Carter in Orange County chap4
Author's Note: I'm going to use these next fewchapters to get the two universes up to the same time and then I can merge them, so this takes place before the phone call in the previous chapter. Obviously.
CaliforniaAs he rushed out of the house, the sun, high in the sky, blinded Ryan; it was going to be a very hot day.
"Seth, where are we going?" he shouted in the general direction of the car. "We have to be at school in about an hour"
"Yeah, we aren't going to school today" Seth told him.
"Why? What is so important that it can't wait? And if this is some idea that you haven't thought through properly that is meant to impress Alex, then count me out"
"Ryan, we are going to be super sleuths for a day! We are going to be the greatest detectives on the west coast, it'll be like those crime comics you see in stores even though I never really stop to read them, but this could open up a whole new genre for me."
"And I'm glad for you man, let me know how it turns out", and with that Ryan turned around; he still hadn't gotten any bagels. It was time for breakfast.
Almost as if he had read his thoughts, Seth turned to Ryan and said,
"But first we have to stop for bagels"
"Seth I'm not coming with you! Whatever crackpot scheme you have come up with, just leave me out of it for once, please."
"But Ryan, we are brothers in arms, all for one and one for all, that kind of stuff. Besides do you really want to let me go off alone with no one to supervise?"
'That was low' Ryan thought to himself, 'but I'm going to have to go now.' And with his fate decided, Ryan got into the car and settled himself into the front seat.
"Where do you want to go for breakfast?"
"So where exactly are we going?" Ryan decided it was time to get some answers.
"To see Lindsay's mom," Seth told him. "We…well, I have to know if this thing my Grandpa did was a one off, and if it wasn't then we need to track down whoever else he has left in the same position as Lindsay."
"Seth, I getthat you want to do this,really I do. But why do we have to go now? Can't we just go after school?"
"No time like the present Ryan" Seth chirped, way too cheerfully. And Ryan realised just how much the revelation had shaken Seth's little world.
When they got to Lindsay's house she was just leaving, and so there was nothing to do but keep on driving, hopefully she didn't recognize the car. When they were sure she had gone they drove round the block again, just in time to catch her mom.
"Hey Ms. Gardner!" Seth called out.
"Sorry boys, you just missed Lindsay"
"That's okay" said Seth, "we were hoping to talk to you, I mean, if you don't mind"
"Well I'm not needed in the office until 11:00 so I have some time, but don't you two have school?"
"Nah, we have free periods", Seth was surprised at how easily the lie rolled off his tongue. Good job he was talking and not Ryan, he knew from personal experience how bad he was at lying.
"Okay, well what can I do for you boys?" Ms. Gardner was a little confused but she decided they must have an important reason for being here, especially Ryan, as he was Lindsay's boyfriend, and no teenage male likes to hang out with their girlfriend's mom.
"I know this is going to sound really weird Ms. Gardner, but I need to know. You know when you and my grandpa, kind of, well you know..? Well, do you think he cheated on my grandma more than once, like with other women?"
"Come inside Seth, Ryan" and Ms. Gardner walked back into the house.
When they were seated she took a deep breath
"I was expecting Kirsten to be asking me these questions, not you boys, but I did expect them. I've told Caleb that I will tell the truth so you have nothing to worry about, you aren't doing anything wrong okay?"
'Well' Ryan thought to himself, 'we are cutting school' but that wasn't really the point anymore. The conversation pulled him back to the present though.
"Your grandpa had one other affair Seth, neither of us knew about your grandma, and so I though Caleb was cheating on me, not realizing that I was the 'other woman'." She gave a sardonic laugh. "The woman was married, she already had one son, and she and her husband were trying for another baby. He was in the Air Force and so she had plenty of opportunities to meet him, but as far as I know it only happened once"
Seth looked relived,
"So my grandpa had an attack of conscience?" He asked
"I'm sorry Seth but the woman broke it off"
"H…how did he meet her?"
Ryan decided this conversation was going to have to be wrapped up soon, because Seth was looking really uncomfortable.
"Maybe we should go Seth" he said, we have to get back to school soon anyway.
"No Ryan I need to hear this, please continue Ms. Gardner"
"Well your Grandpa was working on an addition to the base that they lived on, as 'The Newport Group' had been chosen to build the new barracks. He met her at some function, and apparently they hit it off. I'm sorry Seth, but I don't know anything else."
"Not even her name?"
"Well I know her surname was Carter, and her husband's name was Jacob, I think it might have been Libby, or something like it." She looked at the clock, "And now I really have to be off, I'm sorry I couldn't be more help Seth"
The boys followed her out of the door,
"Thank you for your help Ms. Gardner" Ryan said politely, Seth was already waiting in the car. Ryan walked over, 'So Caleb really wasn't all that trustworthy' he thought.
Okay, so what did you think this time? Hopefully you definately see where I'm going with this. So, uhhhh, reviews encourage me and please take a few seconds to let me know what you thought.
