Chapter 2
Having just arrived at the clinic, Scott walks to the back and sees Ty nodding off at the table. He says, "I'm surprised to see you here today. I thought you wanted a few days off." Ty sits up and replies, "My plans changed, Scott. As it turned out, I only needed the one day off." Scott responds, "Well, you look like hell...like you've been up all night. Ty replies, "Yeah, sorry about that, but I didn't get much sleep last night." Scott asks, "Everything okay?" Ty replies, "Yeah...sure, just a little lack of sleep is all." Scott says, "Well, I'm glad you're here. Grab yourself a cup of coffee, its going to be a busy day..."
...
"Hey grandpa, I just got a text from Amy. She said something came up, so instead of arriving later this morning she won't be in until this evening." Jack replies, "Did you let Ty know yet? You know he was planning to join us at the airport." Lou answers, "Yeah, I just called him. He said that he would try to be there, but he'll definitely be here for her welcome home dinner. I don't know what's going on with him. He sounded a little strange on the phone. I thought he would be anxious to see her after all this time." Jack replies, "I wouldn't put much into it, Lou. He's been clocking a lot more hours at the clinic while Amy's been away. Maybe he's just tired."
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"Hurry up, grandpa. Amy's flight is due to land in a little over an hour. We need to go now if we're going to meet her in time." Jack replies, "Hold your horses for a moment. I was on the phone with Lisa. What's the hurry anyway? You know it takes time to deplane and then she has to get her luggage." Lou responds, "I know. I just want to make sure everything goes smoothly. Everything is ready for dinner once we get back. I left a note for dad when he gets back with the girls to put dinner in the oven and set the table." Jack replies, "You trust your dad to take care of all that?" Lou replies, "Yeah...he promised he would." Jack asks, "Have you heard from Ty? Is he going to meet us at the airport?" Lou responds, "Yeah...he called just a few minutes ago. He said he and Scott had a late call, but he promised he would be here in time for dinner."
...
Lou tugs at Jack's coat and says, "There she is, grandpa." Amy spots Lou and Jack. Walking over to them with her bags trailing behind her, she stops and gives them both a hug. Amy looks around and then curiously asks, "Where's Ty? I thought for sure he would be here." Lou replies, "He probably would have been if you hadn't changed your flight. When I last spoke to him, he told me he had a late call with Scott, but promised to be at the house later for dinner." Amy has a look of concern as she says, "I tried calling him this morning, but he never answered. I then sent him a text. He didn't reply until later and all he said was that he would see me when I got back."
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"I wonder where Ty is? Have you heard from him yet, Amy?" Amy responds, "Yeah, he sent me a text just a little while ago. He said he and Scott were running a little late, so he's on his way here straight from work. He should be here in a few minutes I guess." Lou asks, "Is everything okay between you two?" Amy answers, "What do you mean?" Lou responds, "It's just that he sounded a little strange on the phone when I spoke to him this morning to tell him that you were taking a later flight. Grandpa says it was probably because he's tired, but I'm not so sure." Amy replies, "That's probably it then. Everything is fine between us as far as I know. We talked almost every day while I was gone and he never let on that there might be anything wrong." Lou replies, "I guess it's just my imagination then."
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Amy see's Ty pulling up to the house. She runs out and jumps into his arms, giving him a hug and kisses him. As soon as he lets her down, she looks up at him and says, "Ty, you look terrible. Are you okay?" Ty replies, "I'm just tired, Amy...that's all. It's been a long day. How was your trip?" Amy responds, "Come on into the house and I'll tell you all about it over dinner. It'll probably be mostly boring for you though, since you already know everything. I did talk to you more than anyone else while I was away you know." Ty replies, "Yeah...I have phone bills to prove it." Amy replies, "Sorry about that. I guess we should have stuck to emails, but I just wanted to hear your voice." Ty says, "Me too."
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..."Well, it sounds like you had a great time, Amy. Now that you're back, have you given any thought to continuing and going on the tour in Europe?" Jack speaks up, "Geez Tim, she just got home. She's been away for most of the spring and summer. Give her a chance to unwind. She has plenty of time to decide what she's going to do next." Tim responds, "I'm just saying that you have to strike while the fire is hot, that's all. From everything I heard, she did an incredible job and the money involved..." Jack interrupts, "Will you give it a rest! Why does everything revolve around money with you?" Tim replies, "I'm just saying...you know I want to see my girls do well for themselves." Jack replies, "There's more to life than just money and..." Amy interjects, "Grandpa is right. I don't need to make up my mind just yet. I have plenty of time. Besides, I'm not so sure right now that I want to do it again. I mean...it was fun and I learned a lot, but..." Tim interrupts saying, "I just hope you give it the consideration it deserves, honey. You don't know when another opportunity like this will ever come up again."
Jack, growing tired of the conversation and Tim's insistence that Amy go on tour again, changes the subject. "So Ty, we haven't seen as much of you while Amy was away, how is everything at the clinic and school?" Ty replies, "Yeah, sorry about that, Jack. I did mean to swing by more often than I did before the pipes in the trailer broke. I just decided that I would take the opportunity over the summer to get in as many hours as I could at the clinic before school starts up again." Jack asks, "So, how about that? When do you start?" Ty replies, "I have orientation for the fall semester in about 3 weeks. The university offers a fast track program, so I was thinking of doing that, so I can graduate sooner. It means talking on more classes though." Amy asks, "You never said anything about that when we spoke. Fast tracking...won't that interfere with your work at the clinic?" Ty replies, "It'll mean less hours...anyway, it's just something I was thinking about. If not this semester then maybe the next. Like you, it's something I need to think about."
Lou, who's been watching Ty the entire time, can't help feeling that something doesn't seem right with him.
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After dinner, while sitting out on the porch with Ty, Amy says to him, "You know, it's kinda late and you look tired, so why don't you spend the night in the loft? That'll give us some alone time too." Ty responds, "I would like to, but I have an early morning at the clinic tomorrow. You must be tired too, so why don't we just save it for another night, okay?" Amy looks dejected and says, "Okay, but..." Ty interrupts, "We'll have plenty of time to catch up...I promise. It's been a long day for both of us. I should go, but I'll see you soon...Okay?" Amy responds reluctantly, saying, "Okay". She gives Ty a kiss before he gets up and leaves.
...
As Amy walks into the kitchen, Lou asks, "Where's Ty? I thought he might spend the night in the loft." Amy replies, "I thought so too, but he said that he had an early morning tomorrow."
Amy takes a seat at the kitchen table and says to Lou, "You know what you said earlier about everything being okay between Ty and me? I don't know what to make of it. I thought everything was fine, but...I mean...did Ty seem a little disconnected to you tonight?" Lou replies, "Yeah, maybe so. He did appear tired though and you two have been apart for so long...well, you know...there's always that period of readjustment. Peter and I go through that all the time when he goes away on one of his extended trips. I don't think it's anything to worry about. You two just need to get use to being around each other again, that's all." Amy replies, "Okay, if you say so. I just think he was acting a little strange...I hope you're right."
Lou hopes she's right too, but she feels the same as Amy. Something wasn't quite right with Ty and she feels she should maybe have a talk with him.