Chapter 22

"The bottom line is that Krista is pregnant by the Admiral and may have had an abortion and he accused me of being her in front of the whole staff," she cried. "Then he went to see her and wouldn't let me go with him or even tell me where she was."

"Krystal, I will get to the bottom of this, as soon as you're calm enough, I'll call him, but my first concern is for you! Darling, please know that I will fix this!"

"He promised to make an apology before the entire staff, but that won't make the stares go away. And where the hell is Kris? I want to see her. She's my sister, not just his lover," she sobbed. "How dare he treat me the way he did!"

"I will get him to tell me what is going on, darling, I promise you that. Let's get you home and then I'll call him and find out what is going on."

"Promise me Tom, you'll find out where he has Kris hidden. I'll be fine at the apartment until you get back, if you want to leave me there."

"Are you sure? I don't want to leave you when you are this upset..."

"Tom, I've waited all these years to find her and that man knows where she is. I'll be fine if you'll
just get that information from him for me," she replied clutching at him. "I'll be waiting here for you. It doesn't matter how long it takes just come back with Kris's address."

"Alright darling, please try and stay calm, I'll find out what's going on for you!"

Krista had spent the last month torn about what to do about the baby. She really felt that the natural father should have first chance at it but after the way Albert Chegwidden had treated her she couldn't see giving him the child. She had just about decided on signing the adoption papers, but at the last minute couldn't. Glad she still had some time to deal with it she hoped that something would guide her to the right path.

AJ got out of the Escalade and looked down at the piece of paper Bud had given him. It was a store. There must be some mistake; she couldn't live in a store. Deciding to ask if the lady, he could see moving inside knew Krista, he opened the door and when he walked into the store his senses were overwhelmed. He could hear some erotic music that reminded him of the time he'd seen some belly dancers. The woman he had seen was Krista and she took his breath away as he watched her. From the back you couldn't tell she was pregnant. She was swaying to the music as she worked. Her firm hips rolling and dipping completely lost in the music. AJ, realizing his pants were getting tight so he shut his eyes to block out the intoxicating view. Then his nose twitched.

Amazing, he'd been all over the world yet there were some odor's he couldn't identify. Some reminded him of home and growing up while others reminded him of exotic places he'd been. Opening his eyes and looking around at the shelves filled with glass bottles of all sizes and colors bottles and little tin containers. Krista seemed busy grinding up something from what little he could see. The store reminded him of an old fashioned pharmacy; only its smell was nothing like medicine. It was light and airy and with Krista and her music it had a magical feeling.

She was humming to the music that played softly in the store. Her back was to him; she wore a loose fitting dress of broomstick lace and ropey sandals on her feet. Her hair swayed with her body as she moved to the music.

It was then he spoke her name. "Krista?" asked AJ softly afraid he'd scare her away again.

Startled, she spun around and faced the man that had been filling her thoughts for the last month, "How did you find me!" she gasped.

"I've been searching for you," he replied, moving closer. "By the way, I met your sister Krystal
today. I'm afraid I mistook her for you and she's pretty upset with me right now."

To be continued…