Unexpected Attraction

by Stella MacLean

  Who could help her? “Gina.” Dialing her friend’s number, she went into the kitchen, searching for any clues about when Shannon might have left the house. Nothing.

  “Andrea, how did the meeting go?”

  “That’s not important right now. I can’t find Shannon. I came home to find a note saying she was going to her father’s.”

  “Did you call him to see if he’s expecting her?”

  “I want to know what’s going on before I talk to him. I can’t deal with him otherwise.”

  “Do you suppose he sent her an airline ticket?”

  “I have no idea. Shannon said she’d be here when I got home. She promised to tell me everything. I talked to Chloe, and she doesn’t know where Shannon is,” Andrea said, her mind not yet accepting that Shannon had left for Phoenix without saying goodbye.

  “What did the psychologist say?”

  “Who cares? It was Jake Polegato.”

  “No.”

  Andrea sighed. “My luck hasn’t changed.”

  “I’ll be right there.” Gina hung up.

  Meanwhile Andrea searched the house for more clues but found nothing. If she had a ticket from her father, it must have been sent by email. Where was Shannon’s computer? Her search turned up nothing. Shannon must have taken her laptop with her.

  In what seemed like only minutes, Gina arrived.

  “Let’s see what we can figure out. Shannon couldn’t have gone very far,” Gina said as she led the way into the kitchen with her usual take-charge attitude. “I just can’t believe she would leave. Not when she promised to be here. Not when we needed to talk,” Andrea said.

  “I agree with you. Shannon wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye. I’m sure she’ll be back and you can talk to her then. Let’s just stay calm and wait for her. In the meantime, tell me everything that went on at the meeting.”

  Andrea told her what she could remember in her distressed state.

  “Maybe the counselor is right and Shannon confided in Kyle. You should call him. Maybe Shannon showed up at his house,” Gina said.

  Andrea did, but no one answered. She left a message for Kyle, telling him that Shannon was missing and asking him to call back right away.

  Gina poured two cups of coffee, sliding one across the counter to Andrea. “If you’re right and Shannon is planning to go to her father’s, you need to call him.”

  “And give him another reason to be nasty? Not until I have to. Besides, if she were going to Scott’s he would have to have sent an airline ticket to her. I don’t think Shannon has enough money saved to buy one.”

  “I think you should contact Jake Polegato.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding. How can he help?”

  “I don’t know for sure, but he works with teenagers—he understands them. He knows she’s in some sort of trouble. At the very least, you could bounce ideas off him. To be honest, I don’t know what’s going on with Shannon, but if she’s left home, you need any help you can get. If I were you, I’d swallow my pride and call this man.”

  “I don’t know what to do,” Andrea said, praying that Shannon would walk through the door and say she’d changed her mind about going to her dad’s.

  Gina came around the kitchen island and hugged Andrea. “You have to put aside your feelings about Jake. For Shannon’s sake. What choice do you have?”

  “I love her.” Andrea managed to swallow around the hard lump in her throat. She might not like Jake, but he had shown concern for Shannon. He was also qualified to assess what might have motivated Shannon to take off this way. If he could help find Shannon, what she felt about the man didn’t matter. “Nothing can happen to her.”

  She met Gina’s concerned glance, and in that instant Andrea knew what she had to do. “Okay, I’ll contact him. What can it hurt?”

  “You won’t be sorry.” Gina began to tidy the clutter on the counter.

  Andrea dialed Jake’s number, and he answered on the first ring. “Andrea, is Shannon all right?”

  “Shannon’s left home. I need your help.” The line was quiet. Was he not going to answer? No. He couldn’t do that to her, not here, not under the circumstances. “Look, I’m really sorry for how I behaved—”

  “Andrea, that’s not important. What’s important is Shannon. I’ll clear my schedule and be there in about half an hour. In the meantime, check with Shannon’s friends. Get that young man—”

  “Kyle.”

  “Yes. Ask him to come to your house.”

  “Yes,” she said, relief flooding over her. She might have to drive over to Kyle’s house if he didn’t answer the phone, or call his mother at work, but one way or the other she would find him.

  She hung up and dialed Kyle’s number. He answered immediately. “Mrs. Taylor, I got your message. I’ve been out looking. I can’t find Shannon. I’ve talked to her other friends at school, and no one has heard from her.”

  She was comforted by the fact that Kyle’s voice echoed her concern, even though she worried about the fact none of Shannon’s friends were with her. “Can you come here?”

  “I’ll get my mom to drop me off right away.”

  * * *

  WHEN KYLE ARRIVED he looked so young, so vulnerable, and Andrea put her arms around him. He clung to her for a moment before moving away. “I’m sorry I left the hospital the other night. My mom was on my case for spending too much time with Shannon. But I’ve—Shannon and I have had so much going on...”

  She’d been wrong. He hadn’t left the hospital because he didn’t care. “It’s okay. We need to find Shannon. Did she say anything to you? Her note said she was going to her dad’s, but she’d need money or a credit card to buy an airline ticket,” she said as they gathered around the island.

  Kyle studied his hands.

  “Should we call the police?” Andrea asked.

  “Let’s wait for Jake to get here,” Gina said, passing Kyle a glass of milk he’d asked for.

  “Did you hear any of the conversation Shannon had with her dad?” Andrea asked.

  “I didn’t, but she told me afterward that she wished her dad were here.” He ducked his head when he saw the expression on Andrea’s face. “Sorry, Mrs. Taylor. I know that’s a sore point with you.”

  “Please don’t worry about it, and call me Andrea.”

  He offered her a quick smile.

  The doorbell rang. Andrea raced to answer it. Jake’s calm expression eased her fear a little bit, although she couldn’t say why. “Please come in.”

  They all settled in the living room. The bright sun streamed in through the large windows facing the back lawn, warming the space.

  “Shannon left a note saying she was going to her father’s in Phoenix. But I don’t believe she would leave me without saying goodbye. And I can’t imagine her going to her dad’s, despite the fact she talked about it last night.”

  “Why not?” Jake asked.

  “Because she hasn’t seen him for months. He has a new family, and she has always felt uncomfortable even talking about him, let alone going to visit him. He’s never made any real attempt to see her, except in the summer for a couple of weeks. After the big deal he made at the custody hearing, he’s basically left Shannon alone.”

  Kyle cleared his throat, glancing from Gina to Andrea and Jake. “Shannon told me she’s had several calls from her dad in the past few weeks.”

  “I didn’t know that.” Andrea caught the understanding look in Jake’s eyes. “Well, if my daughter was going to visit her father, she would need more than just her babysitting money—Oh, wait. I forgot something.” She went to Shannon’s room and checked the old-fashioned jewelry box where Shannon kept another stash of money. Empty.

  When she returned, Jake and Kyle were deep in conversation.

 
“Kyle has something to tell you,” Jake said.

  “What is it?” She perched on the sofa. That Kyle seemed to know more about her daughter’s life in recent weeks than she did chilled her.

  “I’m really sorry. I should have said something sooner, but I promised Shannon.” Kyle scrubbed his face with his hands. “She said her dad was sending her an open plane ticket to Phoenix.”

  “When?” Andrea demanded. When had Shannon’s feelings about her father changed? When had they started communicating so regularly?

  “Did she mention which airline?” Jake asked.

  “No, she didn’t. I’m sorry, but she didn’t tell me anything other than the fact she expected the ticket to arrive soon.”

  “There can’t be that many airlines operating out of the Kalamazoo airport, and unless she had the money or a vehicle, she wouldn’t be able to get to Grand Rapids or Detroit,” Jake offered.

  “I don’t know what’s going on with her anymore,” Andrea said, her head clogged with the extent of Shannon’s secrecy.

  “If it helps any, Shannon felt pressured by her father to go to Phoenix,” Kyle offered apologetically.

  “That miserable man. I’m going to call Scott. He’s got a lot of explaining to do.” Andrea stood to get her phone.

  Jake held up his hand. “That can wait. First, let’s find Shannon. Why don’t we go to the airport and see if she’s there?”

  Again Jake’s calm demeanor eased her panic. “You’re right. I’m just so angry and afraid and mixed-up and hurt.”

  “I know,” Gina said, her voice gentle. “We’ll find Shannon before she gets to Phoenix. She couldn’t have left the house much before you got home.”

  Jake stood. “Let’s go now.”

  “You’re coming with me?” Andrea asked, surprised.

  Jake’s expression was resolute. “You asked for my help. I’m giving it.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  GINA HAD VOLUNTEERED to stay at the house in case Shannon returned. The other three took Jake’s car to the airport.

  “Let me out here,” Andrea said when they approached the departures area, impatient to get inside.

  “I’ll come with you,” Kyle said from the backseat.

  “I’ll park the car and be right in,” Jake said.

  A rush of cool air enveloped Andrea as they strode through the doors of the Kalamazoo airport and toward the gate area. “Only four airlines are showing on the board, none going to Phoenix,” Kyle said.

  Andrea searched the terminal for any sign of Shannon. “I don’t see her.”

  “Let’s start with the first airline listed,” Kyle said, heading toward the check-in desk. As they moved closer, Andrea spotted Shannon standing in line.

  Letting out a strangled cry, she strode toward her. “What are you doing here?”

  Shannon glanced up, a forced smile appearing. “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “Don’t be smart, Shannon. Answer the question.”

  “As I said in my note, I’m going to Dad’s house.”

  “You are not. You’re coming home with me. You and I have a lot of talking to do, and I’m tired of waiting around for your explanation. So get your bag and let’s go.”

  “No. And for your information, I don’t have a bag. Dad said he’d buy me new clothes when I get to Phoenix. He’s even taking me shopping for anything I want.”

  Fury at Shannon and Scott blindsided Andrea. Yet before she could give vent to the toxic emotion, she sensed Jake’s presence behind her. She turned toward him, saw the compassion in his eyes, and the intensity decreased until she could breathe again.

  Shannon followed her gaze. “I remember you, Mr. Polegato. You told me about playing volleyball when you were in high school. You were really kind to me. But why are you here?”

  “I was invited,” he said.

  “I guess I should thank you for bringing Mom out here so she could be angry with me.”

  Jake didn’t respond, but Andrea was stunned at Shannon’s words and tone. After all they had been through together, after all their closeness, how could Shannon want to be with Scott? She’d shown so little interest in visiting him, so why the sudden change? How could she treat Andrea this way? Was this some sort of punishment for all the hours she put in at the office and showing houses? While she acknowledged those absences could make Shannon question her place on Andrea’s priority list, at the same time the job provided Shannon with the lifestyle she enjoyed. So if that was Shannon’s motivation, this immature little stunt needed to end now.

  “Let’s go, Shannon. We’re going home,” Andrea said, her patience with her daughter tenuous. When they were in the privacy of the house, they would have this out. She was tired of the hiding and lying.

  “Mom, I’m about to check in. We’ll have to have this conversation another time.” Shannon glanced from Andrea to Kyle. “Hi,” she said, a welcoming smile on her lips.

  “Hi,” Kyle said, going to stand beside her. “Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?”

  “I tried to call you.”

  “I know. But there’s been a lot going on. I don’t want you to go.”

  “I don’t have a choice. Besides, Dad needs me.”

  “To do what?” Andrea interjected, seething at the easy way she’d been dismissed. She had no idea she could be this angry with anyone, let alone her only child.

  “Mom, please stay out of this.”

  “You need to come home.” She grabbed Shannon’s arm.

  “Stop.” Shannon pulled her arm away.

  “Let me talk to her for a minute,” Kyle said, barely above a whisper.

  “Why?” Andrea demanded.

  “Because I need to tell her something.”

  What was going on with these two? Andrea glanced between the two teenagers. They were totally focused on each other. “Okay, you’ve got five minutes, and then Shannon’s coming with me, whether she likes it or not.”

  * * *

  SHANNON TOOK KYLE’S hand then followed him to a quiet corner with two empty seats.

  “Hey, what’s all this about?” Kyle asked. “You’re leaving without talking to me? I thought we had a deal, that we’d stick together and figure out what to do. Did your dad really call?”

  “No. I had a fight with Chloe. I can’t believe she’s defending Stuart when she saw what he did yesterday. She won’t tell people what he did to me, how he bullied you and me. And after what he did last night—” Reliving those awful minutes made Shannon shake. She rested her hand on her knee and winced at the sudden pain. She’d been awake most of the night with pain, had heard her mom talking to Gina and she was so sorry for all the worry her mother was going through because of her. “I’m afraid of what will happen. I can’t tell Mom because she’ll be so upset. I don’t know what else to do. Going to Dad’s will give me a chance to think things through.”

  “Why did you bother calling Chloe?” Kyle asked.

  “She’s my best friend. I needed to—” She pressed her fists into her forehead. “I am so angry with her. I just needed to get away. I have that ticket Dad sent me, so...” She shrugged.

  “Your mom didn’t know about that ticket.”

  “No, she didn’t. You told her?”

  “Mr. Polegato said I needed to help with anything I knew. Your mom really cares,” Kyle offered, taking her hand again.

  “So that’s how she ended up here. You told her,” she said, hurt that Kyle did it.

  “I had to. I don’t want you to go. You need to face these bullies. You can’t run away and ruin your school year, miss out on volleyball and all your friends.”

  Shannon wanted to believe him. But if her mother found out that she was gay, that her perfect daughter wanted to come out, to speak up at school...wh
o knew what she’d do? She loved her mother, but she couldn’t face her anger. Not until she figured out how she could deal with everything that was going wrong in her life. Her dad’s place would give her a little time and space to consider her options. She hadn’t told him anything, but she was sure he’d understand when she did. “I know... I’m sorry. I called my dad. He’ll be waiting for me. I can’t let him down.”

  “What about your mother?”

  Shannon knew only too well that her mother would be really upset with her over going to her dad’s. But she was so tired of her parents not getting along. Did they know that she needed both of them? If only they’d try a little harder to be friendly with each other, things would be better.

  “Mom? She grounded me like I’m some little kid. Besides, she made it clear she doesn’t trust me, or you, for that matter. I could tell by the look on her face last night that she didn’t believe our story about me falling.”

  “What can I say to convince you to stay?” Kyle asked. “How can I help you when you’re half a continent away?”

  Shannon sighed and closed her eyes. “You’ve already helped me so much. I’m so thankful you were with me when Stuart pushed me. If you hadn’t been there I would have been seriously hurt.” She hugged him close, wanting to remember this moment. What she couldn’t tell him or anyone else was that if things worked out with her dad, she planned to move to Phoenix, start over and find her place in the world. Being gay wasn’t a crime; it was simply the way things were. She couldn’t go on denying it.

  “If you go, I’m going with you.”

  Startled, she stared at him. “You can’t. You have to stay.”

  “I have relatives in Phoenix. I’ll stay with them. Mom and Dad will understand that I’m taking a break. They’re cool with whatever I do.”

  “No. You’re not coming with me.”

  “Shannon, if you’re ever going to be able to face your life, you need to get the school to stop Stuart from bullying you. You can’t do that from Phoenix.”

  “This is silly. You can’t just take off.”

  “Isn’t that what you’re doing?”

  “It’s not the same,” she muttered.