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Chapter Twenty-Six






LATE SATURDAY MORNING Dana's plane landed at Philadelphia International Airport right on schedule. The moment she got off the plane with her carry-on bag, she scurried out of the terminal building to the pick-up and drop-off area. She spotted Tracy leaning against her car with the trunk open as she came through the automatic doors and called out to her. " Tracy. I'm over here."

Tracy waved to her in a way that indicated she should hurry up.

" I hope you haven't been here too long, " Dana said once she got to the car.

" No, I just got here. Get in the car and let's get out of here." Tracy threw Dana's bag into the trunk, quickly closed it and hopped into the driver's seat.

" Thanks for coming to pick me up, " Dana said as Tracy pulled away and joined the long line of cars leaving the always busy and crowded airport.

" Good thing your flight was on time. I had to go around five or six times and they were just about to make me go park in the high-rise lot." As she drove, Tracy glanced over at Dana several times as if appraising her. " It's good to have you back home. How was your trip? "

" It was amazing and I've got an awful lot to tell you." Dana began filling Tracy in on the highlights of her trip. She started with the Sarah visit, then told her about the coming out talks with her family and ended up with her conversation with Donna and how she came to realize her true feelings for Ridley. " I would have told you more about all of this on the phone, but I was really tired last night and I wanted to talk to you in person."

Tracy's smile stretched so far it looked as if it might hurt. " That was some visit and the best news I've ever heard. You need to know that Ridley came over to talk to me on Thursday. I didn't tell you about it when you called last night because you were beat and I thought it might upset you. I knew it could wait until you got home."

" She did? What did she say? How was she? "

Tracy went over the highlights of her conversation with Ridley. " She loves you, Dana, and in my humble opinion, she's the sweetest and cutest lesbian I've ever known, not counting you and me, of course."

" I agree, but what about Erika? Don't you think she's cute? "

" Yeah, she's cute, but she's a bit much. I've discovered she's the high maintenance type and way too intense for me. She's a drama queen if I ever knew one."

" Are things cooling down? " Dana asked.

" Let's just say she's not the one for me, " Tracy replied.

" Are you okay with it? "

" I'm fine. I'm glad you finally came to your senses about Sarah."

" You were so right about her." Dana reached out and patted her friend's hand and then she leaned across the gear shift and planted a noisy kiss on Tracy's cheek. " I owe you big time."

" Hey, be careful. I'm driving here, " Tracy said.

Dana stopped horsing around and got serious. " When I think of what I said to Ridley last Tuesday, I feel sick inside. I made it sound like she meant almost nothing to me. She told me she loved me and I brushed her off like she'd said it was a nice day."

" So you were an idiot. Now, what are you going to do about it? "

" When we get home, I'm going to call her and ask her to see me and when I do see her, I'm going to find out how I can make it up to her. I'm going to beg or grovel or plead or do whatever it takes to win her back."

" That might work." Tracy nodded her approval.

" It had better. How was everything while I was gone? "

As she turned onto the Columbus Boulevard exit ramp, Tracy told Dana what went on at the restaurant. She answered Dana's questions as they headed west on the city streets until she pulled up at the curb in front of Café De Marco. " You go up and call her, right now. I'll park the car and bring your bag up."

Dana rushed up the stairs to her apartment and reached for the phone. Her hands shook so bad she had to punch the numbers in several times before she got it right. Ridley's answering machine came on but Dana didn't leave a message. Instead, she tried Ridley's cell phone, but that went to voice mail. Again, she didn't leave a message. Ridley could be at the grocery store or visiting her mother or any number of places. She would try again.

Once she'd unpacked her things and freshened up, she called Ridley's apartment and her cell phone again and got the same results, so she changed and went downstairs to help Tracy. They were booked solid with dinner reservations and she'd been gone since Wednesday.

Every half hour she called Ridley both at home and on her cell, only to hear the same recorded messages. After a few attempts, she left a message asking Ridley to call her on her cell phone as soon as possible. By now, the need to reach Ridley had become an emergency of sorts and she felt she'd go crazy if she didn't connect with her soon. Her mind went wild wondering where Ridley was. Did she go away for the weekend? Was she at her mother's? Was she simply not answering the phone? Was she all right?

" Now I'm getting worried, " Dana told Tracy as it got close to five o'clock and she still couldn't reach Ridley. " What if something's wrong? "

" It's Saturday. Maybe she went out for the day or she's away for the weekend. Why don't you call Laurie and see if they know where she is? "

" I think I will." Dana had Karen's number programmed into her cell phone and she wasted no time putting the call through. After several rings, Laurie answered the phone. " Hi, Laurie, this is Dana. I can't reach Ridley. Do you have any idea where she might be? "

" I'm so glad you called me. Ridley's been at the hospital all day. Her mother had a bad car accident early this morning."

" Oh, no! What happened? "

" Her car was hit by a truck."

" Jesus... how is she? Is she alright? "

" We're not sure yet. We were at the emergency room with Ridley this morning, but they were still evaluating her mother. We only know that she was unconscious at the scene and that she's alive. We hated to leave Ridley alone, but Karen got really sick all of a sudden and she had a fever and I had to bring her home."

" How was Ridley doing when you left her? " As soon as Dana asked the question, she knew what Laurie would say. She understood how much Ridley loved her mother and she was sure Ridley was beside herself with worry. The thought of her waiting alone at the hospital with no one there to comfort her was more than Dana could bear.

" She was out of her mind with worry."

" Have you heard from her? " Dana asked.

" Not yet and we can't reach her. She has her cell phone on voice mail and even though I left a few messages, she hasn't called us back. We even called the hospital, but they couldn't locate her. We'll just have to wait until she calls us."

" Do you think I should go to her? " Dana gestured frantically to Tracy to bring her a piece of paper and a pen.

" Could you? She's been in bad shape since you left. Maybe I shouldn't say this, but she's crazy about you and she's been heartbroken."

" I know and I'm sorry about that. I had some things I had to work out and if it makes you feel better, I'm crazy about her, too." Dana grabbed the pen and paper Tracy handed her and got ready to write while Tracy held the paper to keep it from moving around on the counter.

" We got directions on the Internet. Do you have something to write with? "

" Yes, tell me how to get there." Dana wrote the directions down as Laurie recited them. " Okay, I've got it. I'm leaving here as soon as I get changed."

" Thanks Dana. She needs someone with her. I've never seen her so lost."

" We'll call you guys later and let you know what's going on."

" Please do that and drive carefully, will you? "

Dana put the directions in her pocket and addressed Tracy. " I can't believe I'm leaving you alone again. I feel guilty and when things settle down, you're getting an entire week off and I won't take no for an answer. You've more than earned it."

Tracy waved her out of the kitchen, " Go. We'll be fine. We're used to it by now and no offense, but we're doing fine without you. The food's still excellent, the customers are happy and so far, we haven't had any problems. Tell Ridley I'm thinking of her and make sure you call me later and let me know what's going on."

" I will. I promise." In an instant, Dana was out the door.


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