Chapter 17- (a)
~~~~~~~~~~
It had been two weeks since they first met,
and Gary knew that he was in love with April.
He never pressured her into telling him what
was bothering her. He didn't want her to feel
pressured hoping that in time she would feel
safe enough to open up to him. In the meantime
he loved seeing her happy. He loved her spirit
and spontaneous nature. She was the excitement
in his life after a long tiring day and for once Gary
seemed happy more involved. Marisa noticed it
right away. There were mornings when he would
actually come downstairs whistling. Although
ecstatic for him, Marisa couldn't help feeling uneasy.
The dream that she had several weeks ago still disturbed
her, but she kept it to herself, not wanting to rain on his
happiness. Besides, she was probably imagining things
anyway. She had wanted to tell him about it that day
she'd found out April had taken Tom's key to the bar,
but decided against it and ended up telling him
something pertaining to the business of the
bar instead.
April seemed very nice and was very attentive towards
Gary, perhaps a little too attentive. Marisa recalled
one day when she had gone up to Gary's loft to get
something only to find April there tiding up the place.
Had she spent the night? Gary hadn't mentioned
giving April a key to his apartment, but knowing Gary,
he had probably forgotten to tell her about it. Besides
what he did with his personal life was his business.
As for Gary, it was hard trying to conceal the paper
from April, always having to explain his continual
excuses to go to the men's room or to make a phone
call when out on a date with her. He hated lying to
her but he wasn't ready to tell her about the paper.
April, on the other hand was happy and content just
being with Gary. She felt safe with him and he was far
different somehow from any other man she had ever
dated. Kind and gentle with her. Sweet and caring
but not controlling. In the past, men had always treated
her like an ornament, constantly reminding her of how
pretty she was. But with Gary things were different.
He hadn't told her yet that she was beautiful, didn't
gush all over her and April was beginning to wonder
whether or not she was attractive to him.
The two of them had been seeing each other for
weeks now and not once had Gary tried to make
a move on her which was something April wasn't
use to, but it was a welcomed change. She had
finally found someone that she could give her all
to without any strings attached.
April had however, noticed his preoccupation
with the paper, but never really questioned him
about it or his peculiar behavior. She trusted him.
She had fallen in love with him.
Fortunately the shooting deaths seemed to have
ceased. The paper hadn't been of much help anyway
and Gary was still at a loss as to why. As the weeks
rolled by, Gary's duties with the paper continued.
But there was something happening to Gary that
was very disturbing during those weeks. Lately, he
himself was beginning to feel spooked and uneasy.
There were times when after a date with April he felt
that he was being followed. Twice after returning home
late from a save he had awakened to the sound of a
car pulling off from the side of the bar. A couple of times,
he had found the bar in disarray, as if someone had
been inside looking for something. It made the hairs
on the back of his neck stand up. But he kept it from
April, not wanting to upset her again.
Although the shooting deaths appeared to have
ceased, Brigatti however, was still on the job, and
once again, Gary found himself in her office,
the 'object of her affection.'
To be continued........................
~~~~~~~~~~
It had been two weeks since they first met,
and Gary knew that he was in love with April.
He never pressured her into telling him what
was bothering her. He didn't want her to feel
pressured hoping that in time she would feel
safe enough to open up to him. In the meantime
he loved seeing her happy. He loved her spirit
and spontaneous nature. She was the excitement
in his life after a long tiring day and for once Gary
seemed happy more involved. Marisa noticed it
right away. There were mornings when he would
actually come downstairs whistling. Although
ecstatic for him, Marisa couldn't help feeling uneasy.
The dream that she had several weeks ago still disturbed
her, but she kept it to herself, not wanting to rain on his
happiness. Besides, she was probably imagining things
anyway. She had wanted to tell him about it that day
she'd found out April had taken Tom's key to the bar,
but decided against it and ended up telling him
something pertaining to the business of the
bar instead.
April seemed very nice and was very attentive towards
Gary, perhaps a little too attentive. Marisa recalled
one day when she had gone up to Gary's loft to get
something only to find April there tiding up the place.
Had she spent the night? Gary hadn't mentioned
giving April a key to his apartment, but knowing Gary,
he had probably forgotten to tell her about it. Besides
what he did with his personal life was his business.
As for Gary, it was hard trying to conceal the paper
from April, always having to explain his continual
excuses to go to the men's room or to make a phone
call when out on a date with her. He hated lying to
her but he wasn't ready to tell her about the paper.
April, on the other hand was happy and content just
being with Gary. She felt safe with him and he was far
different somehow from any other man she had ever
dated. Kind and gentle with her. Sweet and caring
but not controlling. In the past, men had always treated
her like an ornament, constantly reminding her of how
pretty she was. But with Gary things were different.
He hadn't told her yet that she was beautiful, didn't
gush all over her and April was beginning to wonder
whether or not she was attractive to him.
The two of them had been seeing each other for
weeks now and not once had Gary tried to make
a move on her which was something April wasn't
use to, but it was a welcomed change. She had
finally found someone that she could give her all
to without any strings attached.
April had however, noticed his preoccupation
with the paper, but never really questioned him
about it or his peculiar behavior. She trusted him.
She had fallen in love with him.
Fortunately the shooting deaths seemed to have
ceased. The paper hadn't been of much help anyway
and Gary was still at a loss as to why. As the weeks
rolled by, Gary's duties with the paper continued.
But there was something happening to Gary that
was very disturbing during those weeks. Lately, he
himself was beginning to feel spooked and uneasy.
There were times when after a date with April he felt
that he was being followed. Twice after returning home
late from a save he had awakened to the sound of a
car pulling off from the side of the bar. A couple of times,
he had found the bar in disarray, as if someone had
been inside looking for something. It made the hairs
on the back of his neck stand up. But he kept it from
April, not wanting to upset her again.
Although the shooting deaths appeared to have
ceased, Brigatti however, was still on the job, and
once again, Gary found himself in her office,
the 'object of her affection.'
To be continued........................