| People Change. Some Things Never Do: PART 2 Andie had been sat in the car for the past thirty minutes. Clayton was laid out across the back seat sleeping and all she could do was stare at the house in front of her. A house that held so many memories. It was lucky the people that had rented it from the family had moved out when they did. She didn't real feel like making an announcement that she was back by having to find somewhere to say. "Mommy? Are we there yet?" Clay's sleepy voice came from the back of the car. Andie wiped a couple of unnoticed tears from her cheeks. "Yes baby, we're hear. Grab a couple of things you need and we'll go in" Andie made her way out of the car and took Clay's hand leading him to the house. Putting her key in the door she stopped and took a deep breath, a rush of emotions washed over her. Shaking her head as she caught Clay gazing at her strangely she opened the door. �Woah" Breathed Clay, "it's soo big" Andie smiled as she saw her son run up and enter the large entrance hall. "Slow down sweetheart" Andie called, her mind was reeling with memories from her happier times in Capeside. "Don't you think it's time you went to bed huh?" Andie called as Clay ran upstairs. "Oooooooooooohhh" Clay whined. "Do I 'ave to?" "Yes, it's 9 'o�clock and way past you bed time Mister." Andie said as she followed her son back upstairs. Two hours and five bedtime stories later Clay had finally settled in Jack's old room. Andie sighed as she plopped down on the couch, looking out of the window she decided she really should get the luggage in. She got up and started to bring in all the luggage her and Clay had brought with them, by the time she was done and has placed things into somewhat order Andie was exaughsted, sinking into a bath in her old bathroom she started to cry. It was all too much, Jack has died and now she was back in Capeside. She didn't know how she'd react when she saw any of them. Finally climbing out of the bath and sinking into her warm comfortable bed she decided that she'd deal with that tomorrow. The morning sun swept through the open curtains and shone down on Andie's bed, stirring her eyes began to open slightly. She felt like she was 17 again. The room was the same. Even the sheets were. But she wasn't. She couldn't erase the years since she'd left Capeside. She was 24. She was a mother, and Jack had died. Breathing deeply to stop the tears she pulled herself out of bed and made her way downstairs. Walking into the kitchen she fixed herself some coffee and stared out into the garden. Her mother had loved to garden when she was there, but it was pretty obvious the new tenants hadn't had the same passion for it. Sure they'd mowed the lawn once in a while but that was about it where the garden was concerned. Andie walked down the corridor and leant against the door frame of the living room, a smile danced upon her lips as she watched Clayton curled up on the sofa watching the early morning cartoons. "Hi Baby" Andie placed a kiss on the top of her son's head as she sat down next to him. "Hi Mom" he said wiping away at the place where Andie had just kissed. Andie giggled lightly. "Why don't you go up to your room and pick out what you want to wear. We've got a big day in front of us." Best start now, Andie thought to herself. In a small town like Capeside it wouldn't take long for news to get round that she was back. The sound of the phone ringing stopped her from dwelling more on that thought. "Hello?" "Hi, Andie?" "Yes?" "Andie, It's Jen." "oh, um Hi" Andie replied nervously, after she'd got Jen's message she'd called her and left a message saying she was going back to Capeside and left the number to call her. "Hey, I was thinking, Jack was my best friend Andie, and I don't want you to have to go through this alone, would it be okay if Henry and I came down and helped you with things?" Jen's voice sounded timid and nervous, not something Andie was used to hearing from Jen, and she had to admit she was relieved. She didn't know if she could have done this alone. "Andie?" "Sorry, Jen, you don't know how much that would mean to me." "I'm so glad to hear you say, now we just have to find somewhere to stay." "Don't be silly. This place is huge, way too big for the two of us. You'd be welcome to stay here." "Of course, your son. I can't wait to meet him Andie. Ever since Jack told me, and I know you told him not to, but he had to tell someone he was so proud of you." Jen's voice started to choke up. "oh Jen, don't cry, please you'll get me started!" Jen tried her best to laugh but all that happened was more choked tears. "I should go, I found some tickets on the Internet so we should be there tonight. I'll give you a call when we get to Capeside, to make sure you're home." "Bye Jen." Andie said, a sad tinge to her voice. "Bye Andie." The dial tone rang heavy in Andie's ear. "MOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYY" Clayton shouted from upstairs. "Coming!" Andie called as she put down the phone. After dressing Clayton Andie walked into her room to dress herself. She couldn't help acting like a teenager, fretting over to what to wear, she couldn't help but wonder who she'd meet today. Who knows if she'd run into some of her old friends. Deciding on a smart yet casual, blue jean and pink shirt combo, and placing a matching pink hair band into her loose blonde hair she grabbed her keys and called for Clay to join her in the car. Driving along she kept glancing at Clay's face. He was so used to the built up state of New York City that the landscape of Capeside was a bit of a blow to his system. Pulling up in central Capeside Andie looked around. It wasn't that different, a few more chain stores maybe but that was it. "First we'll go and get some food and then we'll get something for you OK?" Andie said as she leant over and undone her son's seat belt. "Kay mom" Clay swung open his door and jumped out. Right into the path of someone else. "Oops! Sorry" Clay said sheepishly to the person in front of him. "Clayton! I�ve told you about that before, move slowly! I'm really sorry I...." Andie stopped dead. Standing infront of her, as shocking as seeing a ghost was Joey Potter. "Joey" Andie whispered. "Andie, wow, Hi" Joey glanced Andie up and down unable to take it in. Andie felt a tug at her sleeve. "Mom?" Clayton asked looking from Joey to Andie. Andie grabbed his hand in an attempt to keep him quiet for a bit more, she needed to think. "Mommmmmmmmmmy" Clay persisted. "Who's She?" he pointed towards Joey. "Don't point it's rude" Andie said instinctively. She took a deep breathe and continued. "Clayton, this is Joey, she's an old friend of Mommy�s." "Hi Clayton" Joey said crouching down to his height. "You're a big boy aren't you? How old are you?" Clayton held up four fingers and sank into his mothers side. "Four? wow!" Joey said smiling. She stood back up and faced Andie. "I'm really sorry to hear about Jack, I heard he was getting better then, boom." "It was exactly the same for me" Andie said with a sad smile. Suddenly Joey wrapped her arms around Andie. "I've missed you." "I've missed you too" "Here." Joey pulled a pen and paper out of her bag and scrawled down her number. "Call me please, I have to get back to the B&B but please." "I will" Andie promised. One last hug and she took Clay's hand and walked over the market. "She was nice" Clay said as he picked up yet more chocolate and put it in with Andie's shopping. "I don't think so young man" Andie said putting it back on the shelf, "and yes Joey is a very nice person." "How'd you know her Mommy?" "From when I used to live here?" Andie she steered Clayton down the next isle, "Oh okay" Clayton said before running off down the isle. "CLAYTON!" Andie called after him but he just continued to run around the corner and out of sight. "Oops!" Clayton said as he bumped straight into someone's legs. "Sowwy" He said shyly looking around to see if his mother was any where in sight. When he couldn't see her his lip started to quiver and tears welled up in his eyes. "Hey Hey little man" The stranger crouched down to his level and looked into his eyes. "I want my Mommy" Clayton whispered as tears began to fall down his cheeks. "Hey don't cry, we'll find your Mommy. When did you see her last huh?" Clayton shrugged his shoulders and began to cry harder. "Come on" The man held out his larger hand for Clayton to hold. "We'll find your Mommy" Andie rounded the corner and saw a man crouched down infront of a child, looking closer she recognised her son. "Oh my god I�m so sorry. This is the second time he's ran into someone today, I�m really sorry." Andie stopped her rant as the man turned to her and smiled "Hey Andie" He said his voice filled with shock. PART 3 |
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