CHAPTER TWO
After six long hours, the bus pulled into the station at Chicago. Cameron gathered his briefcase, his jacket and stepped off the bus. He went into the lobby to wait for his suitcase. He wasn't sure of where to go. It should be fairly easy to get a job and fade out of sight in a big city. First off he had to find a place to crash, and then he could find a job. He didn't have many skills except for private eye work and the training at Quantico might land him a job in security administration at some business. But that was on the agenda for tomorrow. Passing the counter where they were unloading the luggage, he spotted his and grabbed it and turned to start his new life.
Walking out on the street he passed a newspaper stand and bought several papers to look for housing and work. He looked for a diner to get some coffee and food. Walking several blocks he spotted a café and went in. He placed his stuff on the bench across from him, slid into the seat and picked up a menu. Smiling at the waitress he gave her his order and he opened the Chicago Sun Times. He turned to the back where the rentals were and began his search. The waitress brought his order and asked him if there was anything else she could do for him.
"Well, I'm new in town and need a place to rent. Got any ideas?" Figuring she would blow him off but was very surprised when she gave him an answer.
"Well mister, my sister has a room for rent, $200.00 a month with kitchen privileges. Might you be interested in that? It's a little out of town, but the bus goes by the end of the road. It's a really nice place."
"Could I have your sisters number, and I'll check it out at least. Thanks."
"No problem, you'd like my sister she's real nice. But I have tell you she's blind, so I don't tell everyone about her place, somebody might take advantage of her, but you seem really nice not like some city people." She wrote the telephone number on a napkin, and handed it to him.
"Well thanks for the vote of confidence. This sounds like a plan. I'll get hold of your sister, can I say you sent me?'"
"She'll know it was me because she doesn't advertise."
"Great, thanks a lot, you have saved my day. My name is Frank Cameron by the way. Nice to meet you, (looking at her nametag) Callie. What is your sister's name?" he figured he would go by his alias so no one could find him. The Cory's and Josie were about the only ones who knew he went by that name and they certainly wouldn't come looking for him.
"Clara Butler. My parents named all the kids with the letter C; there is a Charles and a Clarence too. Well I have to get back to work, see you."
"Bye, thanks for the information." Cameron still looked for a place just in case this one was too far out. He circled a few and finished his coffee. He closed the paper and ate the rest of his sandwich and looked up at Callie for the bill. She brought it over and wished him luck, and said she hoped to see him again.
"Thanks, Callie and sure I'll stop back, and I'll let you know about the place." He paid the bill and left a good tip and went out into the cool air. He found a payphone and dialed Clara's number.
"Hello", a very pleasant voice on the other end said.
"Hello, my name is Frank Cameron. I just got into town and your sister said I should call you about the room."
"Yes, Callie already called and said she gave a nice man my number so I was expecting your call. Did she tell you how much the room is? You'd have kitchen privileges and it has a bathroom off the room."
"Yes, she did, do you think I could come out today? I really need a place to stay and I'd like to get a jump on it."
"Sure, the address is 458 Gulf Road and its back into the woods. Not far from the main road but enough so you think you're in the country."
"I'll be there as soon as I can get a cab. Thanks for letting me come so soon."
"Not a problem Mr. Cameron. See you soon. Goodbye."
"Bye." As he hung up the phone he had the strongest urge to call Amanda, but thought better of it if he wanted a clean break. (Which he didn't but it really was best for Amanda.) Oh this is not going to be easy. I need you. He said to the phone as he banged it back into the cradle. How am I ever to survive without her? Well, settle and get busy. He looked up to see a cab coming right for him. He waved his hand and it slowed, He got in and said, "458 Gulf Road".
"Right" the cabby, said.
He drove about twenty minutes out and turned up a long driveway that indeed acted like the country. He stopped in front of a cabin like house and the cab driver asked if he should stay. " No, I'll catch the bus if I don't take the place." And gave the cabby a twenty and told him to keep the change. The house was wet from the drizzle that had been obsessive these last few days. The place looked like it could use a handyman. It was welcoming, sort of like home, without the memories. Knocking on the door he waited, he could see shadows inside, Clara Butler didn't have any lights on. It seemed from the outside like a nice place. She opened the door and he was taken aback, she was so much like Amanda that it took his breath away.
"Hello, Mr.Cameron?"
"Yes, Ms. Butler, it's me. How do you do?"
"Well I'm fine, pleased to meet you. Won't you come in."
"Thanks. You were right it does feel like the country. Very nice and still so close to the city."
"I like it here, I was raised back east and this smells like home." Clara made her way back to the kitchen where she had made coffee and set out cookies. 'Please sit and have some coffee and we can talk."
After chatting for over an hour Cameron stood to stretch, he had ridden six hours and was anxious to make a decision. "Thanks for the coffee. This place is really not too far out, I expected the boonies. But it's really nice here, I noticed though the yard could stand some attention, I'd be happy to help out, for say a $50 break on the rent."
"Well you haven't even seen the room yet, Mr. Cameron. Maybe you won't want it." Sensing his urgency to get going.
"Well, I just have a feeling that this is my home now and I'll take it, but I will go look anyway." They climbed the stairs and Clara opened a door to a large room sparsely furnished with a bed and a love seat and a dresser. And a window as big as the great outdoors.
"Well, Mr. Cameron. What do you think? I'll agree to the rent reduction and throw in Sunday dinner. Will you take it?" Clara said with all the ease of an old friend.
"Well for the view alone I'll take it." Looking sheepishly said. "Sorry, that was rude."
"Not at all, it has a wonderful view and you can see the stars from here. In the city the get lost. I have only recently lost my sight and this was my favorite room, I moved to the back of the house, where it doesn't matter what I look at. I can sell the room with the view alone and the window is large enough so you can exit to the little terrace. Well, still game, Mr. Cameron?"
"Game."
"Great! Want to move in? I know Callie said you needed a place now. You can pay month to month. There's no need for a lease so you can go whenever. Welcome to my home." Clara said, turning to show him the bathroom. The bath is here; it's private so you won't have to share. I hope you'll be happy. I"ll let you freshen up; you can join me for dinner this evening until you get some food stores of your own. I eat at seven. Please feel free to join me, but you don't have too. We can discuss the grounds tomorrow.
"Yes, I'd like to move in, I have just my suitcase. I'd like to join you for dinner and we can discuss arrangements then, but I really need a shower. Thank you Ms. Butler."
She left the room and he closed the door. Happy, she said, if she only knew how his heart was breaking. Maybe having someone who looked for all the world like Amanda wouldn't work, but the room with the view made up for it, at least for now. He jumped in the shower and washed away the road dust. Oh, he hoped he was making the right choice. Time away, from life and all it's sorrows would heal the wounds. He laid down for a nap. He had been in such turmoil that sleep was deep. He awoke in a sweat; he had been having a nightmare of his childhood and the torment from his dad. He looked at his watch and it was going for ten, he would have to explain to Ms. Butler that he'd fallen asleep. He walked to the window and opened it, the air was cool against his sweaty body, and it felt good. The stars were hiding and he could only see a few but the memories of the hill came flooding back. That first night while jogging and he had seen this angel. Then the night Amanda had sprained her ankle, and he had held her in his arms all the while she fought him. He loved every minute. And then the proposal, when they thought the world was their oyster. Man, every thing reminded him of Amanda. Would these memories ever go away? Not if you're lucky, that little voice in his head said. He looked up at the sky and said to the stars, 'Please watch over my love, keep her safe from harm. Let her find the peace she seeks and give her the strength to go on. Let her one-day have fond memories of me. Please, this is all I ask.' Turning away from the window he lay back on the bed and fell back to sleep.
On the hill in Bay City, Amanda is looking at those same stars, 'Oh Cameron, what went wrong, why couldn't you trust me? I miss the way things used to be. You hurt me, if you could only understand how much it took for me to forgive you, and then you walked all over that trust.' The tears flowed freely; she hadn't been able to really cry. Everyone had expected her to be strong, from her mother to Gary, to Alli. She had been there for everyone and no one was there for her. Cameron was so devastated by the death of the baby; even her reaching out to him had gone unnoticed. She wept. 'Please help me to get over this, I need to move on.' She said to the stars. She felt a rush of cool air blow across her cheek, soft, like a kiss. She felt that Cameron was thinking of her. It was going to be difficult to see him; it was hard to fall out of love. Well she would handle the situation as it arose. She turned for home and that breeze followed her.
To be continued.
After six long hours, the bus pulled into the station at Chicago. Cameron gathered his briefcase, his jacket and stepped off the bus. He went into the lobby to wait for his suitcase. He wasn't sure of where to go. It should be fairly easy to get a job and fade out of sight in a big city. First off he had to find a place to crash, and then he could find a job. He didn't have many skills except for private eye work and the training at Quantico might land him a job in security administration at some business. But that was on the agenda for tomorrow. Passing the counter where they were unloading the luggage, he spotted his and grabbed it and turned to start his new life.
Walking out on the street he passed a newspaper stand and bought several papers to look for housing and work. He looked for a diner to get some coffee and food. Walking several blocks he spotted a café and went in. He placed his stuff on the bench across from him, slid into the seat and picked up a menu. Smiling at the waitress he gave her his order and he opened the Chicago Sun Times. He turned to the back where the rentals were and began his search. The waitress brought his order and asked him if there was anything else she could do for him.
"Well, I'm new in town and need a place to rent. Got any ideas?" Figuring she would blow him off but was very surprised when she gave him an answer.
"Well mister, my sister has a room for rent, $200.00 a month with kitchen privileges. Might you be interested in that? It's a little out of town, but the bus goes by the end of the road. It's a really nice place."
"Could I have your sisters number, and I'll check it out at least. Thanks."
"No problem, you'd like my sister she's real nice. But I have tell you she's blind, so I don't tell everyone about her place, somebody might take advantage of her, but you seem really nice not like some city people." She wrote the telephone number on a napkin, and handed it to him.
"Well thanks for the vote of confidence. This sounds like a plan. I'll get hold of your sister, can I say you sent me?'"
"She'll know it was me because she doesn't advertise."
"Great, thanks a lot, you have saved my day. My name is Frank Cameron by the way. Nice to meet you, (looking at her nametag) Callie. What is your sister's name?" he figured he would go by his alias so no one could find him. The Cory's and Josie were about the only ones who knew he went by that name and they certainly wouldn't come looking for him.
"Clara Butler. My parents named all the kids with the letter C; there is a Charles and a Clarence too. Well I have to get back to work, see you."
"Bye, thanks for the information." Cameron still looked for a place just in case this one was too far out. He circled a few and finished his coffee. He closed the paper and ate the rest of his sandwich and looked up at Callie for the bill. She brought it over and wished him luck, and said she hoped to see him again.
"Thanks, Callie and sure I'll stop back, and I'll let you know about the place." He paid the bill and left a good tip and went out into the cool air. He found a payphone and dialed Clara's number.
"Hello", a very pleasant voice on the other end said.
"Hello, my name is Frank Cameron. I just got into town and your sister said I should call you about the room."
"Yes, Callie already called and said she gave a nice man my number so I was expecting your call. Did she tell you how much the room is? You'd have kitchen privileges and it has a bathroom off the room."
"Yes, she did, do you think I could come out today? I really need a place to stay and I'd like to get a jump on it."
"Sure, the address is 458 Gulf Road and its back into the woods. Not far from the main road but enough so you think you're in the country."
"I'll be there as soon as I can get a cab. Thanks for letting me come so soon."
"Not a problem Mr. Cameron. See you soon. Goodbye."
"Bye." As he hung up the phone he had the strongest urge to call Amanda, but thought better of it if he wanted a clean break. (Which he didn't but it really was best for Amanda.) Oh this is not going to be easy. I need you. He said to the phone as he banged it back into the cradle. How am I ever to survive without her? Well, settle and get busy. He looked up to see a cab coming right for him. He waved his hand and it slowed, He got in and said, "458 Gulf Road".
"Right" the cabby, said.
He drove about twenty minutes out and turned up a long driveway that indeed acted like the country. He stopped in front of a cabin like house and the cab driver asked if he should stay. " No, I'll catch the bus if I don't take the place." And gave the cabby a twenty and told him to keep the change. The house was wet from the drizzle that had been obsessive these last few days. The place looked like it could use a handyman. It was welcoming, sort of like home, without the memories. Knocking on the door he waited, he could see shadows inside, Clara Butler didn't have any lights on. It seemed from the outside like a nice place. She opened the door and he was taken aback, she was so much like Amanda that it took his breath away.
"Hello, Mr.Cameron?"
"Yes, Ms. Butler, it's me. How do you do?"
"Well I'm fine, pleased to meet you. Won't you come in."
"Thanks. You were right it does feel like the country. Very nice and still so close to the city."
"I like it here, I was raised back east and this smells like home." Clara made her way back to the kitchen where she had made coffee and set out cookies. 'Please sit and have some coffee and we can talk."
After chatting for over an hour Cameron stood to stretch, he had ridden six hours and was anxious to make a decision. "Thanks for the coffee. This place is really not too far out, I expected the boonies. But it's really nice here, I noticed though the yard could stand some attention, I'd be happy to help out, for say a $50 break on the rent."
"Well you haven't even seen the room yet, Mr. Cameron. Maybe you won't want it." Sensing his urgency to get going.
"Well, I just have a feeling that this is my home now and I'll take it, but I will go look anyway." They climbed the stairs and Clara opened a door to a large room sparsely furnished with a bed and a love seat and a dresser. And a window as big as the great outdoors.
"Well, Mr. Cameron. What do you think? I'll agree to the rent reduction and throw in Sunday dinner. Will you take it?" Clara said with all the ease of an old friend.
"Well for the view alone I'll take it." Looking sheepishly said. "Sorry, that was rude."
"Not at all, it has a wonderful view and you can see the stars from here. In the city the get lost. I have only recently lost my sight and this was my favorite room, I moved to the back of the house, where it doesn't matter what I look at. I can sell the room with the view alone and the window is large enough so you can exit to the little terrace. Well, still game, Mr. Cameron?"
"Game."
"Great! Want to move in? I know Callie said you needed a place now. You can pay month to month. There's no need for a lease so you can go whenever. Welcome to my home." Clara said, turning to show him the bathroom. The bath is here; it's private so you won't have to share. I hope you'll be happy. I"ll let you freshen up; you can join me for dinner this evening until you get some food stores of your own. I eat at seven. Please feel free to join me, but you don't have too. We can discuss the grounds tomorrow.
"Yes, I'd like to move in, I have just my suitcase. I'd like to join you for dinner and we can discuss arrangements then, but I really need a shower. Thank you Ms. Butler."
She left the room and he closed the door. Happy, she said, if she only knew how his heart was breaking. Maybe having someone who looked for all the world like Amanda wouldn't work, but the room with the view made up for it, at least for now. He jumped in the shower and washed away the road dust. Oh, he hoped he was making the right choice. Time away, from life and all it's sorrows would heal the wounds. He laid down for a nap. He had been in such turmoil that sleep was deep. He awoke in a sweat; he had been having a nightmare of his childhood and the torment from his dad. He looked at his watch and it was going for ten, he would have to explain to Ms. Butler that he'd fallen asleep. He walked to the window and opened it, the air was cool against his sweaty body, and it felt good. The stars were hiding and he could only see a few but the memories of the hill came flooding back. That first night while jogging and he had seen this angel. Then the night Amanda had sprained her ankle, and he had held her in his arms all the while she fought him. He loved every minute. And then the proposal, when they thought the world was their oyster. Man, every thing reminded him of Amanda. Would these memories ever go away? Not if you're lucky, that little voice in his head said. He looked up at the sky and said to the stars, 'Please watch over my love, keep her safe from harm. Let her find the peace she seeks and give her the strength to go on. Let her one-day have fond memories of me. Please, this is all I ask.' Turning away from the window he lay back on the bed and fell back to sleep.
On the hill in Bay City, Amanda is looking at those same stars, 'Oh Cameron, what went wrong, why couldn't you trust me? I miss the way things used to be. You hurt me, if you could only understand how much it took for me to forgive you, and then you walked all over that trust.' The tears flowed freely; she hadn't been able to really cry. Everyone had expected her to be strong, from her mother to Gary, to Alli. She had been there for everyone and no one was there for her. Cameron was so devastated by the death of the baby; even her reaching out to him had gone unnoticed. She wept. 'Please help me to get over this, I need to move on.' She said to the stars. She felt a rush of cool air blow across her cheek, soft, like a kiss. She felt that Cameron was thinking of her. It was going to be difficult to see him; it was hard to fall out of love. Well she would handle the situation as it arose. She turned for home and that breeze followed her.
To be continued.