on your neck the other day," he paused to breath,"it looked like a hand print."
She just looked at him, Gaia knew what was coming.
"Gaia, does your father hurt you?" The words came out in a rush and he looked sick as he sat there, waiting for her response. Gaia paused a second before she jumped out of her seat.
"What?! What in the hell are you talking about?! Why in the hell would you say something like that? I can't believe you just asked me that! Of course my father doesn't hurt me! That wasn't a hand print!"
He too jumped out of seat, looking like he was about to throw up. "Oh, Gaia, I'm so sorry, I just assumed..." He quickly backpedaled, convinced by her vehement response that he was way off base.
"Well, you assumed wrong!" Gaia stormed out.
She was transfered out of his class the very next day. But he hadn't been off base, he had been absolutely correct. But the man had given up, intimidated by a 16-year-old.
Gaia looked at Lucas with resolve, she wasn't about to give up, his response had pretty much proved her right. Just the opposite of what he had been going for.
"Lucas, I know you're lying." She looked at him steadily, she was no longer nervous.
Lucas nearly did a double-take. "What?"
"Lucas, you're lying." Gaia repeated with conviction. Lucas frowned, apparently there would be no convincing her now.
"Alright then, how did I get that bruise then, huh?"
"Those bruises, Lucas, those bruises. You had others, I couldn't see them, but you winced whenever you moved. Your father has been beating you hasn't he? Hasn't he, Lucas?"
Gaia didn't know what she had expected him to do, but Lucas was practically smiling now, and she definitly had been expecting that.
"Well, it's none of you business, Gaia. But I figured you would do something stupid like this." Lucas suddenly produced a folder seemingly from thin air. Gaia hadn't even noticed him carrying it up here.
Lucas took a step and handed it to her. Gaia took it and dreadingly opened it. It couldn't be good. Gaia's eyes widened as big as saucers as she looked at the horrifying contents.
It was her. Her picture. Her mug shot. Her first arrest for possesing coke. Her second arrest for burglery. Her juvey file. Notes from phyciatrists. Notes from judges. And there, the last page, was a single sheet with a single line that read Gaia Tartanovich.
Gaia just stared at it in muted horror, she couldn't even look at it, it was too painful.
"H-ho-how, how did you get this?" She looked up at him. Gaia felt like she was about to throw up.
"It wasn't so hard, *Ms. Tartanovich*. It only took me about 20 minutes. You really should have gotten a better paper-maker, this guy practically left his signature."
Gaia just stared at him, questioning.
"I noticed at the bottom of your file there was a small notation and I realized that there was another file attached. Your real one. Sometimes, I help out with screening people for important positions; I've seen that mark before. But there's one thing that I don't understand; you didn't start college intil you were 20, how did you get your masters in only 8 years?" Lucas asked.
"I, uh, I was in a foster home for about a year. The woman there was a marind biologist. She, uh, couldn't have any kids. She taught me and when I left, I still remembered it. I took a few basic courses and I did well, got my act together."
Lucas just looked at her, unbelieving. "Yeah, right, what'd ya do, sleep with the dean?"
Gaia replied, "No, of course not." But Lucas knew that he was right.
Lucas' face was frozen. "You tell Bridger, Westphalen, anyone about this and I'll personally make sure that your life is ruined! You got that?!"
Gaia looked at him shock. She didn't know why she was so surprised, though, she should have seen this coming as soon as she saw the file.
"But, Lucas, you can't go on like this. Your father is going to kill ou if you don't tell someone. Please, Lucas, don't do this."
"Yeah, you're probably right, he probably will kill me. I derserve it anyway, it's not his fault I'm a failure."
Gaia's heart broke as she heard this. "Lucas, please, know one deserves to be beaten. You are not a failure. Lucas, I'm begging you, please let me, or anyone help you. Bridger and Westphalen love you to death, all your crewmates and friends are there for you, plea-"
Lucas interrupted,"Look, this isn't up for discussion. You tell someone about me, I tell the whole world about you." Lucas growled in a low voice, and with that, he turned on his heel and stalked out.
Gaia collasped on her bed, softly crying. How could she ruin her career? How could she let Lawrence Wolenczak ruin Lucas' life?
***
Lucas was scowling as he stalked down the corridor. At first, he had been confident that he wouldn't need to use the file. But now he had been forced to, and that troubled him. He really liked Gaia, they had clicked from the start, but then she had to go nose in his business. The again, Lucas probably should have known that he wouldn't be able to fool her. She had been abuised before, ho no doubt told the same lies. What if she did tell Bridger or Westphalen, what then? Would he really be able to ruin her life? Well, she would be ruining his, after all.
His mother and father would probably kill him if someone found out. They would be disgraced. They wouldn't care about him, or what happened to him, all they would care about would be their careers. And for that reason, Lawrence and Cynthia would destroy their son.
***
Gaia was still cying as she lay in bed. 5 hours had passed since their confrontation with Lucas, and she had been crying for 5 hours. Gaia rolled over and looked at the clock. 0005. 12:05. Midnight. Bridger would probably be up; he looked like the kind of man who never slept. "What do I do?" Gaia moaned to herself, "Do I ruin my life or his?"
Gaia slowly sat up and got off her bunk. She put one foot in front of the other and finally managed to make it to the bathroom. Gaia stared at herself in the mirror, she pondered the face that she had wore for so many years. The face that had been and seen so many things. Gaia looked hard at herself, and her gaze turned inward. Seh reflected on her life. The things she had done. The lives she had ruined. And in that moment Gaia made her decision. Her fahter may have ruined her childhood and teenage years, but she wouldn't let Lawrence Wolenczak do that to Lucas. She would help Lucas to reclaim his life and just be himself. Gaia Romanov/Tartanovich would help Lucas even if she destroyed her own life in the process.
***
Nathan Bridger frowned as he sturied the daily report. All was fine, but that was just it. No excitement, he was about to die of boredom.
Bridger's head popped up as he heard a timid knock on the door. "Yes?"
Gaia slowly opened the door and swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Captain Bridger, do mind if I have a word with you?"
"No, of course not, Dr. Romanov. What's on your mind?"
"Well, uh, it's about Lucas. Captain, how well do you know Lucas' parents?...."
***
Nathan and Gaia walked grimly down the corridor. They were almost to Lucas' quarters. Both wiped tears from their eyes as Nathan knocked on the door. It was 0130, but neither thought the teen would be asleep.
When there was no reply to the hail, Bridger walked in with Gaia close behind. Lucas was there, at his computer with his headphones on.
"Lucas?" Bridger said; he was ready to puke.
There was no response. Bridger reached forward and carefully tapped lzucas on the shoulder. Lucas whirled around and jumped out of his seat, the headphones flying off his head.
"Ahh, what?! What the heck are you two doing here?"
But Lucas knew why they were there, he could see it on their faces.
"Lucas, I, uh, we, need to talk to you." Bridger said carefully. He didn't even know where to begin.
"Oh, what about?"
"Lucas, uh, I don't know how to say this. Gaia has told me something very disturbing." Lucas didn't say anything, he wasn't about to make this easy.
Bridger decided just to come out and say it."Lucas, does your father hurt you?"
Lucas didn't reply, there was no use trying to deny it, they both knew it was true. Anything he said would just dig him in deeper.
"Lucas, does your father hurt you?" Bridger repeated. Lucas still didn't respond, and in that moment, Nathan knew that it was absolutely true. Oh, how could he, how could all of them been so blind??
"What, what are you going to do about it, Captain? There's nothing you can do."
Bridger just looked at him in shock. "Of course there's something we can do. We'll get you out of there and away from that monster. That man will never be able to hurt you again, Lucas, I promise." Bridger said vehemently.
Lucas' face was expressionless. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Captain." Lucas muttered bitterly.
Bridger reached hand forward to comfort Lucas, but he ripped his hand away. "Don't touch me, " he growled, "don't ever touch me. You think I want your help?! Well, I don't! Just leave me alone!"
Bridger jumped of the bed where he was seated, and exclaimed, "Lucas, I refuse to leave you alone! I won't let that man hurt you. Do you understand me?!!"
"You don't know anything! Nobody asked you to 'help.' There's nothing you can do. He'd kill me before he let anyone find out!" Lucas screamed back.
All three were on their feet now and facing each other in confrontation. This was exactly what Nathan had dreaded.
"Lucas, please, I will never let him touch you or go near you. You have to let me, let us, help you." Bridger said in a calm voice, pleading with him.
"There's nothing you can do." Lucas repeated, his voice soft now. "There's nothing you can do. There's nothing you can do." Lucas kept repeating the mantra, his voice whispered, his head down. For one of the first times in his life, Lucas Wolenczak was crying.
Bridger went to him immediatly and enveloped him in a hug. They went over to the bed and sat down. Bridger was crying now too, and so was Gaia.
"Lucas, I won't let him touch you. I won't let him touch you. I won't let him touch you." Bridger repeated his own mantra.
"Captain.....I'm so scared......" Lucas was sobbing now.
"Lucas, oh, Lucas, I know you're scared, but it's going to be okay now. It's going to be okay."
Gaia slowly stepped out of the room. She was no longer needed. It would be okay now, Lucas had admitted that he was the victim and he didn't deserve to be beaten. That was something Gaia had never really done. Oh, sure, she had done enough to ruin her life, but she hadn't been without her father's help. Maybe it was time to forgive herself. To really move on with her life. To close that part of her forever. Maybe it was time. Maybe it was time.
***
And that's it folks, the very last chapter of A Hidden Past. Thanks so much for sticking with it. I'm sorry it took me so long to get this out. Please review and e-mail me at:
mackynziegallacher@hotmail.com
Thanks again!
Sincerely,
MacKynzie Gallacher
6/6
A Hidden Past Part 6 (finally)
Confrontation
Note: denotes flashback
"Oh, hey, Lucas. Fancy meeting you here." Gaia stammered out nervously. "Lucas, there's something I need to talk to you about."
Lucas' eyes narrowed. "Oh?"
"Do you mind if we go somewhere a little more private?"
Lucas smiled, she hadn't disappointed him. "Sure, how about your quarters?"
"Okay."
The ride to her quarters was long and awkward. Well, not really long, but it seemed like forever.
They got off the MegLev and then walked to Gaia's quarters. She opened the door and went in, Lucas following her.
"So....." Lucas said, questioning.
"Well, Lucas, this is really hard to say, and I may be way off base here, but.....Ah, hey, let's have a seat."
Lucas nodded and they both sat down. He almost smiled at her nervousness. Almost. He was nervous too, but Lucas would never show that to her, not to anyone.
"Lucas......remember when we met, at that diner?" she paused as he nodded,"Well, there was something I noticed about you, when we were sitting there --"
Lucas cut in, "Is this about the smoking thing? If it is, rest assured, I quit. No need to get all freaked out about it." Lucas faked an earnest look, just toying with her.
"No, no, I'm glad you quit, but this isn't about that." she said, surprised that he would be the one to bring that up."When we were sitting there," she continued, disconcerted by the clear blue eyes that just gazed back at her, "I noticed your hand." Gaia stopped, not exactly an earth-shattering statement. "There was a scar on it, it was pretty...obvious."
"Yeah," Lucas held up his hand for inspection,"I cut in on a steel mesh fence. I was trying to jump it. I also got a bruise on my neck. Don't ask me how I got a bruise way up there." Lucas faked a chuckle. He really didn't want to have to threaten her with what he knew, so Lucas figured he might as well try to deter her and explain the injuries away.
Gaia frowned, doubting herself for what wouldn't be the first time. Jumping a fence, that sounded plausible enough. Lots of kids jumped and hopped over fences. She took a deep breath, it could be a ploy, though. Gaia herself had told many similar tales that sounding completely probable to any adult that had bothered to ask about her bruises and scrapes.
No, she had to go on, even if it was only a hunch. And then, all of a sudden, she remembered what he had told her when they first met...
"That's a very interesting scar you have there. How did you get it?" she questioned, curious.
"I, uh, burned it on a hot pan."
"Lucas, I don't believe that." Gaia paused, watching him carefully; he didn't even blink.
"Oh?" Lucas asked curiously.
"Lucas, does your father hurt you?" The words came out in a rush, Gaia almost jumped out of seat, surprised that she had just come out with it.
"What?! What the hell are you talking about?! Why the hell would you even say anything like that? I can't believe that you asked me that!" Lucas did jump out of seat as he practically shouted at her.
Gaia just sat there, in a daze. Lucas bored holes into her, but she didn't seem to notice. He nearly smiled, musta convinced her. But no, that wasn't it at all. Gaia was remembering something that she had all but forgotten. It was her English teacher, a young man then, who had asked her something very painful.
"Gaia, there's something I need to talk to you about." He stopped as they sat down,"I noticed a bruise on your neck the other day," he paused to breath,"it looked like a hand print."
She just looked at him, Gaia knew what was coming.
"Gaia, does your father hurt you?" The words came out in a rush and he looked sick as he sat there, waiting for her response. Gaia paused a second before she jumped out of her seat.
"What?! What in the hell are you talking about?! Why in the hell would you say something like that? I can't believe you just asked me that! Of course my father doesn't hurt me! That wasn't a hand print!"
He too jumped out of seat, looking like he was about to throw up. "Oh, Gaia, I'm so sorry, I just assumed..." He quickly backpedaled, convinced by her vehement response that he was way off base.
"Well, you assumed wrong!" Gaia stormed out.
She was transfered out of his class the very next day. But he hadn't been off base, he had been absolutely correct. But the man had given up, intimidated by a 16-year-old.
Gaia looked at Lucas with resolve, she wasn't about to give up, his response had pretty much proved her right. Just the opposite of what he had been going for.
"Lucas, I know you're lying." She looked at him steadily, she was no longer nervous.
Lucas nearly did a double-take. "What?"
"Lucas, you're lying." Gaia repeated with conviction. Lucas frowned, apparently there would be no convincing her now.
"Alright then, how did I get that bruise then, huh?"
"Those bruises, Lucas, those bruises. You had others, I couldn't see them, but you winced whenever you moved. Your father has been beating you hasn't he? Hasn't he, Lucas?"
Gaia didn't know what she had expected him to do, but Lucas was practically smiling now, and she definitly had been expecting that.
"Well, it's none of you business, Gaia. But I figured you would do something stupid like this." Lucas suddenly produced a folder seemingly from thin air. Gaia hadn't even noticed him carrying it up here.
Lucas took a step and handed it to her. Gaia took it and dreadingly opened it. It couldn't be good. Gaia's eyes widened as big as saucers as she looked at the horrifying contents.
It was her. Her picture. Her mug shot. Her first arrest for possesing coke. Her second arrest for burglery. Her juvey file. Notes from phyciatrists. Notes from judges. And there, the last page, was a single sheet with a single line that read Gaia Tartanovich.
Gaia just stared at it in muted horror, she couldn't even look at it, it was too painful.
"H-ho-how, how did you get this?" She looked up at him. Gaia felt like she was about to throw up.
"It wasn't so hard, *Ms. Tartanovich*. It only took me about 20 minutes. You really should have gotten a better paper-maker, this guy practically left his signature."
Gaia just stared at him, questioning.
"I noticed at the bottom of your file there was a small notation and I realized that there was another file attached. Your real one. Sometimes, I help out with screening people for important positions; I've seen that mark before. But there's one thing that I don't understand; you didn't start college intil you were 20, how did you get your masters in only 8 years?" Lucas asked.
"I, uh, I was in a foster home for about a year. The woman there was a marind biologist. She, uh, couldn't have any kids. She taught me and when I left, I still remembered it. I took a few basic courses and I did well, got my act together."
Lucas just looked at her, unbelieving. "Yeah, right, what'd ya do, sleep with the dean?"
Gaia replied, "No, of course not." But Lucas knew that he was right.
Lucas' face was frozen. "You tell Bridger, Westphalen, anyone about this and I'll personally make sure that your life is ruined! You got that?!"
Gaia looked at him shock. She didn't know why she was so surprised, though, she should have seen this coming as soon as she saw the file.
"But, Lucas, you can't go on like this. Your father is going to kill ou if you don't tell someone. Please, Lucas, don't do this."
"Yeah, you're probably right, he probably will kill me. I derserve it anyway, it's not his fault I'm a failure."
Gaia's heart broke as she heard this. "Lucas, please, know one deserves to be beaten. You are not a failure. Lucas, I'm begging you, please let me, or anyone help you. Bridger and Westphalen love you to death, all your crewmates and friends are there for you, plea-"
Lucas interrupted,"Look, this isn't up for discussion. You tell someone about me, I tell the whole world about you." Lucas growled in a low voice, and with that, he turned on his heel and stalked out.
Gaia collasped on her bed, softly crying. How could she ruin her career? How could she let Lawrence Wolenczak ruin Lucas' life?
***
Lucas was scowling as he stalked down the corridor. At first, he had been confident that he wouldn't need to use the file. But now he had been forced to, and that troubled him. He really liked Gaia, they had clicked from the start, but then she had to go nose in his business. The again, Lucas probably should have known that he wouldn't be able to fool her. She had been abuised before, ho no doubt told the same lies. What if she did tell Bridger or Westphalen, what then? Would he really be able to ruin her life? Well, she would be ruining his, after all.
His mother and father would probably kill him if someone found out. They would be disgraced. They wouldn't care about him, or what happened to him, all they would care about would be their careers. And for that reason, Lawrence and Cynthia would destroy their son.
***
Gaia was still cying as she lay in bed. 5 hours had passed since their confrontation with Lucas, and she had been crying for 5 hours. Gaia rolled over and looked at the clock. 0005. 12:05. Midnight. Bridger would probably be up; he looked like the kind of man who never slept. "What do I do?" Gaia moaned to herself, "Do I ruin my life or his?"
Gaia slowly sat up and got off her bunk. She put one foot in front of the other and finally managed to make it to the bathroom. Gaia stared at herself in the mirror, she pondered the face that she had wore for so many years. The face that had been and seen so many things. Gaia looked hard at herself, and her gaze turned inward. Seh reflected on her life. The things she had done. The lives she had ruined. And in that moment Gaia made her decision. Her fahter may have ruined her childhood and teenage years, but she wouldn't let Lawrence Wolenczak do that to Lucas. She would help Lucas to reclaim his life and just be himself. Gaia Romanov/Tartanovich would help Lucas even if she destroyed her own life in the process.
***
Nathan Bridger frowned as he sturied the daily report. All was fine, but that was just it. No excitement, he was about to die of boredom.
Bridger's head popped up as he heard a timid knock on the door. "Yes?"
Gaia slowly opened the door and swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Captain Bridger, do mind if I have a word with you?"
"No, of course not, Dr. Romanov. What's on your mind?"
"Well, uh, it's about Lucas. Captain, how well do you know Lucas' parents?...."
***
Nathan and Gaia walked grimly down the corridor. They were almost to Lucas' quarters. Both wiped tears from their eyes as Nathan knocked on the door. It was 0130, but neither thought the teen would be asleep.
When there was no reply to the hail, Bridger walked in with Gaia close behind. Lucas was there, at his computer with his headphones on.
"Lucas?" Bridger said; he was ready to puke.
There was no response. Bridger reached forward and carefully tapped lzucas on the shoulder. Lucas whirled around and jumped out of his seat, the headphones flying off his head.
"Ahh, what?! What the heck are you two doing here?"
But Lucas knew why they were there, he could see it on their faces.
"Lucas, I, uh, we, need to talk to you." Bridger said carefully. He didn't even know where to begin.
"Oh, what about?"
"Lucas, uh, I don't know how to say this. Gaia has told me something very disturbing." Lucas didn't say anything, he wasn't about to make this easy.
Bridger decided just to come out and say it."Lucas, does your father hurt you?"
Lucas didn't reply, there was no use trying to deny it, they both knew it was true. Anything he said would just dig him in deeper.
"Lucas, does your father hurt you?" Bridger repeated. Lucas still didn't respond, and in that moment, Nathan knew that it was absolutely true. Oh, how could he, how could all of them been so blind??
"What, what are you going to do about it, Captain? There's nothing you can do."
Bridger just looked at him in shock. "Of course there's something we can do. We'll get you out of there and away from that monster. That man will never be able to hurt you again, Lucas, I promise." Bridger said vehemently.
Lucas' face was expressionless. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Captain." Lucas muttered bitterly.
Bridger reached hand forward to comfort Lucas, but he ripped his hand away. "Don't touch me, " he growled, "don't ever touch me. You think I want your help?! Well, I don't! Just leave me alone!"
Bridger jumped of the bed where he was seated, and exclaimed, "Lucas, I refuse to leave you alone! I won't let that man hurt you. Do you understand me?!!"
"You don't know anything! Nobody asked you to 'help.' There's nothing you can do. He'd kill me before he let anyone find out!" Lucas screamed back.
All three were on their feet now and facing each other in confrontation. This was exactly what Nathan had dreaded.
"Lucas, please, I will never let him touch you or go near you. You have to let me, let us, help you." Bridger said in a calm voice, pleading with him.
"There's nothing you can do." Lucas repeated, his voice soft now. "There's nothing you can do. There's nothing you can do." Lucas kept repeating the mantra, his voice whispered, his head down. For one of the first times in his life, Lucas Wolenczak was crying.
Bridger went to him immediatly and enveloped him in a hug. They went over to the bed and sat down. Bridger was crying now too, and so was Gaia.
"Lucas, I won't let him touch you. I won't let him touch you. I won't let him touch you." Bridger repeated his own mantra.
"Captain.....I'm so scared......" Lucas was sobbing now.
"Lucas, oh, Lucas, I know you're scared, but it's going to be okay now. It's going to be okay."
Gaia slowly stepped out of the room. She was no longer needed. It would be okay now, Lucas had admitted that he was the victim and he didn't deserve to be beaten. That was something Gaia had never really done. Oh, sure, she had done enough to ruin her life, but she hadn't been without her father's help. Maybe it was time to forgive herself. To really move on with her life. To close that part of her forever. Maybe it was time. Maybe it was time.
***
And that's it folks, the very last chapter of A Hidden Past. Thanks so much for sticking with it. I'm sorry it took me so long to get this out. Please review and e-mail me at:
mackynziegallacher@hotmail.com
Thanks again!
Sincerely,
MacKynzie Gallacher