Just as I Begin to Fade

Thirty Four. Trust

"Do you think she knows?" Stevie bit her bottom lip, unsettled by the fact that she hadn't heard from her daughter since the morning before.

It was Wednesday evening and since the blonde was so racked up with nerves, she headed over to Lindsey's, just to have a drink; to share her fears.

"I figured she'd be there. I didn't see her at school yesterday or today..." he paused. "I was going to ask you... Have you called up her boyfriend?"

"Oh, man, I forgot about him," she sighed. "Hand me my purse, please," she pointed as she walked over to the phone.

He then handed her, her fringed, black hobo bag.

She dug through it, searching for her mini black book of phone numbers. She then found Derek's house and called it.

"Hello?" the groggy teen answered.

"Honey, it's Stevie, is Gwen with you?" she asked.

"She didn't tell you? She's at her dad's again..." he assured. "She told me she would be staying there this week."

"No, she doesn't tell me anything," she rolled her eyes when admitting so. "I've not heard from her at all."

"Well, she's upset. She won't tell me what about," he assured. "She comes by the garage and works here during the day, then she works the bar at night and heads home. She tries to keep busy."

"Derek, I know you are always stoned. There isn't a chance that she could have found something out about her father?" she wondered. "Maybe that he passed away?"

"Whoa, Gwen's dad passed?!"

"Yes. It sounds like you didn't know."

"No! Not at all, she didn't mention it. But that could be why she isn't talking to anybody, why she's staying at his house..."

"That's plausible," she agreed. "Okay, honey. I have to call her---I have to talk to her."

"Okay, bye."

She then hung up and she called up her deceased ex-husband's place.

"Hello?"

"Gwen, it's me," she actually placed a hand to her head.

"What do you want? I don't want to talk to you. I just want to be alone... I'm trying to sleep."

"I needed to know where you are. I'm worried about you, so is Lindsey... He called me and told me you hadn't been in school for the last couple days."

"So, what? I've been working. I'm surprised you didn't just lie..."

"Gwen, if this is about your father---we can talk about this and get through this together. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but I was upset too and I didn't know how to tell you..."

Lindsey came up behind her and placed his hand to her shoulder, trying to soothe the physical pain that talking about it caused.

"What did you not tell me?" the teen's ears perked on the other side of the phone.

"Gwen..." she spaced when she realized they weren't on the same page.

"Mom, what are you not telling me? Where is my dad?" she asked.

"Sweetheart, he..." she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Where is he?!" she screamed.

"He had a heart attack and he passed away..."

"What? No... That can't be right. Mom, no!"

"I'm so sorry, baby, I should have told you sooner. I didn't mean for you to find out this way. I thought that was why you had been staying at his house..." she slammed her hand into her head, trying to keep herself from crying.