The news he had overheard from the conference room worried Hector so much that he could barely concentrate on his work. The police had already found out too much and if someone placed him at the hospital before Clifford died, sooner or later someone would figure it out.
He couldn't afford to take that chance.
On his lunch break, Hector left the office to pay a visit to the hospital. He went directly to the front desk and told the receptionist that he was there on behalf of the Stuart-Townsend Corporation to check up on some information for their lawsuit. The woman didn't question him and readily called for the nurse who had been on duty when Clifford died.
Hector turned on the 'old Burgess charm' and flirted with the nurse as he tried to find out what he needed to know. By the time he left he had not only assurance that no one could place him at the hospital on the day that Clifford died, but also Nurse Sal's home phone number.
After being sent home from work, Andrew went back to bed and tried to 'sleep it off'. When he awoke again in the afternoon he showered, changed clothes and then headed over to Amanda's house. He knew she wouldn't be home from work yet, but he thought it might be better to get there before she did. After all, she couldn't slam the door on him if he was already inside.
He thought Alma seemed a little uneasy when she answered the door and saw him standing on the other side, but she did invite him inside. They sat in the parlor and talked. At first they stuck to small talk, the weather, the news, but before he knew what was happening Andrew found himself confiding in Alma about all of the problems he had with Amanda from the night before.
"I don't know, I thought everything was going great and then all of a sudden, Amanda starts complaining about money and that I didn't get promoted."
"Mmm hmm," Alma replied with disinterest, as she bitterly wondered why it always had to be about Amanda.
"I mean, I love her and I thought she loved me, but then she said she didn't want to marry me and I just," he hesitated searching for the right words, "fell apart. I went so nuts last night. After I left here, I drove to the nearest bar and just started drinking, like I didn't want to stop."
Alma stood up and took a few steps across the room. Confused, Andrew followed her with his eyes and stood up as well.
"You see, that's always been Amanda's problem. She does things like that to people and she doesn't care." Alma's heated expression softened just slightly. "You're a good man, Andrew, and as Amanda's sister I'm telling you, you can do better."
Alma stepped towards Andrew, with a come-hither look in her eyes, but Andrew was oblivious to her intentions.
"You're right. I can do better," Andrew said, thinking the words over. "And I will do better. I'll make Amanda proud of me again."
Alma froze, suddenly realizing that he hadn't understood her at all. Before she could even think of what to say next, she heard the front door open and Amanda call out, "I'm home."
When Amanda walked into the room and saw Andrew there, she stopped short in the doorway. Clearly, she wasn't in the mood to talk to him.
"Amanda, I'm sorry about how I acted last night, and this morning. Please, can't you forgive me?" Andrew begged as Alma discreetly slipped out of the room.
Amanda walked past him without answering and nearly without looking at him.
Andrew followed after her. "Please, just give me a chance," he persisted. "Can't you see, I'm a wreck without you?"
Amanda sighed, "I have enough problems as it is."
"What?" Andrew asked. "Something's been bothering you since last night. And if whatever it is is big enough to break us up don't I at least deserve to know what it is? Maybe we can, I don't know, get through it."
"Fine," Amanda agreed, before taking a deep breath and letting it all out. "I don't think you knew what you were asking when you asked me to marry you, because I certainly didn't have a clue when I agreed. You don't seem to understand that I already have a family to take care of. Mother needs constant supervision and someone has to work to keep the bills paid and food on the table. We aren't even close to being ready to get married. We don't know where we're going to live. We haven't made any plans. We don't know anything."
Andrew cupped Amanda's face between the palms of his hands and made her look up at him. "I know I love you and I know we can work this out."
She shrugged away, unconvinced.
"What do you want?" he asked. "If you want to keep working you can. If you want to quit, quit. If you want to live here we will. Whatever you want." He said, although the thought of living here, in his mother-in-law's house with his future wife's family instead of a home of their own seemed less than appealing to him. He hoped it wouldn't come to that, but he was honestly willing to do what ever it took to be with Amanda and the gesture was appreciated.
"Really?" Amanda said gratefully, before hugging Andrew tightly. "Do you still have that ring?"
That evening Lawrence showed up at the local adult education center for his first session of night school. He arrived early and settled into an empty seat in the back of the classroom.
One by one the other students in the class wandered in and filled the vacant chairs in the room. A girl in a blue denim dress walked in and glanced around the room. Her eyes focused on Lawrence for a second and with a slight smile she walked towards his desk.
She dropped her books down on the other end of the table before asking, "Is this seat taken?" By the time Lawrence turned to her to say that it wasn't, she was already sitting down.
The girl turned to Lawrence about to start up a conversation, but before she had the chance the teacher entered the room and called the class to attention.
"Hello, everyone and welcome to Business 101. My name is Walt and I'll be your instructor for the duration of this course," the teacher began before starting the first lesson.
Lawrence paid close attention, taking notes, eager to absorb as much information as possible, but he couldn't help noticing that the girl sitting next to him kept stealing glances his way. He kept his eyes forward hoping that if he ignored her long enough she would leave him alone.
As soon as class was concluded for the evening, Lawrence was eager to slip out without being forced to make conversation with his fellow classmates, but the girl in the denim dress intercepted before he made it to the door.
"Hi," she said, batting her eyelashes and standing coyly with her hands hidden behind her back. "Sounds like an interesting course, huh?"
"Yeah," Lawrence said, trying to walk past her, but she sidestepped and blocked his path.
"I'm sorry I didn't get to say hi earlier, but I guess I didn't make it to class early enough. What's your name?"
"Lawrence," he replied tersely.
She laughed and Lawrence was puzzled as to why she would find his response so amusing. "Wow, that's neat. My name's Lauren," she laughed again and Lawrence nodded warily. "Lauren and Lawrence," she said, emphasizing her point. "And this," she said dramatically, as she moved her hands from behind her back and revealed a brown, bugged-eyed sock puppet. "This is Maurice."
Lawrence was so embarrassed that he hid his face.
Lawrence quickly excused himself and made for the door. Once he reached the hallway he breathed a sigh of relief, but when he caught sight of someone familiar in the hallway, his heart stopped.
Eileen stood a few yards away with her back to him, as she chatted with another woman. Lawrence tried to sneak out before she noticed him, but before he could move, she suddenly turned as if she sensed someone behind her.
"Lawrence!" she called out cheerfully as she made her way towards him. "What are you doing here?
"I'm taking a class here," he replied awkwardly. His mind was telling him that he shouldn't be talking to her, she was Hector's girlfriend, but he couldn't bring himself to walk away.
"Me too. Which class are you taking?"
"A business course. It was your father's suggestion"
"Of course," she said obviously, feeling a little dumb for not figuring out the answer herself. Then suddenly wary she added, "You won't mention to him that you saw me here tonight, will you? I don't want him to know I'm taking . . .extra classes."
"No, of course not," Lawrence promised, although the request seemed a little unusual. Eileen smiled brightly and started to say something else, but he spoke up. "I really should get home."
"Sure," Eileen shrugged. "Maybe I'll see you here again next week."
Lawrence nodded briefly and headed towards the door.
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