The Road Home

Chapter 6 Team Work II

Marty's cell rings, a familiar number. "Hi Matthew, long time no hear buddy. What's up?"

"Matthew? You know better than that Martin!"

"Ok, Ok, I'm sorry. Still, what's up?"

"Well, I know that you have yearned to be a movie star all along."

"Yeah, right," Marty smirks. "What's that I see up your sleeve?"

"You have video on? I don't."

"Spill." Marty is getting irritated.

"Right. Well, a good friend of mine is shooting a PR video of the beach. You know Malibu beach, Santa Monica pier, The Eye – that kind of stuff. He asked my advice and I immediately thought of you. You, Monty, Sophia at the beach doing beach stuff."

"Beach stuff?"

"Yeah. Sophia playing in the sand building a sandcastle, Monty chasing seagulls, you surfing, you walking up the beach taking your wetsuit top off,"

"MATTHEW!"

"Ok, tone it back kid. You walking up to the camera & saying 'wish you were here' or something. What do you think? An easy way to make $2,000!"

"$2,000?" 'I'll ask for $3,000 and get out of this.' "Make it $3,000 and I'm in."

"$3,000? You got it at $3,500!"

'DAMN'

The video is made, it's perfect.

Rick drops Cheryl off at Tina/Amy's house and drives off. He parks a few blocks away and waits. He pulls out his cell and sends a group TXT:

R: video op starting. Standby.

All: K

VIDEO OP

Cheryl dashes up to the front door and knocks loudly. "Tina, Amy, anybody home!" (She knows they are; Tina has TXT her they are a GO)

Amy answers the door. "Hi Cheryl, come in."

"Oh Amy, I'm glad you are here. I was just looking at the Santa Monica website. You know, one of the California coastal cities that you are interested in? They have this great new PR video up. You've got to see this! Where is your computer?"

Amy gets her laptop and sets it on the dining room table. Cheryl turns it toward herself so she can find the website. She clicks on the video link, turns the computer so Amy has a good view, then leans back to watch. she silently prays that this will be the key.

Amy is stunned. She sees the pier, people strolling along holding hands, the various shops, The Eye, the ocean, sunbathers, a little girl with long dark brown hair building a sandcastle, (OMG that girl from my dreams!), the girl looks at the camera and waves and grins, a man with blonde hair surfing, (Damn, he is good), he surfs to shore and walks toward the camera, his tanned skin glistens as the water drops trickle down to his waist, his muscles ripple (OMG), he sinks to his knees & sits back on his haunches, he smiles & waves saying "I wish you were here, babe!", the camera closes a little to show his crystal blue eyes then pans out to the blue Pacific and fades to black.

Amy jumps to her feet, slams the laptop shut, starts to sob and rushes to her bedroom slamming the door shut behind her. Cheryl and Tina look wide-eyed at each other, not knowing what to do next. Cheryl pulls out her phone and sends a TXT to her dad:

C: can U come here?

R: K 5

She sends a group TXT:

C: watched video, sobbing at end, ran to BR, slammed door. Now? Dad coming.

Hetty: give her time

Nell: OMG

Matt: I think progress

Sylvia: I agree w Matt

C: will update

Rick gets there 5 minutes later. He, Cheryl & Tina sit at the kitchen table . . . Rick & Tina holding hands, Cheryl smiling broadly. They can hear Amy sobbing but nobody knows if they should enter her room to comfort her. Finally they decide that Tina, since they are 'roommates' should be the one to give it a try. Rick gives her a quick kiss on the lips and silently prays for her as she walks slowly towards Amy's room.

Tina slips into Amy's room and finds her lying face down on the bed still shaking with sobs. She carefully sits on the side of the bed and starts gently stroking her back. Gradually Amy stills, turns her head and asks for Cheryl.

"Can you talk to me, Amy?"

"I appreciate all you've done for me, but I'd like to talk with Cheryl, please?"

"Ok, I'll send her in."

Tina goes out to the other room and relays Amy's request. She, Rick and Cheryl talk.

"Dad, let me go talk with her, please."

"Honey, this is tricky. I'm not even sure what to say."

"I think the most important thing is to listen, and answer her questions." Cheryl pleads.

"Babe, I think Cheryl is right. And I think she deserves a shot at this, for all she's done." Tina advocates. "I think Amy is ready for the truth."

Rick thinks, finally admitting that his girls have a point. "Ok, be careful sweetie. Follow your instincts, they are good guides." He kisses her on the cheek.

Cheryl slips into the room. She gets down and sits cross legged on the floor right next to the head of the bed where Amy's head lays. She waits, listening to Amy quietly breathe.

"Cheryl?"

"Yeah."

"Did you have anything to do with that video?"

"Not directly."

"Not directly?"

"I am on the team that decided to have it shot."

"And play games with me. Play on my emotions?"

"NO. NEVER."

"What then?"

"We all love you. We are trying to help you find yourself. Trying to help you get back to your real life and the people that love you and are your family."

"That girl?"

"Yeah?"

"I have dreamed about her. Who is she?"

"Your niece."

"My niece?"

"Yes."

"I didn't know I had a niece."

"You remember not knowing that?"

"Yeah. I guess that is progress, right?"

"It is! Something to celebrate!"

"Whoa, easy girl." They both chuckle.

"And the man, the surfer?"

"He was your partner, in law enforcement."

"Just my partner?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I feel something more. He said 'I wish you were here, BABE!' In a PR video? Come on, please."

"You liked each other, a lot."

"Liked?"

"That's all you would admit to."

"What do you think, Cheryl?"

"It sounds to me like you two have wasted a lot of time. Life is short you know. Kind of like my dad and Tina. But I see progress there too."

"Really?"

"Really!"

Silence for a few minutes. Cheryl sends a group TXT:

C: things ok, out soon.

Rick to group: Cheryl w Amy, going good so far.

Amy speaks again, "Cheryl?"

"Yes?"

"What should I do now? I'm so embarrassed for what's happened."

"Do you remember all of it?"

"Not all, but quite a bit is coming back to me."

"There is no shame, you were abducted & coerced. No one will blame you for anything, trust me on that."

"I will in time."

"Everyone will understand and support you."

"The surfer?"

"Especially the surfer!"

"You talked with him?"

"No, but others have talked of him. He is special, and he loves you."

"Loves?"

"Yes, loves. You can take that to the bank!"

"I need that . . . love, Cheryl. I really do."

"We all do, Amy."