BOOK 2

CHAPTER 1

Misty was now close to her time. During the months before, she and her aunt fixed up her room, buying a crib, bassinet, clothes, and other necessary items. Her mother kept in contact, but never talked to Misty saying she was never to know. Sydney asked if she was still with the SOB. She said she was as he had become sick after Misty left.

"Just what he deserves, kicking her out with no place to go and her pregnant. For once you used your head in sending her here."

"How is she?"

"She is fine. Looking beautiful. I think being pregnant agrees with her. The doctor says the baby is healthy."

"When is she due?"

"Most any time. Everything is all set for when the baby gets here."

"Thanks, sis, for taking her in."

"She is welcome here. It's good to have someone else around. Things will liven up now."

"I've got to go, sis. I'll call back after the baby is born."

A couple of days later Misty was in the labor room, her aunt with her. "Remember, Misty, when the pain comes, take fast short breaths, breathing in and out."

Misty held on to her hand, laying there as the contractions continued, coming now every five minutes. The doctor came in and checked her. He told the nurse to prep her for the delivery room.

Misty asked her aunt to be in the delivery room with her. While they carted Misty to the room, Sydney was led to a room to put on a hospital gown, cap and shoes, then wash up. They had just put Misty's feet in the stirrups when she entered the delivery room. She went over and took Misty's hand. A contraction hit. Misty squeezed her aunt's hand. "That's quite a grip you got there," she winced.

"I wish the baby would hurry up and come out! I can't stand the pain!" Misty yelled.

"Patience, girl. He will come when he is ready."

The doctor came in and positioned himself at the foot of the table. After making the small cut, he told Misty that when the contractions hit, to push. Sydney talked to Misty, wiping her forehead, giving her encouragement. In between pushes, Misty breathed as the nurse told her. After several minutes, Misty could feel the baby move.

"I see the head! the doctor yelled. "Keep going."

Misty pushed, the pain almost unbearable at times. For a minute she rested. "Push again," the doctor said.

Misty bore down and pushed. "The baby's half way out. Just another push or two. Get behind her and left her shoulders."

Sydney and the nurse lifted Misty's shoulders. "The baby's almost here. Just one more," the doctor said.

Misty bore down and pushed as hard as she could. With one final yell, she felt the baby come out. It wasn't but a few seconds then she heard the first cries. Misty laid down on the table, her chest heaving. Sydney wiped her forehead, pushing her hair back from her face. "It's a boy!" she said excitedly.

"I...want...to see...him," Misty panted.

"Look over to your left. They're cleaning him up now. He's beautiful."

After cleaning up the afterbirth, they took her to her room. Twenty minutes later, the nurse brought him in a crib. Sydney was sitting beside Misty. The nurse picked him up and placed him in Misty's arms. The first thing she saw was the red hair. When he opened his eyes, they were a beautiful emerald green.

"He was a big one, young lady. He weighed 8 lb. 14 oz and measured 22 inches long," the nurse said, then left the room.

"Aunt Sydney, he's beautiful! He looks just like his father," Misty said, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I wish he could have been here to see him."

"What are you going to name him?"

"I'm going to call him, Mark. The same as his father."

"You loved Mark very much."

"I'll always love him. Wherever he is, he has my heart, my everything. There never could be another."

"One day you and him will see each other again. That I predict," Sydney said firmly.

CHAPTER 2

In a hotel room, Mark woke up in a cold sweat. "Misty!" he yelled. He laid there staring at the ceiling. He felt a sudden warmth, as if she were there holding him. He turned to see an empty space, but he could feel a warm, soft arm, as if being cradled. He groaned.

Mark was now the pit boss of the team. He was tough, but his team was one of the best at the track. His equipment always in top form as evidenced by the wins the riders were racking up.

It was now five years later. Mark had not gone out with anyone. It wasn't like he hadn't been approached. Many women would try to gain his attention. A couple even tried to seduce him, but he would walk away. One finally asked what was wrong with him, was he a normal man. "I am, but my very being belongs to one and only one. There's no one that can compare to her."

"She must be quite a woman."

"She is. That's why I know I could never be with anyone else. And one day we'll be together again."

Young Mark was now five years old. He was an exact clone of his father. Misty and Aunt Sydney doted on him, trying to be both a mother and father to him. One day, when Misty had come home after an especially busy day, she plopped down on the couch. Young Mark came running in and got on her lap. "Hi, mommy." Misty hugged him hard. No matter what kind of day she had, she always had time for him. "How's my little man today?"

"Okay. Mommy, do I have a real daddy?"

Misty was caught by surprise at the question. "Yes, you do."

"What is he like?"

Misty's eyes glazed over with tears, memories coming back. He's tall and very handsome, kind and gentle. You look exactly like him."

"Does he know about me?"

"No, honey, he doesn't. He had to leave before I even knew about you."

"Will we ever see him?"

"I don't know, son. Maybe one day."

"I hope we do," he said, then got down and went in the other room. Sydney came in. "I heard. He's very smart for a boy his age."

"He is. His father was smart also. It's frightening how much he is like him." Misty put her head in her hands and sobbed. Sydney sat beside her and held her. "Misty, don't cry so."

"I can't help it. I love Mark so much. It hasn't changed. I want so bad to see him."

"If Mark loves you as you love him, your paths will cross."

CHAPTER 3

Misty's father died as young Mark turned ten. Her mother wrote, telling Sydney the news, saying don't tell Misty as it was better that way.

It was on that day also that Mark's racing team came to town. He had been surprised to hear they had built a race track on the outskirts of town. He arrived a day later, making sure to arrive at night so no one would recognize him, spending most of the time in the hotel not far from the track.

Very late that night, he rode his bike to a familiar spot. He had thought perhaps, by some miracle, he would see her there. He found only an overgrown yard, the house nearly rotted. He hung his head, knowing he shouldn't have hoped. He got set to leave when he saw a car coming down the street. Looking around, he went to the back of the house. The car stopped a minute, shining its light around the property. "I thought I saw somebody over this way. Probably was someone passing through," the officer thought, and drove on.

Mark waited a few minutes, then went another route to the hotel, going straight to the room. He had taken a chance in going out. He would have to just stick being in the room.

The seats at the track on race day were filled to capacity. Cindy had come with her husband to the races. She didn't really like watching them, but had decided to come anyway. She had a pair of binoculars with her and was scanning the crowd over. She then focused on the pit area. She saw something familiar and adjusted the lens. "It is him," she thought to herself. She got up, saying she was going to the concession stand.

She went over to where the crews were working. She called one of the crew and asked if she could talk to the tall man, pointed to Mark, saying she was an old school friend. The man went over to Mark, who looked in her direction. He didn't recognize her at first, but as he got closer, he saw the familiar face.

"Mark, I knew it was you when I saw you from the stand."

"Cindy. How have you been?"

"All right. Got married not long ago. I take it you do racing now."

"I head the pit crew."

Cindy knew what he would ask. "No, I haven't heard from Misty. Her dad died not long ago. She wasn't here for the funeral."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Mark took a deep breath.

"You know the old house is for sale. So far no one has made an offer to buy it."

Mark thought he had seen a "for sale" sign posted. Maybe he would buy it and fix it up.

"You know you're taking a chance being here. They've still not solved the murder and they never closed the case either."

"I kind of figured. I'd better get back to the crew."

Mark walked back to his crew. So the house was up for sale. Maybe he would find a way to buy it without anyone knowing it was him.

CHAPTER 4

Young Mark was now fifteen. He had grown up tall, just like his father, and just like his father, had become interested in motorcycles. He found a part-time job after school at the local repair shop, cleaning and doing errands for the mechanics. When it wasn't busy, he would hang around, watching, listening, and learning. Just like his father, he learned quickly, the boss allowing him to fix some with minor problems.

Misty was promoted to shop manager. The extra money she got from the position was put aside to be used for young Mark's education.

She came home one day to find her aunt sitting at the table gasping for air. She called young Mark, telling him to meet her and Sydney at the hospital emergency room. After pacing back and forth for half an hour, the doctor came out.

"How is she, doctor?"

"She has a heart condition which will require surgery."

"What are her chances?"

"Right now, 50-50, but the longer she puts it off, the more the odds will be against her. I'm keeping her fora couple of days as a precaution. They wheeled Sydney to a room. Misty and young Mark followed, then say by the bed. Sydney smiled weakly at the both of them. "Misty, I know what the doctor told you. I don't want the surgery. I can't take the chance that it won't work."

"But, Aunt Sydney, you might die if you don't!"

"Misty, I'm not afraid. These past few years have been the best part of my life. Having you and young Mark at the house has been nothing but a joy. I want you to know that the house and everything is yours. There is something I want you to do also. There is a box in my room under the bed. In it are letters from your mother. She kept in touch, always asking how you were and how young Mark was. I sent a picture of the two of you to her. She wrote back saying you had turned into a beautiful woman and that Mark was a handsome young man.

I know it might be a lot to ask, but, Misty, go home. Take young Mark with you. Let her see you one more time." Aunt Sydney was released a couple of days later. Once they got her home, she was told that she was not to overtax herself.

Misty thought about what she said. She didn't know if she wanted to just yet, but she also knew time was growing short. Misty found the box with the letters in it. She sat in her room staring at the box. Her mother had kept in touch. Why didn't she want Misty to know? She opened the box and took out the letters, arranging them according to postmark. As she read them, tears came to her eyes as her mother talked about how lonely she felt when Misty left. When she read the letter saying her father had died, she cried quietly. Despite how he had acted, she had still loved him. When she was through with the last letter, she put them back in the box and packed in her trunk.

Aunt Sydney lived five more years. One morning Misty went in to give her breakfast and found her not breathing. When the ambulance arrived they pronounced her dead, saying she had died during the night. Misty and young Mark watched as they took her to the funeral home. She heard her aunt's last words, to go home and see her mother.

CHAPTER 5

"Mom, wake up. We're about to land."

Misty opened her eyes. Soon she would be at her mothers house. She looked over at young Mark, who was now 20. It had taken her five years to decide to come home. She hoped she wasn't too late.

They picked up their luggage and then called for a cab. As they rode, Misty saw how the town had changed in the years she was gone. Houses and shopping malls had been built where there had been vacant land. All along the way she told young Mark about what it had been like growing up.

Her mother was on the porch waiting. Slowly they got out of the cab and walked up to the porch. Misty was shocked to see how her mother had aged. She climbed the porch steps and stood. For what seemed an eternity they looked at each other. Her mother got up and came over to her. Then they hugged each other, both crying. "My baby!" her mother sobbed. For several minutes they clung to each other. Her mother looked down the steps and saw young Mark. "Come here, son."

Young Mark put down the luggage and climbed up the steps. Her mother looked up at him. "You are so tall", then she hugged him. Mark hugged her back. "Come inside the both of you. Once you're settled, we need to sit and talk."

Misty saw how slowly her mother walked. Aunt Sydney had said she had been in ill health, but she didn't know how bad till now. After they settled in their rooms, her and Mark went to the kitchen. Her mother asked if they wanted anything. "I don't need anything," Misty replied. "Mark might want something though. He has a bottomless pit."

"Mom! I do not!" he smiled.

"Misty, after you left your dad realized he had done the wrong thing, but you know his stubborn pride kept him from calling you back. It wasn't long after he became sick and had to retire early. After that he went down hill. I guess some would say it was payback for turning you out. I don't know. After he died, a huge weight lifted off me. It was fine for a while, not having to listen to your father anymore, but it was lonesome here.

I kept in touch with Sydney, wanting to know how you and the baby were. I was glad to get the picture she sent of you and Mark. He's grown into a fine young man."

Her mom took a ragged breath. "I'm sorry for what you're father did to you. I know I should have stood up for you. I was afraid of him at the time with that temper he had. I don't have much time left. That's why I'm glad you and Mark are here."

"Aunt Sydney told me before she died that I should see you, that there wasn't much time left. It is good to be home."

CHAPTER 6

The next day Misty told young Mark she wanted to take him to a special place. As they walked along the street, memories came back of those nights she would walk this way to meet Mark. As they came closer, she saw workmen in the yard. She looked around. "What's the matter, mom?"

"I was wondering if I'm at the right place. There was an old house here."

"You're at the right spot."

Misty thought the voice sounded familiar. She turned. "Cindy?"

Both women ran and hugged each other. Finally they parted. "Misty, I can't believe you've come back! It's been, what, 20 years?"

"Yes, a long time."

Cindy looked behind her, here eyes wide in shock. Misty smiled. "Cindy, this is my son, Mark."

Cindy's mouth opened to speak, but couldn't. "Your son!" she was finally able to say. "My God, he's an exact clone of Mark!" Then it hit Cindy. "So that's why you had to leave! You were pregnant at the time!"

Misty nodded. "Mark never knew. I didn't know I was pregnant till he had left." She looked at the house. "I was wanting to show my son where his father and I used to meet, where he was conceived. I see it's being restored."

"Someone bought the place some months ago. No one knows who it is."

Tears came in Misty's eyes. "I was so hoping to see it one more time."

Young Mark put his arm around her. "It's okay, mom. I get the idea."

Misty wiped her eyes. "Why don't you come back to the house with us. You can get me caught up on all the news."

Cindy told her what happened to the other classmates over the years. "I've got a couple of kids. They are a handful, too!" she laughed. "They've never found out who killed the shop owner," she said seriously. "The case is still open after all these years.

Cindy hesitated. "I saw Mark a few years ago. We have a race track here. I was looking over the crowd, then I saw him. He was crew chief for one of the racing teams."

"How did he look?" Misty asked hesitantly.

"He was fine, Misty. I got the feeling he had been to the place also. We talked a couple of minutes. I told him he was taking a chance being there. They haven't been back in a long time."

Cindy had seen the look on Misty's face when she mentioned his name. After all these years, it was the same. She was still in love with him. Cindy thought to how Mark had looked. It had been the same.

Book 2 Part 4

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