Lovers & Leavers

Chapter 3: The Many Sides of Bruce VanExel

Ring. "Hello?" The voice on the other end said in a tired, but strong voice.

"Bruce?" She barely let out as tears slid down her face, almost making it impossible to talk.

"Amy? What's wrong? Is McClaren beating you? Cause if he is..."

"No, it's worse. He b.....b......b...br..oke up w.....w....with m....me," Amy blubbered out. "And, the worst part is, I...I caused him to."

Bruce smiled. Now was his chance to get Amy back. "It's okay, Ames, I'll be right over. I have to bring Rebecca, though."

"Thanks, Bruce. Becca can sleep in Lauren's room." In ten minutes time, Amy heard a knock on the door. She quickly ran to the door, tripping over the rug as Bruce opened the door. The door slammed into Amy, causing her to squeal with pain. "Owwww!!!!"

"I'm so sorry, Amy. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think a pack of frozen peas will do the trick. Why don't you tuck Rebecca into the sleeping bag I laid out in Lauren's room? You remember where the room in don't you? I'm going to get those peas before my nose falls off." Bruce went upstairs to tuck his daughter in. Afterwards, Bruce went into Amy's room, settled in her already warm bed, and fell asleep. Meanwhile, Amy sat at the kitchen table, holding the peas on her nose with one hand, and the phone in the other. Carefully, she dialed David's number. "555-0893," she said aloud, as she punched the numbers in. After several rings, the answering machine picked up again. "Hi, David, it's me again. I'm really sorry for forgetting our dates. I realize my mistake, and I regret it terribly. Forgive me, babe, I miss you. And.....I love you." Beep. She put the peas back into the freezer and crept back upstairs. Sliding under the bedcovers, she noticed Bruce. "Oh no he didn't," Amy thought to herself, as she slid back out. Back downstairs, she curled up on the couch, wishing that David was beside her.

Beep. Beep. BEEP. 6:30. The pink alarm clock went off in Lauren's bedroom. Lauren woke up, barely opening her eyes to shut off the alarm before lying back down. Lauren always laid back down after her alarm went off. Usually, Amy had to pull her up. But, today, she noticed something, or rather, someone, different in her room. Rebecca Van Exel. What was she doing her? Rebecca was in fifth grade, a year younger than herself, and anytime she ever came over with her father, she followed Lauren (and Victor) everywhere. It drove her crazy to see Rebecca in her room without her permission. Mom was in for it!! Bounding out of bed, Lauren stepped over Rebecca's sleeping body and went to her mom's room. But, no Mom. The bed was empty. "Maybe Mom and David made up," Lauren thought excitedly. She ran back into her room to call Victor. The phone rang a couple of times before Victor finally answered it.

"Amy?" A sleepy voice answered.

"Victor, it's me. Is Mom over there? She has to be, she's not here. I think they made up!" prattled Lauren.

"L, Amy's not here. Neither's Dad, for that matter. He dropped me off and drove off. I'm scared, Lauren. What if he never comes back? Who will take me to school? Grandma's not here for some reason, and I...."

"Mom's not there? David's not there? Maybe they eloped in Las Vegas!"

"Lauren! I have something to tell you. Amy called here this morning. She was crying, and she wanted Dad back. She said she loved him. I think Dad broke up with her. How could he? I love your mom."

"I love your dad. I want them together. Mr. Van Exel's here, and I don't want him. Why did Mom have to go and make friends with him? I don't want Rebecca as my stepsister! "

"No, Lauren, he can't be there! Then, Dad and Amy will never be together. You've got to do something."

"Okay, we'll think of something at school. I'll get Mom to pick you up. That way, she has to go into your house again."

"Okay, later, L."

"Later."

Bruce stepped out of the bathroom, fully dressed. He went downstairs, searching for Amy. "Why hadn't she slept with him last night?" And, there she was, on the sofa, sound asleep. He had to wake her. "Amy?" He nudged her gently on the arm, them a little harder. "Wake up, Amy."

She heard a deep voice. "David?" She called, still half asleep. "David, is that you?

He hated being called David. "It's Bruce, Bruce, your best friend, the person you should be with," he wanted to say but kept to himself.

Amy opened her eyes. Bruce was standing over her. She smiled, touching his cheek gently, until she remembered last night, and stopped abruptly.

"Don't stop," he told her, pulling her in to kiss her soft, warm lips.

Amy pulled away, anger rising. "You used me. You used my emotions, my feelings, and my sadness, to try and get in bed with me. I thought I knew you, Bruce. I thought you were my best friend, not some guy who wants to get in my pants."

"I thought you wanted that."

"If I wanted that, then I could've picked any lawyer in the Hartford Court System."

"I'm sorry, Amy."

"It's Judge Gray to you."

"I thought we were friends."

"No, Bruce, that's what I thought. Go home, and don't ever come back."

He headed for the stairs, to get Rebecca, and to get out of there. "Where are you going?" she asked. "To get my daughter."

"No, Bruce, I'll take her to school. You get out. From now on, we are on a strictly professional relationship. Out!"

And he got out. Amy was still crazy over McClaren, and he felt it was still his duty to save her from McClaren's grasp. That was still his plan.

Amy got up, got Lauren and Rebecca up, ate breakfast with Maxine, and drove the girls to school. After dropping Rebecca off at the elementary school, Lauren came out of her quiet shell. "Mom, Victor needs a ride. David never came home, and his grandma isn't home, either. I promised him that you would pick him up."

"Lauren! We're almost to your school! Why didn't you tell me at breakfast?"

"Because SHE was there! And why was she there anyway?"

"Who's she? Oh, Rebecca. I never got why you never liked her. She was there, because I needed to talk to her father. But, if it makes you happy, I'm not so happy with him, either." Amy took a U-turn and drove in the direction of David's house.

They rode in quiet for a few minutes, until Lauren finally worked up to asking Amy a serious question. "Mom, why were you not showing up for dates with David? You obviously love him; Victor said you told him you did. Why?"

"I don't know, Lauren. I just didn't realize the love until I lost him. The relationship was getting so serious, the kind of serious I wasn't used to."

Lauren thought for a few minutes, pondering every word that had come out of her mother's mouth. Finally, she thought she knew what her mother meant. "The kind of serious with David like you were with my dad?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"What about Stu? Were you serious with him?"

"Yeah, for a bit, but things were getting a bit too serious. That's why I dumped him at the altar. I did the same to David, but this time, I'm not fond of doing it, and I want him back...." Amy added, "but I think I lost my chance" silently to this. "Why am I telling you this, anyway?"

"Because I'm your daughter, and I have questions."

Amy pulled into the McClarens' driveway, surprised to see David's car there. They got out, walked to the door, and knocked. David opened it. "What are you doing here? He asked, but not at all surprised.

"Victor said that he needed a ride. You still hadn't come home, but I guess that he won't be needing a ride anymore. I better go, if I'm going to get Lauren to school. Come on, Lauren." She walked quickly to the car and drove away, not bothering to look at David. He shut the door sadly as they left.

Amy pulled into the parking lot. She had dropped Lauren off at school already. Walking in the court's building, she didn't bother walking into the cafeteria, for she knew Bruce was there. And, she had no intention of speaking to him. She had case files to read before court anyway.

The door to her office was unlocked already. She opened it, walked in, and was enchanted to see roses everywhere. "David?" she thought, but when she noticed the card, she was surprised even more. It was Bruce. Even after she had yelled at him. Clearing space on her desk to work, she sat down and began to read. Thirty minutes went by, as Amy finished reading, dressed in her robe, and prepared for court. Just as she was about to open the door, Bruce walked in with the day's docket. Or, so she thought. He walked in with more roses and the docket. She had to forgive him. "I'm sor....," she started to say, as he came to her.

"Shhhhhh," he quieted Amy, and leaned closer, so that he could smell her apple- blossomed fragrance on her neck. He touched her lips gently with his, ever so slightly. When he became aware that she was kissing back, the kiss became a stronger, more passionate one than before. They didn't even notice David McClaren standing before them in the doorway, wearing a distraught face.