The next few weeks were a little hectic for me so I was relieved when Mom and Dad asked me to come over for dinner one night. We were all sitting around the table, talking about what we've been doing lately. Kerry was saying something about how she's been doing at Stoneybrook University. Hunter was also saying something about how his job at Renwick's has been.
I wasn't really paying attention to what everyone else was saying. My mind was on the only thing that mattered to me right now- Mary Anne and her safety.
I must have been pretty spaced out because Mom asked, "Are you OK, Logan? You haven't said a word tonight."
"Oh, I'm fine. I'm just worried about something."
"Is anything wrong, son?" Dad asked. They all looked pretty concerned.
"Well, nothing's wrong with me, but something is wrong with someone who's very close to me."
"Who?" Kerry asked, fork poised over her plate.
"It's Mary Anne," I said.
"What's wrong with her?" Hunter asked.
"Well, it has nothing to do with her health. It's her husband, Ian." They all gave me a puzzled look.
"The TV news anchor?" Dad asked.
I nodded. "He seems so ... arrogant at times, but everyone says he's very nice. He's never liked me, though, and I know that he's not. I found out by accident that ... he's abusive to her. I want to help her, but I don't know how to." I sighed.
They sat there and soaked this information in for a few minutes. Then Mom spoke.
"That poor girl. I'm surprised that she'd allow someone to do that to her."
"Well, it's true that she speaks up for herself more and is a whole lot more outgoing than before, but she's still insecure about a few things. I guess Ian knows that and uses it against her."
"Sounds like you've talked to her a lot lately," Dad remarked.
I nodded. "There's something else that makes me worry about her. The last time she saw me, she had just got back from the doctor and she showed me her latest sonogram."
"You mean she's pregnant?" Kerry asked.
I nodded. "She swears that he promised her that he would never hurt her now, but I'm not so sure."
While Mom and Dad pondered this, Hunter asked "Does she know that you're worried about her?"
I wondered about that for a few seconds. "I'm not sure. She must know. I mean, I'm always asking if she's doing all right."
"Let me ask you something. Do you still have any feelings for her?" Mom asked.
I was a little surprised at the question. Did I still have feelings for her?
"I care for her, if that's what you mean." I replied.
"Do you still love her though?" Kerry asked.
"I- I'm not sure," I admitted.
"Well, it seems like you do," Hunter said.
I excused myself and went up to my old room, which was the same as always. I needed time to think about this.
Would my life be better if she was in it? I admit that ever since we discovered that we were neighbors, I've gone out of my way to talk to her, well. most of the time anyway. I'm not completely sure that she doesn't do the same thing.
But, does that mean that I was still in love with her? Maybe that didn't, but there were some other things that did. Like the way it tugged at my heart whenever I saw them together.
I realized that I was still in love with her. Maybe I never fell out of love with her, but what could I do about it now?
Just then, the door came open and when I looked up everyone was there.
"I've decided that I am still in love with her," I told them.
They smiled. "That's great, but first we have to think of a way to help her, then we'll think about that."
"Yeah," Kerry added. "We all want to help you help her. We don't know how, but we know that together, we'll make it happen."
"We just came in here to tell you that, no matter what happens, we'll stand by you."
I got up and hugged everyone, proud that I have such a wonderful family.
Later that night, before I went to bed, I decided the next day to call up the only person I know who will probably know more about this and how to help- Kristy Taylor, her best friend.