Chap. 18 Worry
Derek immediately noticed his mother mood the next morning.
"Are you ok?" he asked worried."
"Yes. I must go to help Penelope." She said getting up suddenly. Derek looked at her oddly but shrugged it off.
His worry grew when Fran came back quickly. She couldn't have helped Penelope yet, could she?
"Mom?"
"Derek, I'm worried Penelope wasn't at her place when I went there."
"But she can't put herself in the wheelchair."
"That's my point. She's not there and neither is McKey."
"Was there any disturbance?"
"No everything was in order."
"Maybe someone else helped her?"
"Who?"
"Alex."
"Yes, Alex…. I shouldn't tell you this but a man called her yesterday when I was helping her."
"A man? One of her brothers?"
"No a certain James… she told me he was the one who…"
"Raped her. " Derek finished.
""how do you know?"
"One of her brothers called her while I was there, he was telling how James had been released and that she better stay away from them now."
"Poor Penelope. I can't understand why her family doesn't support her."
"I run a few research yesterday and found that James Parker is from a wealthy family. Apparently he's a very close friend of Penelope's elder brother. He told that Penelope has always had a crush on him and that they had only spent a night together; then he had dumped her and Penelope was accusing him as revenge."
"So he got away with this?"
"Yeah, e only spent some months in jail but what money can't buy?"
"Happiness?" Fran said bitterly.
"We have to find her, she must be really sad."
"And ill… yesterday not long after he called she threw up… I shouldn't have left her."
"Mom, we'll find her. You should call Alex. He certainly knows where she is."
Fran sighed again from relief. Penelope had spent the night at Alex's. Derek and she were on their way to Alex place;
"Fran I didn't want to worry you. " Penelope said when they entered the living room.
"That's ok. I was just worried after yesterday…"
"I know; I just couldn't spend the night there all alone. I needed some comfort."
"Don't you work today?"
"I called in sick." She said smiling lightly.
"Good idea. What about a day out? I don't work today."
"Fran, I don't want you to waste your time…"
"No waste of time honey, I'd like it."
"Can I join you?" Derek immediately asked.
"Of course baby, if that's ok with Penelope."
"Yes, of course." She said smiling.
"I will just call Alex before leaving." Penelope added before heading towards the bedroom.
"Is she really okay?" Derek asked worried.
"It's just an act. She needs to come to terms with these things."
"It will be hard with this asshole outside."
"Derek…"
"Sorry, I can't help it."
"We'll do all the possible to help her."
"That, we'll do."
Fran and Derek spent the day intending to entertain Penelope. They went to the park, and then had a late lunch in a little restaurant. By the end of the day Penelope had almost forget her problems.
Desiree finally joined them for dinner at home. When Derek sensed Penelope tiredness, he drove her back home with Fran. He waited for his mother and went out with the dog.
When he came back Penelope was already in bed. He knocked at her bedroom door and entered when she told him to do so.
"Goodnight Penelope."
"Goodnight and Thank you so much…"
"I'll call you tomorrow."
"Ok. Derek?"
"Yeah."
"I know that you know what happened to me. See you tomorrow."
Derek was stunned. He closed the door and joined his mom.
"What's up?"
"She knows that I know about her rape."
"She's a perceptive person… don't worry you two can talk about it tomorrow."
"Yeah. Let's go."