Chapter 2

At a cabin near the lake, Ben was climbing into bed next to Drew and noticed Drew in deep thought. Ben then asked, "Are you okay?"

Drew grinned and said, "I'm fine. It's just that you and I have never left for a weekend without Jeffery being with us and I'm a little nervous about that. I guess I'm just being a worried mother."

"There is nothing to worry about. Jeffery is in very competent hands."

"I know he is. I'm just being a worried mother." Drew kissed Ben. She then said, "Goodnight."

After Ben and Drew turned of the lamps, Drew lay in bed thinking about what could be going on back home.

The following morning, Casey, Eve and Jeffery were browsing through the books at Past Pages Book store. They search for an hour without finding anything on turning Eve back. They then gave up and went to the park.

Casey and Jeffery were passing the football around for several minutes when Derrick walked up to Casey. Casey looked at Derrick in a disgusted manner. Eve was sitting on a bench and when she saw Casey's expression, she got up and walked towards Casey.

Casey stared at Derrick for a short time. She then turned towards Jeffery and called out, "Jeffery, it's time for us to leave."

"Casey, please give me five minutes," said Derrick.

Casey faced Derrick again and said, "Derrick, you are very sorry; I get it, but you being sorry is not going to change a thing."

"The ten months that we dated don't mean anything to you?"

Jeffery was walking up to Casey with the football in his hand as Casey was saying, "I can't forgive what you did no matter how I felt about you before. You tried to sell my Eve doll knowing very well that the doll meant more to me than any amount of money."

"I serious thought that you would have a change of heart once you saw the money."

"By you even thinking that way means that you never knew me."

When Eve walked up Derrick looked at her in a curious manner. He then said, "You look very familiar. Have we met?"

Before Eve had a chance to respond Jeffery blurted out, "She's Eve."

Casey place her hand on Jeffery's shoulder and said, "Jeffery, don't tell him anything."

"That is who you look like," said Derrick. "You look like the Eve doll."

"That is who I am," said Eve.

"You're the Eve doll?" asked Derrick.

"She is the model of the Eve doll and her name is also Eve," said Casey.

"You personally know the model of the Eve doll?" asked Derrick.

"We met about eight years," said Casey. "Eve; Jeffery, let's go."

Eve smiled and said, "Bye, it was nice to meet you."

As Casey, Eve and Jeffery turned to walk away, Derrick said, "Yeah, it was nice to meet you too."

"Halfway to Casey's car Jeffery said, "Casey you lied to Derrick of who Eve is and I get in trouble for lying."

"Lying is normally wrong, but there are exceptions to when it is okay to lie," said Casey. "Do you understand?"

"No," said Jeffery.

"I don't understand either," said Eve.

Casey looked at Eve in a curious manner for a second. She then said, "Jeffery, you like your Grandma Valerie's homemade cookies; in fact we all do, but if she would make a batch of cookies that didn't taste good then you wouldn't tell her that you didn't like them."

"Why wouldn't I tell her that I didn't like the cookies?"

"If you tell her that then you would hurt her feelings. So you don't hurt her feelings you should tell her that you like the cookies. You can also tell her that you are full and don't want anymore."

"I think I understand," said Jeffery.

Seconds later, Casey, Eve and Jeffery got into the car and drove off.

Minutes later, at the Stuart's residence, Andy was knocking on the front door. When no one answered he went to his vehicle, got out a piece of paper and a pen and wrote a note. As he was attaching the note to the door Casey pulled into the driveway. Andy turned and watched as Casey parked her car next to his.

As everyone was getting out of the car, Andy held up the note and said, "I was getting ready to leave you a note to say that I came by." He crumbled the note. "I guess I don't need the note anymore."

Andy noticed a small wastebasket on the porch and tossed the crumbled note in.

"Hi Mr. Gordon," said Jeffery.

"Hi Jeffery," said Andy.

Casey walked up to Andy. As Eve and Jeffery were walking up behind Casey, Casey said, "I'm glad that you came by."

Andy smiled and said, "Oh, and why is that?

"I just want to know if you found anything on that idol."

"I found nothing on it; however, around ten o'clock last night the glow of the idol dimmed a little. Did anything take place here around that time?"

"Eve and I were talking in the study around that time."

"Did Eve help you out during that conversation?"

"Eve was able to point something out to me that I was doing unintentionally, but that doesn't mean that I'm dealing with a difficult time in my life."

"Okay, you might not be going through a difficult time, but I believe that you have an issue that you need to work out."

Casey said in a defensive manner, "My only issue I have right now is debating rather I have an issue or not."

"Okay, before you ask me to leave, I'm dropping this discussion."

"Thank you."

"Casey, have you, Jeffery and Eve eaten lunch?"

"I was going to warm up the beef stew that is the refrigerator."

"Since I owe you a meal do you mine if I take the three of you to lunch?"

Jeffery stepped up and said, "Where are you taking us."

Casey placed her hand on Jeffery's shoulder and said, "Jeffery, I haven't agreed to go to lunch with Andy." Casey faced Andy again. "How do you owe me a meal?"

"I did eat half of your pizza last night, so I would like to pay you back by taking everyone to lunch."

Jeffery took hold of Casey's hand and said, "Casey, please say yes. I don't want any beef stew."

"All right, fine," said Casey. "Before we go I have to use the bathroom though." Casey then unlocked the door and walked in.

Andy saw Eve looking at him in a curious manner. He then asked, "Eve, is there anything wrong?"

"Are you a jerk?"

Andy was stunned by Eve's question and wasn't sure how to respond. He then said, "I don't believe that I am. Did Casey call me a jerk?"

"She didn't say anything like that… well not to me anyway."

"Why were you asking me if I was a jerk?"

"Oh Casey is through with dating because she can't tell if a guy is a jerk or not."

"So that is what Casey's issue is."

"Andy, if you are not a jerk then tell Casey that. She might date you."

Jeffery smiled and said, "That would be awesome if you date my sister."

"Jeffery; Eve, hold on a second. Jeffery, I would love to date your sister, but while Casey is looking at all men as jerks that is not going to happen no matter how much I try. Eve, telling Casey that I'm not a jerk is not that simple. Words don't mean anything. She must see that I'm not a jerk."

"Then show her, Mr. Gordon," said Jeffery.

"Jeffery, outside the class you have my permission to call me Andy. As for showing Casey that I'm not a jerk might not be all that simple, but I will try."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" asked Jeffery.

"There just might be. Tell me why Derrick and Casey broke up."

Jeffery told what Derrick had done.

Seconds later Casey came out of the house and relocked the door. She then asked, "So Andy, where are you taking us."

Andy looked at Jeffery and asked, "Jeffery, where would you like to eat at?"

"Can we go to the Chinese restaurant?" asked Jeffery.

"Casey, do you like Chinese?" asked Andy.

"Casey eats Chinese all the time," said Jeffery.

Casey smiled and said, "Chinese will be fine."

"Chinese it is then," said Andy. "Casey, since you eat Chinese a lot you must have a favorite restaurant to eat at."

"Oh actually my favorite Chinese restaurant is almost an hour away, so any restaurant will do."

"I have no problem with going to your favorite restaurant. You will have to give me the directions though."

"Andy, that restaurant is about a two-hour-drive there and back."

Andy said in a sarcastic manner, "I wouldn't be much of a teacher if I couldn't figure that out myself, but thinks for telling me."

"Andy, all I'm saying…"

"Casey, I want to take you, Eve and Jeffery to your favorite restaurant."

Casey looked at Andy in an uncertain manner. She then said, "All right."

"Good," said Andy. "What is the name of the restaurant?"

Casey walked towards Andy's Jeep and said, "I haven't a clue. I just know where it is and that they have good food."

Casey got into the passenger seat while Jeffery and Eve got into the back seat. Andy got in and then drove off. Twenty minutes on the road, Andy pulled off the highway, so Jeffery could use the restroom.

Five minutes from the restaurant Casey saw an uneasy expression on Andy's face. She then asked, "Andy, are you okay?"

In a tense manner Andy said, "Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be fine?"

"At the moment you are acting a little nervous. Is there anything bothering you?"

"I believe I know the Chinese restaurant that you are taking me to and if it is the same one, I might be running into a few people who I know."

Casey looked at Andrew in an amuse manner and asked, "Ex-girlfriends?"

"Just one ex-girlfriend."

"Andy, if you are nervous about going there we don't have to go."

"No, I'm not going to avoid that place just because I might run into an ex-girlfriend."

Jeffery asked, "So why did you break up with…"

"Jeffery," exclaimed Casey. "That is an inappropriate question."

"Why is it in-ap-popriate?" asked Jeffery.

"It is not our business to know why Andy broke up with his ex-girlfriend," said Casey.

"Actually she broke up with me just because I was helping out a friend."

Before Casey was able to say anything Eve said, "That's not right to break up with you for helping out a friend."

"The friend I was helping was a woman and Janice broke up with me because she claimed she couldn't trust me; however, there was nothing going on between me and my friend Chloe."

"Andy, that is really none of our business," said Casey.

"All right," said Andy.

Minutes later Casey, Andy, Jeffery and Eve walked into the restaurant. The restaurant is full with two empty tables. By the front door, Jeffery and Eve stopped at the large fish tank to look at the fish. Casey saw Andy looking over the dining area in a nervous manner.

Casey walked up to Andy and asked, "Well do you see anyone you know?"

"No," said Andy. Andy pointed to an empty table. "Is that table over there okay?"

"How nervous you are, we are not eating here."

"Casey, this is your favorite Chinese restaurant…"

"Andy, we can still get the food, but I don't want to eat it here."

"Why not?"

"You are looking around as if you were a gazelle and that the lions are nearby, so apparently there are people that come in here that you are scared of."

"There are a few people that I don't want to run into, but they don't come in here all that often. So we don't have to leave."

"If it was just you and me then I would eat here, but while Jeffery is with me keeping him from harm's way is my only concern."

"Casey, even if someone I know did come in here, nothing would happen to Jeffery."

"Jeffery doesn't need to witness an aggressive situation either. Besides there is a park near here and Jeffery would think it's fun to eat there."

"Casey, I would never put Jeffery in harm's way or have him around an aggressive situation."

As Casey watched the waiter approaching her and Andy, she said, "Andy, I believe that you wouldn't deliberately put Jeffery or another kid in harm's way, but you need to listen to your gut."

"What are you talking about?"

"I can tell that you are very nervous in being here and if you are that nervous than any kid that is with you should not be here."

The waiter walked up and asked, "How many are in your party?"

"Oh we decided to order the food to go," said Casey.

"You can step up to the cashier and give him your order," the waiter said.

"Thanks," said Casey.

As Casey and Andy stepped up to the cashier, Andy said, "Casey, you're right and I'm sorry for not realizing what might happen."

Casey grinned and said, "Hey, don't feel bad, it took me a little time to recognize which places and people to avoid when Jeffery was with me."

The cashier stopped what he was doing and asked, "May I help you two?" Casey and Andy ordered the food they wanted. Andy then paid for it. "The food will be ready in ten minutes."

"Thanks," said Casey.

Casey and Andy walked up to Jeffery and Eve.

Jeffery saw Casey walking up. He then asked, "Casey, do you think mom and dad will buy me a big fish tank like this,—" Jeffery pointed to one of the fishes "—and get me a fish like that one?"

"They might get you a small tank and a goldfish or a few guppies, but they won't get you anything thing like this," said Casey.

"Why won't they?"

"This tank alone cost a lot of money."

"How much money?"

"A lot more than dad will be willing to spend."

A man opened the door and walked in followed by four others. Casey glanced at Andy for a moment.

When Eve saw the five customers she asked, "Casey, should we be taking our seats?"

"We are getting the food to go," said Casey.

Jeffery patted Casey on her arm a few times as he asked, "Why aren't we eating here?"

"Jeffery, I see you, so you don't have to pat me on my arm. As for why we are not eating here; we are going to take the food and go to a park that is near here."

"Oh, cool. Does this park have any swings and slides?"

"It has been three years since I was at that park, but it did then." Casey saw a perplex expression on Andy's face. "Andy, is there anything wrong?"

"When you mention a park earlier I didn't make a connection to which park you were referring to. The park I think you are referring to is no longer a park. It's now a daycare center."

Jeffery tapped Casey on her arm one time and asked, "Does that mean we are eating here?"

"We will find another park," said Casey.

"Why don't we eat here?" asked Eve.

"I thought it would be nice to eat in a park," said Casey.

"Casey, I know where we can go, but it is not a park," said Andy.

"What place is that?" asked Casey.

"My grandparents live about a quarter of mile from that daycare center. We can go there."

"I can see your grandparents' reaction now when the four of us barge in on them with bags of Chinese food."

"Casey, we won't be barging in and there is also a nice size backyard gym with swings, two…"

Casey quickly interrupted as she was motioning the cut sign, "Andy, hush!"

Jeffery took hold of Casey's hand and asked, "Casey, can we go there. Please."

Casey said in a sarcastic manner, "Andy, thanks a lot for mentioning a backyard gym. I don't know why Jeffery loves them so much, but he does."

"Casey, can we go?" Jeffery asked again.

"Hold on a second," said Casey. "Andy, are you certain we won't be barging in."

"I'm positive, but if it will make you feel better I can call them and let them know we will be by."

"I would feel better if you did."

"My cell phone is in the Jeep. I will be back in a minute."

Casey reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She then said, "You can use mine." Casey handed Andy the phone. "Oh, do your grandparents have a dog?"

"No. Are you allergic to dogs?"

"No, Jeffery has a fear of large dogs such as Great Danes."

"He will be safe from dogs at my grandparents' house."

As Andy was dialing the phone Jeffery asked, "Casey, are we going to Andy's grandparents' house?"

"We might be." When Casey looked at Eve, Eve was grinning. "You look happy."

"I'm just watching how great you are with Jeffery. If I didn't know that you were his sister, I probably would mistake you as being his mother."

"Do I look old enough to be Jeffery's mom?"

In a sincere manner Eve said, "I don't know. How old does a woman have to be to be a mother?"

Casey looked at Jeffery before she answered. "I am too young to be Jeffery's mom, but I am old enough for the stork to drop off a tiny newborn at my doorstep."

Jeffery looked at Casey and said, "The stork doesn't bring babies."

"Who told you that a stork doesn't bring babies?"

"Samantha Williams has a baby inside her tummy. No one will tell me how the baby got in there though."

"The baby got there by magic," said Casey.

"Why is the baby in Samantha's tummy?"

Casey paused for a second. She then said, "Dad will explain that to you in five or six years."

"Oh man, no one tells me anything."

Casey grinned and said, "I felt the same way at your age, so believe me when I say, you are not alone."

Andy stepped up and said, "Okay, we are set. My grandparents have no problems with us dropping by."

"Okay, when we get our food we will go to your grandparents' house."

Andy held out Casey's phone, so she can take it. "Casey, your phone has a low charge."

"And I don't have my charger with me. I have better turn it off and save the charge I do have."

Casey turned off her phone and stuck it in her purse.

At the cabin Drew was holding a phone to her ear.

Ben walked into the cabin and said, "Drew, I thought we agreed that there will be no phones this weekend."

"I was just trying to call Casey again," said Drew. She then hung up the phone.

"Again? When did you call her the first time?"

"I tried to call her an hour ago, but no one answered then or now. I wonder if anything is wrong."

"Drew, Casey is a responsible adult and she is capable of handling things back home."

"I know; it just that we never left Jeffery like this before and I just need a little reassurance that everything is okay."

"Chances are Jeffery had convinced Casey to take him to the park and that is where they are. You know that Casey has a soft spot for Jeffery when it comes to things like that."

Drew picked up the phone and said, "Perhaps I can reach Casey on her cell phone." Drew dialed the phone.

"Drew, Casey knows our cell phone numbers, so if there is anything wrong she would call us."

Seconds later Drew hung up the phone and said, "Oh god, the phone went straight into voice mail. What do you think that means?"

"Let's see, since Casey has a habit of not putting her phone on the charger before her phone goes completely dead, I would say that she let her battery to her phone go dead."

"I'm being paranoid, aren't I?" asked Drew.

"Just a little." Ben walked up to Drew and hugged her.

Drew ended the hug and said, "It's just that since last night I have had this strange feeling."

"What kind of feeling?"

"I don't know. The last time I had a feeling like this was when… well about eight years ago when you hire that woman Eve to temp for you."

"Drew, everything is fine. Perhaps so you can relax a little we can open the bottle of champagne that I brought with us."

In a delightful manner Drew asked, "You brought champagne?"

"I was going to surprise you with it tonight. It's still in the van. I will go get it."

When Ben walked outside Drew picked up the phone again and dialed it. A second later Phyllis answered.

"Phyllis hi, it's me, Drew," she said.

"Drew, aren't you supposed to be away with Ben?"

"We are. We are at the cabin now. I need a favor from you if I can."

"What kind of favor?"

"I tried to call Casey a couple of times, but I can't get any answer. I left her one message on the answering machine for her to call me, but I was wondering if you can go by my house and make sure that everything is fine."

"I can if that is what you really want, but chances are Casey and Jeffery are just out somewhere. Derrick mentioned earlier that he saw them in the park."

"That's what Ben was saying where they might be. I know Casey is a responsible adult and is capable in watching Jeffery, but I'm got this nagging feeling that something isn't right."

"Drew, I was about ready to leave for the grocery store and if you want I can swing by your house on my way home."

"I would be grateful if you did," said Drew. "You can reach me on my cell phone."

"Okay, bye."

Minutes later, Casey, Jeffery, Andy and Eve were entering a good size two-story house. Andy was carrying the bag of food.

After Allen Gordon and his wife Beverly greeted them at the door, Beverly asked, "Andy, how long have you and Casey been seeing each other?"

Casey spoke before Andy was able to answer, "Mrs. Gordon, we are not seeing each other… that is we are not in a relationship."

"Grandma; Casey and I actually met yesterday; however, Casey's brother, Jeffery; is one of my students."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have jump to that conclusion," said Beverly

"You didn't do anything to apologize for, Mrs. Gordon," said Casey.

With cheerfulness in her voice Eve said, "I think Casey and Andy would make a charming couple."

With a smile on Jeffery's face, he said, "I would like to see that too."

Casey looked at Eve in a serous manner and said, "Eve, I'm focusing on my studies right now. I don't what anything to divide my focus."

Allen stepped up and asked, "Casey, are you in college?"

"Yes, I go to Evergreen State College," said Casey.

"Casey will be starting medical school in the fall," said Andy.

"I wish you well in your pursuit to be a doctor," said Allen.

"Thanks," said Casey.

"Grandma, we should go to the dining room and eat our food before it gets too cold," said Andy.

"Of course," said Beverly. "Oh Andy, before you walk away you should know that Chloe had called after you did and when she heard that you were on your way here, she decided she wanted to come by to say hi,"

Andy looked at Casey with an uncertain expression on his face. He then said, "That's good, I guess. Well we better get to the dining room."

As everyone was walking to the dining room, Casey noticed Jeffery in deep thought. Jeffery then asked, "Andy, is Chloe the same friend that cause you and Janice to break up?"

"Jeffery," exclaimed Casey.

"What?" asked Jeffery.

"What happen between Andy, Janice and Chloe is Andy's personal business," said Casey. "It's not our concern."

As they were walking into the dining room, Andy said, "Casey, that information is not a secret around here."

"Still, I know more about it than what I should," said Casey.

As Andy was placing the food on the table he said, "All right."

The dining room table was big enough to accommodate six people.

Beverly walked past them and said, "I will go get some plates for the four of you."

Before Beverly walked away, Casey said, "Mrs. Gordon, there should be enough food for you and Mr. Gordon if the two of you would like to join us."

"Thanks for the offer, but we were finishing lunch when Andy called us," said Beverly.

As Beverly was walking away, Casey, Andy, Jeffery and Eve each took a seat. Two empty seats sat between Casey and Eve.

Allen looked at his watch and said, "Andy, I will let you kids eat. I'm going in the backyard to put away the lawn mower."

As Allen was walking away, Eve noticed Jeffery holding back laughter. In a delightful manner, Eve asked, "Jeffery, what is so funny?"

"He called you three kids," said Jeffery.

Casey grinned and said, "Well to him we are kids."

Beverly returned with the plates. As she was putting down the plates the doorbell rang.

Jeffery looked at Andy and said, "I bet that's Chloe." He then looked at Casey in a nervous manner.

Casey just looked at him without responding.

Beverly took a step and said, "I will go and let her in." She then paused for a second and faced Andy. "Oh Andy, there are Pepsi, Sprite and tea in the kitchen. You can get the drinks for everyone." She then walked away.

Andy stood up and asked, "All right, who wants what?"

After finding out what each one wanted Andy walked into the kitchen. Casey and Eve fixed the plates. Minutes later as everyone began eating Beverly and Chloe walked into the dining room. Beverly introduced Chloe to Casey, Eve and Jeffery.

Casey gestured towards the food containers and said, "Chloe, if you haven't eaten, you are welcome to join us. We have plenty."

Chloe thought for a second. She then said, "Okay, I am a little hungry."

Beverly took a step and said, "Chloe, I will get you a plate."

"Thank you," said Chloe. She then took a seat next to Eve. "So besides Andy, where is everyone from."

Casey answered Chloe's question and the few general questions that followed. Chloe asked Jeffery and Eve a few questions also.