Resolutions Part 1
Chapter 14
"Ty, it's Lou; I need to speak with you about something."
"Hi Lou, what is it?"
"Ty, you know about the Horse Trainer of the Year Awards Ceremony on Friday?"
"Lou, no. No way. Don't even go there."
"Ty, please; I think you should come."
"No Lou, I…"
"Ty, please just listen. I'm worried about Amy. Real worried. I think it would do both of you good to see each other."
"Lou, I've tried calling her a dozen times and she won't pick up. She blames me for Spartan's death and told me to leave. And now she won't speak to me. And you want me to go to the dinner? I don't think I can do that; I've about had it."
"Ty, please…"
"Why are you worried about her? Ty deflected."
Choosing to let the dinner appeal go for the moment, Lou replied, "You remember Davis Maxwell? The guy who showed up at Heartland with his horse the day you left? Amy's been working with the horse every day. He's been here too. And…, well…they've been spending a lot of time together."
"What are you trying to say Lou?"
"Amy's emotionally fragile right now Ty. With the time theg're together working with the horse, I'm afraid Maxwell could possibly fill a void. Plus, I see the way he's starting to look at her."
"So you're telling me another man might be in the picture? And you want me to be there on Friday with another guy who may be attracted to my wife? And she to him? No way, Lou. First there was Chase, then Ahmed, and now this? I'm not going through that again."
"But Ty, she's not herself. She's having headaches, severe mood swings; she's erratic. She's not the Amy we all know."
"Well, I hope she snaps out of it and starts acting like herself again. Not being with her is killing me. I love her so much Lou, but I don't have any answers right now. Seeing her at the Awards dinner will only make it hurt more. Sorry Lou, I can't; I won't do that. I need to go; bye." Ty hung up the phone without giving Lou a chance to respond.
What the hell has happened to my life; to our life? Amy, how could you do this to us? We were happy; making plans for the future and then all of a sudden this. How can you shut me out like this? What am I going to do without you?
Tears began to form in Ty's eyes as he agonized over the horrid twist of fate it life had become.
I guess it's just not meant to be for me to be part of a family; to be happy for more than a short while. Maybe one really does pay for the sins of a father. Maybe I should just leave Hudson; join another practice and focus just on being a Vet.
…
The Ranch
"Amy, have you called Dr. Verani yet?"
"NO Lou, I haven't," Amy replied, irritation creeping into her tone.
"But Amy," Lou persisted. "You said you were going to call her several weeks ago! Aren't you still having the head and muscle aches; the tiredness; mood swings?"
Lou's last comment triggered something in Amy.
"Lou, stop nagging me; just stop it. You're not my mother. I'm an adult and will make my own choices. IF I call Dr. Verani, I do it when I damn well please."
"Amy, don't you think…"
"DROP it Lou, Amy shouted. I don't want to hear anything more about it."
Amy's rising voice and piercing stare was enough for Lou to realize, now was not the time to press her sister further.
"Alright Amy; I'll let it go." For now, an unbowed and still determined Lou thought.
Listening to his granddaughter's conversation from his room, Jack felt hopeless.
Something's wrong with her…very wrong.
….
Hillhurst
"I'd like to speak to Mr. Kearney please."
"Whom may I say is calling?"
"This is Lisa Stillman; tell him it pertains to an important matter."
"Oh, hello Ms. Stillman. Let me see if Mr. Kearney is free."
It was only a few seconds before Lisa heard a new voice on the line.
"Lisa, how nice to hear from you. How have you been?"
"Fine Bob, fine. How are you?"
"Couldn't be better Lisa; how's married life with Jack?"
"Terrific; honestly Bob, I don't know if I've ever been happier. Jack is the finest man I've ever met and I love his family too."
"That's great Lisa. I'm very happy to hear it; but I'm sure that's not the purpose of your call. What can I do for you?"
"Bob, you've arranged background checks on some of my employees over the years, Lisa began. There's an individual I'd like you to look into."
"What's the position at Hillhurst you're considering for?"
"He's not someone I'm thinking about hiring Bob. He's a client of Heartland."
"Lisa, what's going on? You've never asked me to investigate anyone outside employment at Hillhurst before. What's this about?"
"Bob, a couple of weeks or so ago, a man named Davis Maxwell showed up at Heartland seeking Amy's help with his horse and my radar immediately went off. There's just something about this guy that doesn't sit right. I don't trust him. He's at Heartland every day spending time with Amy while she works with horse. I'm concerned about his intentions. I believe he may have some sort of ulterior motive."
"Like what Lisa; what do you suspect?"
"I have no idea. All I know is there's something not right about Davis Maxwell."
"All right Lisa. I've learned over the years to not question your instincts about people. When would you like me to start?"
"Right away Bob if you can?"
"Yes, I'll need to shift a few things around, but I'll get right on it."
"Can you put extra staff on this as well? I'm worried about Amy and love Ty like a son. I don't want to see anything happen to either one of them."
"Absolutely, Lisa. If there's anything shady with this guy, we'll find it."
"Thank you Bob; thank you very much."
"Any time Lisa; you know that," and with that, Bob Kearney hung up the phone.
…..
Pouring herself a cup of coffee after her conversation with Kearney ended; Lisa heard the front door open. As the sound of footsteps approached the kitchen, Lisa looked up to see a clearly defeated looking Ty enter the room.
"Hi Lisa," Ty lifelessly said.
Lisa's heart went out to the young man she greatly admired. "Ty, what can I do?" Lisa responded skipping the pleasantries.
"I don't know if there's anything you or anyone else can do Lisa. My life has gone to crap literally overnight. My wife hates me and has kicked me out of our home; I'm just going through the motions at the clinic; and oh, by the way, another man appears to be interested in the same wife who hates me. Other than that, life couldn't be better," Ty bitterly replied.
"Ty, I'm so sorry. Life has a way of kicking us in the teeth sometimes when we least expect it. There are no magical words I can say to you to fix things; I wish there was. But I truly believe you and Amy will get through this and when you look back upon it, maybe things will make sense. But, what's this about another man?"
"Lou called me a little while ago to try and talk me into attending the Awards dinner tomorrow night. She also brought up that Maxwell's been spending a lot of time at the ranch with Amy working with his horse. Lou thinks Maxwell's developing feelings for Amy."
"How do you feel about that?" Lisa asked.
"I don't know Lisa. I don't know what I'm thinking these days. Regarding Maxwell, I don't like him. From the time I met him when he first showed up at Heartland, I didn't like him. I didn't trust him then and I don't trust him now."
Lisa considered Ty's shared view of Maxwell but decided against revealing her own suspicions.
"But part of me wonders if this is fate," Ty continued directing his gaze down at the table. Maybe I'm not meant to have real happiness. Maybe I'm permanently scarred from the train wreck that was my life before coming to Heartland. Maybe I can't have a lasting relationship with anyone. Maybe this is just the ending of another chapter in the screwed up book of my life. Maybe I…I Ty stuttered running out of words.
Slowly lifting his head to peer at Lisa, Ty exposed the depths of his pain and despair to her; the only person at this point in his life Ty could be completely vulnerable with.
Sensing Ty was at an emotional crossroad, Lisa contemplated on what she could say to help Ty.
He's the one who calls me his adopted mother. The one I love like a son. The one Jack loves like a son. The one we are as proud of as any parents could be of a child. I've got to do something.
"Ty, there's nothing I can do or say to take away your past; to right the wrongs unfairly heaped on you. There's one thing I know though; you're stronger than that same past and you're not destined for a life of hurt and pain. Of that I'm sure."
"You think so? Ty inquired with a hint of hope creeping into his voice."
"Yes, I do. I believe the book of your life with Amy isn't finished yet. I believe the Amy we all know, the real Amy will return from this dark place she's in right now. I saw the love you two had for each other. Love built on a strong foundation sturdy enough to withstand what you're going through right now."
"I hope you're right Lisa. But honestly, right now, I just don't know."
"I understand why you would feel that way Ty; I do. I felt the way some years ago too. When my marriage ended with the small, self-centered man that was Dan Hartfield, I questioned whether I would ever find true happiness so I threw myself into building Fairfield. It eased the pain for a while but it never really removed it. An emptiness remained in my life. Then I met Jack and…well, you know Jack. Honest, trustworthy, reliable, strong. Everything that Dan pretended to be but always fell short of. And then, just as quickly as it began, it seemed to end. I remember thinking, how could life be so cruel? But despite our stubbornness, we slowly came back to each other. And the hole in my life is now filled. I married one of the two finest men I've ever known."
Lisa peered intently into Ty's face as he matched her look.
"The other is you Ty Borden. And I believe in my heart you two will get through this somehow and be together again."
"How do you do it Lisa? How do you always seem to know what to say to me?"
"Because to me, you're my son. You always will be."
Lost for words, Ty reached out and covered Lisa's hand with his own.
"Thank you."
"Lisa just smiled, and then leaned over to kiss Ty on the cheek."
"One more thing Ty, I think you should go to the Awards dinner."