Previous chapters of the Vista Falls story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!

Last time, Ivy Molton—upset and frightened about Vera’s health—let her emotions get the better of her and lashed out at Kate. Kate became very upset and ran from the hospital to Cascades Park. The doctor came out from examining Vera and seemed very serious. Meanwhile, Kate ran into her friend, Blaine Bauer who asked how he could help her. Kate said that she wanted to run away and she wanted Blaine to come with her. What happened next? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 14: Aunty Social
By Joseph Crisalli

Kate ran straight out of the hospital and toward Cascades Park where she saw a familiar face.

Blaine Bauer had become a close friend of Kate’s. He saw her coming and stood up.

“What’s wrong?” Blaine asked.

“Everything!” Kate screamed, tears running down her face.

“What can I do?” Blaine asked sincerely.

“Run away with me.” Kate said plainly, wiping her eyes on her hands.

“What?” Blaine asked.

“Aunt Ivy hates me.” Kate sniffed. “She told me so just now. Vera’s sick, there’s no room for me. I have nowhere to go.”

“Hold on.” Blaine took Kate’s hand and led her to a bench so they could sit together. “Sit and talk with me for a minute. Your aunt doesn’t hate you. I’ve seen her with you. I know she cares for you very much. But, what’s happened to Vera?”

Kate explained what they had experienced in the elevator and how Vera collapsed.

“Wow.” Blaine shook his head. “I hope she’s okay. Kate, she needs you. Vera’s your cousin. She needs your love and support. So do Lucy and your aunt and uncle.”

“My aunt hates me.” Kate repeated.

“Listen, I’ll bet she was just upset and that she was speaking out of fear. People do that you know. I’ve done it. And, I know you’ve done it because I’ve seen it.” He smiled.

Kate blushed.

“Your aunt and you are actually a lot alike.” Blaine continued.

“Great.” Kate said, sarcastically rolling her eyes.

“You need to go back to the hospital to be with your family.” Blaine said gently. “It may be uncomfortable at first, but they need you. I’ll go with you.”

“If you’re going to go with me somewhere—let’s run away. We could go to Valley Point or to Mapleford.” Kate urged.

“And do what?” Blaine smiled. “Live where? We’re not going to get high paying jobs. We’re kids! Where would we live? What would we eat?”

“We could figure it out.” Kate insisted.

“No.” Blaine shook his head. “The only thing we need to figure out is getting you back to the hospital. Running away isn’t the answer. You’ve got to stop running from your problems. I know running looks pretty good. But, ultimately, everything catches up with you anyway. I mean look at my life. My mother is always upset. My father is still in all that legal trouble for what he did at the museum with the whole ‘Red Rose Rascal’ mess. I think about running away sometimes, too. But, I know it won’t solve anything. My place is here in Vista Falls where I can help the people I care about and also know that I will be safe and loved.”

“When did you grow up?” Kate smiled.

“When you find out that your father is responsible for trying to frighten an entire town, you grow up pretty quickly.” Blaine sighed. He looked at Kate, “Come on, let’s go back to the hospital and see how Vera is. That’s the most important thing right now.”

“You’re right.” Kate nodded. “Thanks…you know, for…”

Blaine shook his head. “It’s okay. Come on.”

With that, they walked back toward the hospital.

Just then, Dan Molton was arriving. He saw the serious look on his wife’s face as she talked with the doctor.

“What’s going on?” He asked. “How’s my little girl?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Molton, we’re going to have to perform some tests on Vera to find out if there’s been serious damage to her heart.” The doctor said.

“What kind of tests?” Mrs. Molton asked.

“A series of scans and some blood work.” The doctor answered.
“Will it hurt her?” Mrs. Molton asked.

“No.” The doctor said. “I will need you to fill out some forms and sign some waivers, however. Standard stuff.”

“I’ll take care of it, Ivy.” Dan Molton said. “You stay here with Lucy and…and all these other people.”

Mr. Molton and the doctor walked down the hallway.

Mrs. Molton turned to Mr. Dinello. “You must think I’m a horrible person.”

“No.” Mr. Dinello shook his head.

“The way, I talked to Kate…I’m ashamed of myself.” Mrs. Molton continued.

“You were upset.” Mr. Dinello said softly.

“Why didn’t you stop me? Why didn’t you intervene?” Mrs. Molton asked.

“Could I have stopped you?” Mr. Dinello shrugged. “Wouldn’t it only have upset you more?”

“Yes, I suppose it would have.” Mrs. Molton sighed.

“Kate’s our friend.” Mr. Dinello continued. “We all care about her. I’d like to go find her and bring her back here. I think if Ward, Rick, Delia and TJ and I go have a chat with her we can calm her down.”

“Thank you,” Mrs. Molton said. “I’d like that.”

Mr. Dinello and the teens told Lucy they would be back with Kate and left the hospital in search of their friend. Mr. Dinello’s cell phone rang from the pocket of his jacket.

“Now, this thing works!” Mr. Dinello muttered. “When we were stuck in the elevator, I couldn’t get a signal!”

He answered the phone.

“Jeff!” Mr. Jaquith said urgently. “We’ve got trouble here at the museum. I’m with Sam and Jenny. We need you to come back right away.”

“But, Claude,” Mr. Dinello said. “We’re still waiting to see what’s wrong with Vera and there’s been some emotional drama with Kate. We’re looking for her right now.”

“Jeff, this is serious…” Mr. Jaquith said.

What should Mr. Dinello do?

Ask Mr. Jaquith for more information?
Take the teens to the museum?
Let the teens look for Kate while he goes alone to the museum?

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