In Need of Someone to Love
Chapter 6
Answered and Unanswered Questions
Sorry guys for taking so long. But this was hard to write, even though it will probably sound easy. I hope you enjoy this and don't forget to review. We need to encourage each other.
Ashlee whimpered uneasily. Troy held her pacifier in her mouth and rocked her. He didn't know what else to doHe couldn't wait for Gabriella to come over. Gabriella. She was beautiful and smart. Ashlee whimpered louder. Troy snapped out of his thoughts. Surprisingly he saw Angelina's beautiful face instead of Ashlee's. He almost fell down, but as he steadied himself he realized that it was just his guilty conscience. He couldn't love Gabriella. Angelina was his wife. He had to just let Gabriella do her job. The doorbell rang and his heart instantly rose. He answered it and Gabriella strolled in. She was smiling.
"Hi Troy." She said. She looked at Ashlee's upset face. "Awww, are you okay Ashlee?" she queried, smoothing the baby's hair back. Oh, how she loved children. Troy shifted uncomfortably; Gabriella was so close to him. He quickly handed Ashlee to her and disappeared upstairs. Gabriella followed him with her questioning eyes. Why did he always act so weird around her?
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Gabriella took Ashlee out of her miniature pink bathtub. She wrapped a towel around her and carried her to the nursery. When she got into the nursery she was surprised to see Troy there. He had been flipping through a photo album. He saw her and snapped it shut.
"Oh, hi Gabriella. I um… have to go, um… do something in the kitchen."He mumbled. He ran out of the room. Gabriella laid Ashlee on her changing table. She eyed the photo album curiously. Ashlee thumped her feet on the table impatiently.
"Okay, okay." The babysitter said. "You are totally more important." She hurriedly dressed the baby and returned her to her crib for a nap. Then she settled into the huge pink rocking chair and picked up the album. She hesitated for a moment and then opened it. Inside on the first page was a large photo of Troy and a beautiful blond woman with sparkling green eyes. Her hair was past her hips. She was gorgeous. Troy was laughing and the woman was smiling at him. Gabriella could tell that the woman was Ashlee's mother. But Troy never mentioned her and she was never around. Who was she? Where was she? Gabriella had to find out…
Meanwhile, downstairs in the kitchen Troy was walking around in circles. He finally picked up his cell phone and speed-dialed Chad. Chad picked up on the first ring.
"Hey man." He answered.
"Hey Chad. I was wondering if I could come over. Are you home?" Troy asked
"Yeah, I'm at home. Come on over."
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Troy approached the Danforth's front walk. He stopped himself for a minute and then rang the doorbell. Taylor answered.
"Oh… hey Troy. What's up?" she asked, allowing him in.
"Hey Taylor, I came to see Chad."
"He's upstairs in Tyler's room."
"Okay, and thanks again for coming to approve Gabriella. "
"Your welcome. She's something isn't she?"
Troy felt his cheeks turn bright red. He quickly ran upstairs and rounded the corner. He heard Tyler and Chad talking excitedly, so he stood in the doorframe and watched the father and son. Chad was dancing around singing a weird song in a phony Southern accent while waving stuffed animals. Tyler was rolling on his bed laughing. Troy couldn't help chucking too. Chad was such a great dad. Just then Chad spotted his friend there. He stopped singing and threw down the animals.
"How long have you been standing there?" he asked nervously.
"Long enough to see what a great dad you are." Troy pointed out honestly. The two of them did a crazy Wildcat shake. Tyler stared at them in awe. He wanted to learn it.
"So what's up Troy?" Chad asked.
"Well…" Troy searched for words. Tyler was in the room. Chad seemed to realize that it was something that Tyler shouldn't know. Just as they opened their mouths, Taylor appeared in the doorway.
"Excuse me guys, but I want Tyler." She said. The guys nodded. How did she know? "C'mon Ty, I just made some chocolate chip cookies." Tyler immediately ran over. She grabbed his hand and winked at the two men. They nodded thankfully and turned back to each other.
"Okay, so spill it." Chad said.
"You know Gabriella right…my daughter's babysitter?" Troy began. Chad nodded. "Well…. she (Gabriella) and Ashlee have become pretty close and…. I-I." He hesitated.
"I think I like her." He finished.
"Like like, or as in just like?" Chad asked, interested. A smirk played on his face.
"As in like like." Troy admitted.
"Wow Troy! Moving on so quickly?" Chad hooted playfully.
"Well, she's sweet, smart, and everything I look for in a girl." Troy said. He ran his fingers through his hair. "It was like fate."
"But what about Angelina?" Chad queried. Troy sighed deeply.
"I don't know." He admitted.
"Look here's my advice dude. Your wife would have wanted you to be happy and would want her child to have a mother figure." Chad said.
"I still don't know." Troy sighed.
"Let's ask the wiser one." Chad replied. He stood up and left the room. Troy followed him. They walked into the kitchen.
"Tay, can we ask you something?" Chad asked.
"I hope it's not about that b-ball reunion you wanted to throw. I told you already… there will be no live bands at our house!!! Taylor screamed, putting her hands on her hips.
"No." Troy said. Once again, sensing the matter was personal, Taylor ushered Tyler into the living room. Then she returned.
"Okay, what's going on." she asked, folding her arms over her chest. Troy and Chad quickly explained the situation. By the time they finished, Taylor's mouth was wide open.
"Are you kidding me?! Gabriella is a great person, but what about Angelica, her parents, they hate you enough already!!" she yelled. "She gave her life to give you that baby! That is so mean to go fall in love with someone after losing her wife."
"I hate to say this babe, but he has a life." Chad interrupted. His wife glared at him.
"Oh, so if I died and left you and Tyler behind, would you just move on and fall in love with someone else!!" she roared.
"What's wrong Mommy." Asked a tiny voice. The three adults turned to see Tyler standing in the living room doorway.
"Nothing sweetie, it's okay, you can go back into the living room and watch Dragon Tales." Taylor answered, her voice softening. Tyler walked back into the living room. They waited till after he put on the t.v and then Taylor shot an accusing look at her husband.
"So would you?!!" she demanded.
"I'm not…I would never." Chad stuttered, like a cornered animal. Troy shut his eyes. He had never meant to cause this confusion. He opened his eyes.
"Look guys, it's getting late, I have to go home." He began.
"It's only one o' clock." Taylor argued.
"Yeah… but I… don't want to leave Gabriella and Ashlee for too long." He lied. Taylor raised her eyebrows. Then Troy realized how it sounded. "Um… I mean as in… um, oh never mind. I've caused you enough trouble. " He opened the front door and walked out onto the sidewalk towards his home.
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Troy emerged from his study. He had been up there for hours. It was now seven o' clock. He decided to go join Gabriella and Ashlee. He went downstairs. Gabriella was sitting on the couch and holding Ashlee. She was quietly singing a lullaby. Ashlee stared at her intently. Troy sat next to them and watched on. His palms were sweaty. Gabriella's thigh rubbed against his. He tried to get his mind off of her. When she finished singing, he was mesmerized. He felt as if she had been singing to her. They sat silent for a few moments. Then Troy broke the silence.
"You're a great singer." He said.
"Thanks." Gabriella said quietly, looking at Ashlee.
"And an awesome babysitter." Troy continued. Gabriella finally looked up at him.
"I try to be." She answered modestly. "But I don't want to take the place of her mother."
"What?" Troy asked. The question caught him off-guard.
"What happened to her mother Troy?"The young woman asked. She was looking him dead in the eye. Troy didn't want to tell her just yet.
"We divorced. She left me for someone better." He lied. His heart felt heavy with guilt. Gabriella was horrified. Why would someone leave such a great man, and such a beautiful baby?
"You know… I lost my father." She mumbled, looking away again. Troy immediately turned back to her. "He drowned to death."
"How?" Troy asked. He knew she wanted to talk. And besides, he really had to get his mind off his lie.
"When I was younger, I fell off a party boat. I couldn't swim, so I struggled and began to sink. My dad jumped in after me. He threw me aboard and then realized that he lost my grandfather's watch. He swam back in to get it, and never came up. They said that his lungs collapsed and he died. They never found his body."Gabriella said. Tears dripped down her cheeks. Troy's eyes glistened with tears.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered. He felt more in love with her. They had both experienced strickening life and death situations, even though Gabriella didn't know his yet. All of a sudden he leaned over and began to kiss her tenderly on her lips. Gabriella melted. Then she remembered Ashlee. She forced herself to pull away.
"Hold on." She murmured. She quickly dashed to the nursery and laid Ashlee in her crib. Then she ran back downstairs. Before Troy could kiss her again, she stopped him.
"Look Gabriella, I'm sorry for kissing you like that… but my feelings got the better of me." Troy said.
"You really care about me?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah." Troy admitted. "I do."
"But we only met…"
"It doesn't really matter does it?"
"Troy, you're a great guy and all… but I." Gabriella started. She paused; she was at a loss for words. Troy stared at her, waiting.
"You know what, I have to go." Gabriella said. She jumped up and headed for the door.
"Wait!" Troy yelled. "Do you feel what I feel?" Gabriella turned slowly.
"I don't know." She answered. She grabbed her coat and stepped outside. Why was this so complicated?
Tell me what you think. I am really struggling with this story. Triple thanks to my internet sis xoxMusicalxox for her wise advice on this chapter!!! I hope you enjoyed this and give me whatever tips and advice you can give. Thanks so much for all of the other reviews. Mad props most frequent reviewers:
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