A Walk In The Wilderness (13 page)

      David closed his eyes briefly, and smiled.  Then he looked up at William, facing his bluntness boldly. “For now.”  he assured him.  “Who can say?  I like her, but she’s not ready to even think about men.  But I can’t say I don’t find her attractive.”

       William continued to stare, suspiciously. 

      “She will have a suite of her own, with a key.  I can promise you that I won’t be a threat to her virtue.”  David laughed.

      William shrugged.  “Forgive me, but you’ve shown an uncommon interest in the girl.  I have no way to know.”

      “I know that.  I’m being as honest as I know how to be.  Romance holds no appeal for Caitlin right now, so it’s not even an issue.  Besides, I’m doing this as much for my mother, as I am for Caitlin.  It will benefit everyone  She needs a change.  My mother needs someone to care for, and Cait is in danger here.  That’s all.”

      “And when she’s got her feet under her again?” William asked lightly.  “Is this a long term job, or just an interim?”

    “We’ll have to see how it works out.  We've agreed to a six month trial.  However, I anticipate that my mother and Caitlin will get along splendidly.”

      “Well, then.  I don’t mean to be a tyrant. It’s just that the girl was my brother’s only child.  I promised him, you know.  Caitlin was the apple of his eye.”

     “I don’t wonder.”  David responded.  He gave William a steady look, and smiled.

      Caitlin was embarrassed when her uncle William appeared at the front desk. 

     “Get yourself off to bed.  You no longer work here.” he ordered gruffly.

     “What?  I don’t understand.”

    “Take it up with your new employer.  As usual, he’s right.  As long as you’re behind this counter, Vaughn will keep coming.  And until that stops, none of us will get any sleep.  I’ll finish the night.  Now, get.”

     Caitlin shut her mouth with a frustrated sigh, and went to bed.  There was nothing else to do.

       Caitlin was sequestered in a testing room at college for the rest of the week, to challenge her finals.  This afforded her the peace and quiet she needed to test, and also kept her away from the other students, lowering the potential for cheating.

      Patricia met her one morning as she got out of the limo at the school, and fell in step with her, obviously curious.  “Well, Caitlin.  Look at you, getting out of a limo.  What can this mean?”

      Caitlin blushed and shrugged.  “I won a limo service?” she offered lamely.

    Patricia laughed.  “Sounds quite improbable.” she denied.  “I would rather suspect it means you’re shacking up with a rich man.”

      Caitlin blushed.  “I am not ‘shacking up’ with anyone.” She growled.

     “Who are you dating, now?”

     Caitlin shrugged.  “No one, really.”  she denied.

     “Come on, now.  Give, Cait.” she pleaded. “I know that you were dating Skyler Vaughn.  Though I’m dismayed to say I didn’t hear it from you, my friend.  Is it still him?  He’s the only one I know who might have limo service.” She pried.

     Caitlin gave her a suspicious look.  “How did you know I was seeing Skyler?”  she asked darkly.

      Patricia shrugged.  “People notice what guys like Skyler Vaughn do.  I heard about it.  I was disappointed that you didn’t tell me.” she hinted.

     Caitlin blushed.  “It wasn’t something I wanted to talk about.”  she evaded.  “It was only two dates, and he … he was not pleasant.”

     “Really?”  Patricia drawled.

     “Really.” Caitlin assured her flatly.

     Patricia raised her eyebrows, and gave Caitlin a smug look.  “Who is giving you the limo, girl?  You may as well tell me.”

      Caitlin looked at her almost angrily.  She looked terribly pleased with herself. 

“It doesn’t matter.”  Caitlin snapped.

    “Okay, it doesn’t matter.”  Patricia agreed in a voice that denied her statement.   “Why haven’t you been in classes?”

   Caitlin was distinctly uncomfortable with Patricia’s questions.  “Why do you want to know all these things?” she asked, facing her squarely.

    Patricia stepped back.  “Cait, I thought that we were friends.  Why are you turning on me this way?”

    Caitlin shut her mouth, and pressed her lips together.  “Did you ever start a chapter of Skyler’s fan club?” she asked suspiciously.

      Patricia paled.  “Um.  Well.  Yes, I did.” she admitted lightly.  “Why?”

     “Then you got to know Skyler a bit better, did you?”

      “No.  Not really.”  Patricia denied.   Her eyes darted away uncomfortably. 

     “Patricia!  Tell Skyler to mind his own business.” Caitlin said angrily.  She went into the college office, and stayed there until Patricia was gone.

CHAPTER FOUR

     Miraculously, Connie was kept in jail until after Cait’s departure. The limo and special arrangements at school for private testing, kept Caitlin safe and sequestered until the end of the week.  She worked on packing her things and disposing of everything she didn't need, in her spare time; so she was kept quite busy.

     Friday evening, she left the school in David's limo for the last time.  She’d passed all her finals with flying colors, and she was ready to start her new life.
She arrived home in record time; took a bath, and then packed her final, few things. 

     She decided to wear a new mossy green dress, on her trip to her new job.  The skirt was full, the bodice was scoop-necked, the sleeves elbow length.  It was quite simple, yet it had nice style.  She hated to admit it, but she had agonized over what to wear to meet David's mother, far more than she should have.  She so wanted to make a favorable impression!  She kept trying to keep telling herself that this was no different than any other job, but given that it involved David and his mother, she wasn't finding it easy to do.   

     She added a cultured pearl necklace, bracelet and earrings that had a warm, almost golden tone to them.  She rightly thought that the jewelry choice would add a refined, timeless touch to the outfit that would make a good impression. 

    Over the dress, she finally layered a light, waist length, boxy jacket in a deeper green.  The color matched her heels perfectly -- and also matched the new wool overcoat and hat she'd be wearing.  Examining herself in the mirror, she was satisfied.

     She felt very elegant, slipping into her new dark green wool coat and hat.  The fox fur collar had a tinge of copper on the ends, to add zing to the main color, a rich gray. Her riot of auburn hair was neatly rolled against her head.  When they reached the airport, she waited while David placed a call to his mother.

     “Mother.  Did you get the telegram?  We’re about to get on a plane.”  he said sweetly.

     “David!  How dare you take such license?”  she demanded irritably.  “I don’t need any young woman underfoot just now.  I am extremely disappointed. How could you think of arranging this without consulting me?”

     “Because you must go along, Mother.  Trust me in this.  She’s wonderful, and it’s not good for you to be alone all the time, at any rate.  You’ll just have to adjust.  She’s terribly wounded, mother.  Take care of her for a few months.  It won’t hurt you to put your needs aside every now and then.  She’ll be no trouble.  She’s quiet, dignified and polite.  She’ll charm you in short order.” 

     “But, her nerves are completely shot; and she’s exhausted.  There is to be no work of any kind, for her.  Just be nice to her.  Talk to her.  Make her eat.  Get her to sit in the garden.  And you will
please
greet her warmly at the airport.”  he warned softly.  “This is not her fault, it’s mine.”

     “What are you up to, David?  Is this girl … special?”

     “Not in the way that you’re insinuating.”

     “When are you coming home?” she asked petulantly.

     “Soon.  Her name is Caitlin Kilpatrick, mother.  In a month, you’ll wonder what you ever did before she came.”

     She snorted at that, and David laughed. 

     “Come to the airport with James, and I’ll kiss you as I catch my return flight.”

     “You’re flying with her?”  Grace asked suspiciously.

     “Absolutely.  I don’t trust anyone or anything at this point.  Skyler is stalking her, and it’s going to stop today.  See you in a bit, mother.  I really must go, now.” he said cheerfully.  He hung up.

    Caitlin was saying goodbye to William.  He hugged her, and kissed her forehead.  There were tears in Caitlin’s eyes as she thanked him for all he’d done for her.

    David stood and watched as Caitlin turned to William’s blonde wife.  She looked severe, with a thin face, too much make-up and dyed hair.

     “Goodbye, Aunt Vera.”  Caitlin said sadly.

     The woman nodded.  “Goodbye then, Caitlin.” She said, rather coldly.  There was no hug.  David judged that Caitlin was wise not to try.

     Caitlin found her head turned a bit when the limo took them to a private Air strip, and drove up to a very expensive-looking jet plane.  She looked at David questioningly.  He winked, and took her hand. 

     “Not afraid to fly, are you?” he teased.

    “I haven’t been on a plane since I was a child, but I wasn’t afraid then.  We’re flying in this?” she questioned hesitantly. 

     “Yes, I chartered it.  Why?”

     She looked at David, and shook her head to dismiss her questions.  Still, she wondered in the depths of her heart just how wealthy and influential this man truly was.  It was hard for her to imagine that the David she’d come to know so well over the past week or so, was truly a man of such means and fame. 

     Although she was not well acquainted with Christian music charts, she was beginning to see that in fact, David was very well known.

    The plane was comfortable to the point of opulence.  There were white leather seats, and plush carpets.  She sat down gingerly, and looked about her in silent wonder.

     David took her hand, as the plane lifted off the ground.  “Doing all right?” he questioned.  At her nod, he smiled.  “It was hard saying goodbye to William, eh?” he guessed correctly.

    “Yes.” she admitted, trying not to let the tears spill.  “But I’ll be all right.”

   “I know.” he assured her.  “You’re a trooper, Caitie.  I'll be certain that provision is made for you to visit, whenever you want to.” he promised.  He continued to talk to her as the flight continued, hoping to distract her from thoughts about meeting his mother, and in an effort to put her at ease.

   “This is really quite commonplace for you, isn’t it?”  she asked quizzically.  “Being in planes and such, I mean.”

     He chuckled.  “This is how I spend a good portion of my life.” he admitted.

     “Do you like it, David?”

     He shrugged.  “I’m content.  I get very tired sometimes, though.  Travel can wear one down to nothing, and performing is grueling, as well.  It’s a good thing it’s so satisfying.”

     “Do you ever get lonely?” she asked.

    David looked into her innocent eyes, and saw nothing there but curiosity and concern.  He smiled.  “Yeah.  Yes, at times it gets very lonely.  Thank God for Jesus.  Without Him, I’d be too lonely for words.”

      He explained that he would have to get back on the jet immediately in order to get back to Sterling in time to do his concert.     

      “You’re only flying down to keep me company?” she asked almost fearfully.

    David carefully evaluated the question, along with the look in her eyes.  “That’s right.”  he answered confidently.  “I thought with all that’s happened with Skyler, and leaving William, that it might be best for me to accompany you.  I don’t want you at an airport alone, or anything.  And besides, you’re going to a new place.  I’d like to introduce you to mother personally.  And, say hello to her, as well.”

     “You’re going to a lot of trouble.”  she mumbled uneasily.

     He chuckled.  “To tell you the truth, it’s nice to get away, and fly.  I get tired of motel rooms.”

     She looked up at him, but he seemed to be very much at ease.  It must be the truth, she decided.  “Well, it’s very kind of you.  I just feel like I’m a bit of trouble, sometimes.”

     He shook his head, and leaned back in the seat.  “You don’t know what trouble is, then.”  he teased.  “I’m afraid that I don’t see anything but a quiet ride, watching the scenery, and enjoying the company of a good friend.”

     She smiled.  “All right, David.  Who can argue with you?” she sighed.

   And, he put her at ease in short order.  They shared the most relaxed, enjoyable time together as they flew.  Caitlin found herself tensing up as the pilot advised they needed to prepare for landing. 

     She was going to have to say goodbye to David’s reassuring company, and start a new life.  She wondered how difficult it was going to be, to win over David’s mother.  If she suspected Cait to be a gold digger, it could become a difficult proposition indeed, she mused.  But surely it wouldn’t take her long to see that she and David were truly, just friends.

     He looked at her, as though reading her mind.  “Now, listen to me.  My mother is a very good judge of character.  Stop worrying.  It will only take a day or two for her to decide that you’re the best thing since cake.”