Thanks again for the feedback! I know that I say the same thing every week, but I really do appreciate you all reading and leaving your thoughts.

jinx- Thanks for the heads up on yourself and the other readers. Its great knowing that there are additional readers out there! And it's always pleasing to know that the audience is really feeling the character's emotions. Thanks again!

Chapter Nineteen

Jeremy knocked on the door of the study, then peeked in when he heard an invitation to enter.

"You wanted to see me" he asked Ned hesitantly as he spotted Clay seated in the room.

"Yes" Ned answered "Come in. Have a seat."

Jeremy walked into the room, quietly pushing the door up behind him. He then made his way to a seat in front of Ned's desk, wondering what this meeting was all about. He was about to conclude that it was probably Clay complaining about another chore he'd forgotten to do, when he spotted his money, his letter, and his jewel bag resting on Ned's desk. He instantly felt violated, but calmly took a seat.

"What's going on?" he asked seriously, not hiding the fact that he'd noticed his things on the desk.

"I want to talk to you about these... items that were found in your room" Ned saidas he gestured towards Jeremy's things

"What do you want to know?" Jeremy asked evenly, trying hard to keep his cool

"I want to know where you got this much money, the jewelry and why...why you lied about being from New York?" Ned stated bluntly

Jeremy didn't know how to answer Ned or rather he didn't want to. He never expected to be found out. For his things to be discovered in his room, but they had been, and now he had to somehow salvage this situation before it ruined any chances of him getting his daughter.

"Why is Clay here?" he asked abruptly, avoiding Ned's question as he glanced at the boy sitting next to him, wearing a look of contempt.

Ned was reluctant to tell the Jeremy the reason behind Clay's presence there. For he knew that when Jeremy learned of his son's snooping, the control he'd been displaying would fly out the window, but what else could he do? He now wanted the truth from him and it was only right that he reciprocated what he was expecting.

"Clay was the one who...who found these items in your room." Ned finally answered

"What?!" Jeremy replied hotly, instantly turning his attention to Clay "You searched my room?!"

"Yeah I searched it!" Clay exclaimed, no longer able to restrain his own budding fury. "How does it feel, not so good does it..."

"How does it feel?!" Jeremy countered angrily. "I've never go..."

Ned's instincts were right he thought as he attempted to stop Jeremy and Clay's fierce sparring. He knew that it was risky having his son there while he confronted Jeremy, but felt that Clay must be there to hear the boy's explanation, considering Clay had been the one investigating Jeremy for the past few weeks. Ned had spoken to his son before the meeting, warning him to remain quiet and calm as Jeremy gave his side of the story, but unfortunately Clay and cool headedness had never meshed. Ned continued to try and quiet the boys' fury, which in turn caused his own anger and impatience to rise. Eventually, he too lost his cool...

"Quiet!" he exploded angrily

Both boys immediately ceased their bickering and turned their attention to Ned.

"Clay if you can't control yourself you can leave." Ned continued firmly "And Jeremy...I want the truth... I know it was wrong of Clay to search your room, but what's done is done and I need to know what's going on. What does all of this stuff mean?" He finished as he again gestured to Jeremy's things on the desk.

Jeremy sat there a moment, quietly contemplating what Ned had said, still angry at Clay for invading his privacy. He knew now that he had to tell them something. They would be expecting nothing less than the truth or at least something that sounded like the truth. So he had to confess. Give them what they wanted to hear, without revealing anything about his daughter.

"I didn't lie about being from New York." He began

"Hmprh"

"Clay" Ned warned as he gave his son a stern look.

"As I was saying" Jeremy continued, ignoring Clay's gibe "I didn't lie about being from New York. I lived there for 10 years until my mother died, then I was placed in foster care. I went from home to home until I was taken in by the Donovans, the family that I lived with in Arlington, Virginia. That's why I have letters addressed to me there."

Clay sighed loudly, believing nothing that had been said.

"Okay" Ned said quietly, ignoring Clay's gripe and so far believing Jeremy's tale "What about the money...and the ring."

Jeremy hesitated a moment then answered "I earned the money through odd jobs and card games...gambling..."

"And the ring?"

Jeremy closed his eyes, sighing as he thought of Anna, then lied "It was my mother's."

"You're a liar!" Clay exploded, having had enough of Jeremy's invented tale. "That money is from stealing..." he continued as he pointed towards the bills on the desk.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Jeremy yelled as he rose from his chair, now ready to throttle Clay.

"Sit down!" Ned sharply directed to Jeremy, then quickly turned his fury towards Clay, telling him to shut up.

"But Pa he's ly..."

"Clay, enough!" Ned said angrily, his patience now gone "Jeremy" he continued firmly as he turned to face the boy who was now obediently settling back into his chair "We know about your past with the Donovans and their connection to the Chambers, the family you've been secretly visiting..." Ned then went on to tell the boy everything Clay had told him he'd discovered about his past, what Clay had learned when he'd followed him to the Chambers estate, and what his son had learned from Lucy, the girl Jeremy had been seeing.

"Now please, tell me the truth. What is going on?" Ned finished sternly

Jeremy sat there quiet, stunned that Ned and Clay knew so much of what he'd worked so hard to keep hidden. Where had he gone wrong he thought, but he had no time to reanalyze his actions, for Ned and unfortunately Clay were waiting for answers and now being backed into a corner; he had to be honest. He just hoped that his truthfulness didn't destroy the plans he had to seize the only family he had left.

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Pete walked with relief towards the building that housed the Deputy Director's office. After such a long meeting with the contractors who were working on the repairs at city hall, he was ready for some time alone to unwind. And with Sean being out of town on business, he'd thankfully get just that he thought. As he approached the building's steps, his mind fixed on relaxing, he was suddenly stopped by a figure in his path. It was Vivian.

"Hello Pete!" she said with a smile

"Vivian" he said nervously, as he glanced around to see if anyone was observing their encounter, to his relief they appeared to be unnoticed. "What brings you into town? Shopping?" he asked now a bit more at ease.

"No" Vivian laughed lightly."Actually it's you!"

"Me?" Pete said confused

"Yes! I was coming by to thank you!" she said happily

"Thank me? For what?"

"For listening to my dispirited ramblings the other day."

"Oh" Pete said, now forcing a smile. A couple of weeks earlier he'd run into Vivian shopping in Winchester, when she asked him to take a stroll. He'd reluctantly agreed and was surprised to learn that it was her birthday and she was trying to shut out the memory of her last birthday, a time when she was with Sean, by burying herself in new dresses and shoes. Feeling bad for her, Pete had remained with her most of the day listening to her sulk over Sean, until he had to leave and tend to some important business. He realized now that it was probably a mistake, a stupid mistake, considering his kindness probably made her think that there was more between them than there actually was. "I take it my listening made you feel better." He finally continued

"It did" Vivian answered "You did. And to thank you, I was hoping you'd join me for dinner tonight."

"Vivian I..."

"Please say you'll come!" she interjected, attempting to thwart Pete's reluctance "My father is out of town and isn't due back until next week, and even if he did just happen to show up...It wouldn't be so bad."

"Wouldn't be so bad?!" Pete echoed nervously, giving Vivian a look of skepticism

"All right, I'll admit, it would be...worse than 'not so bad,' if my father showed up, but that's beside the point. He's out of town and..."

"That is the reasons why I must decline your offer." Pete interrupted

"But..."

"Vivian" Pete continued not letting her finish "I won't continue to disrespect your father's home by dining there when he is away. I appreciate your...wanting to thank me, but you don't have to, and honestly I don't want you to...my listening working to cheer you up is all the thanks I need."

"Oh Pete..." Vivian sighed happily as she smiled shyly at the man that was standing before her.

Pete was relieved that his kind words had worked to curb Vivian's desire to have him over for dinner, but at the same time he was worried that it had caused her to again read more deeply into his actions.

"I better go." he said abruptly, now determined to end their risky encounter. "I have a ton of work to do..." He continued as began to turn away from her.

"Pete wait!" Vivian asserted, lightly grabbing his arm. The man reluctantly turned back to face her. Really wanting to ignore her and walk away, but knowing to do that would be improper.

"I never really...thanked you." She continued "For your time...and for your...friendship, so...thanks." She finished. Then did something that was completely out of character and totally inappropriate, she softly planted her lips on Pete's cheek, lingering there for a moment before deciding to pull away. But no sooner than she could move to complete her impulsive deed, she was interrupted by an angry voice she knew well, a voice that was also known to Pete. For the man quickly stepped away from Vivian's peck and turned with fear to face the man that was now staring at them with rage in his eyes. A man who he'd been scheming with for months, a man who was Vivian Winters' father.

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Sean stared out the window of the train trying hard to appreciate the beautiful countryside of Illinois, but finding that its wondrous view was being buried in his thoughts of Marita. Sean had spent the past few days in Chicago, attending a political conference, hoping that getting out of Lexington, getting away from all reminders of Marita would help clear his mind, but like he'd expected, it had done little to quell the conflict that was raging within him. Sean closed his eyes against his thoughts, attempting to will them away. He couldn't keep doing this he reasoned. He couldn't keep dwelling on what could never be. Deciding to try and distract himself with work, he opened his bag and pulled out the paperwork and mail he'd brought from Lexington to look over during his trip. He began sorting through the stack, putting aside things that he was in no mood to look at, when his eyes caught an item he'd never seen before. He thought he knew of all the papers and mail he'd put in his bag, but obviously he didn't. For the letter he was now looking at was foreign to him, but the name that graced its cover was not. His palms were now sweaty and his heart had increased to a powerful pace. Trying to remain calm, he again read the letter's return address. To his shock and strangely his fear, he found that the letter was indeed from Cholena – Marita. He swallowed hard, nervously taking a breath, then turned the envelope over and gently tore it open. For a moment he paused, briefly remembering what he'd found the last time he'd opened a letter from Marita, but he quickly pushed the thought aside, needing to know, no matter the hurt it may cause, what she wanted to say. Pulling the letter from the envelope, Sean again inhaled, this time more deeply, then he slowly unfolded the paper and began to read:

October 28, 1887

My Dearest Sean,

How can I begin to speak to you, to tell you what I want to say, when for months I have shut you out of my life, avoided the presence you have in my soul? I guess I can only begin by speaking the truth, by conveying what resides within my heart, which is love and sorrow. Love that seems to grow, to intensify with time and sorrow in what I have done. Sorrow in the way in which I left you, sorrow for all the pain it undoubtedly caused, but most of all, sorrow for that so long I have forgone our friendship, something that I promised you I would never do. For months I have tried to convince myself that us living in two separate worlds, being oblivious to the happenings in each other's lives was the way it was meant to be. And that anything different from that would only subject us to more pain. But I now realize my error. That to shut you out of my life, to completely walk away without knowing if you are ill or if you are well has caused more hurt than any words can express. And so that is why I am writing you, to again say that I am sorry and to tell you that I need you and want you in my life. I hope that I am not asking too much and that somehow we can reclaim the friendship we once had, but if this is not possible. If the pain that I have caused is too great to be forgiven, I will understand.

I hope that you will write soon, but if not, please take care, and be safe.

Love always,

Marita

Sean's heart pounded fiercely in his ears as he sat staring at the blurred words before him. As much as he'd fought to keep his composure, he couldn't deter the tears that were now misting in his eyes. For weeks, months he'd been avoiding what he felt and had again tried to push it away, just moments earlier, trying to convince himself that this was the way it was to be, and most of all it was what Marita wanted, but Sean couldn't do that anymore, not after reading her letter. Though Marita was asking for friendship, claiming that that's what she missed, what she needed, Sean knew better. For she loved him beyond the realms of friendship, just as he loved her, and he was tired of running away from that love, tired of letting fear take away what mattered most to him. It was time, he thought, far past time for him to fight for what he wanted, fight for what he'd long been denying, which was the life of his dreams, a life that included Marita Peters.