Chapter 11

Mac searched the garage, the attic, and the crawl space at his home. The picnic basket was gone. Felicia was waiting when he walked into the kitchen, covered in dust, and got a drink of water.

"You look exhausted. Don't work yourself too hard, Mac. After that heart attack last winter you know the doctors said to slow down and-"

"I know what they said!" He downed the water.

In a concerned voice she asked, "What in the world were you looking for?"

"Nothing."

She raised her eyebrow at him. "Keeping secrets, hubby?"

He let out a breath. "It's just a work thing." he said and walked away

Felicia called after him " What kind of work thing involves searching our home?"

The front door slammed close as Mac left the house, leaving Felicia without an answer.

Georgie, dressed in her blue volunteer outfit, was pushing a cart at General Hospital when Dillon stepped off the elevator.

"Hey, there you are!" he said happily "You so need to ditch this and come see a movie with me."

"No time. Sorry. I have to finish up here and then go do some homework"

"It's summer!"

"I'm taking correspondence courses." Georgie was avoiding his eyes and concentrating on the book and magazines on the cart.

"Why, Georgie? You don't even want to be a neurosurgeon. You should stick with writing. You're short stories are great."

She gave him a look. "That is a hobby."

"It could be more."

"You know why it can't be, Dillon."

"Because you have to make up for Maxie. Be your mom and dad's good girl. You can't give your life over to that."

"It's my choice and my family and my life. And this is my job and I have to get back to it." She pushed the cart away.

Dillon jumped in front of it and blocked her way.

She said, "You know how much my family lost over the last year. Tony, Maxie, Lucas...it's just too much for my parents to take. The hits just keep coming, Dillon. And I have to do what I can to make things easier. To make them proud. That has to come first."

He said, " I haven't even got to hang out with you since you came home."

"I'll make time soon. I swear. Just not now. Not today." and then she maneuvered the cart around him and walked away.

Lucky spotted Lulu on the docks. She was staring vacantly out at the water.

"Waiting for the launch to Spoon Island, sis?"

She turned slightly and gave him a small smile. "No, just ... thinking."

"Why didn't you call when you came back in town?"

"I was planning to." Lulu said in a faraway voice. Her eyes went back to the water.

"What made you come back?"

"I thought... I should be here... again. But maybe I was wrong."

"Are you doing okay, Lulu? Do you want to talk about it?"

It being the abortion. The one he told her not to have. The one she went to have all alone and then left town the next day.

Lulu knew that was what he was alluding to. She quickly said, "No. I don't want to talk. I just want to stand here. I'm back and I'm just going to stand here and ...be."

"Okay."

She looked at him again. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Lets just stand here for a while."

"Okay."