Treacherous Hearts

"I still can't believe it......Alex been kidnapped and Max blames me, Shannon; it's all my fault."

"But you couldn't help that, T.G.  Why would you and Max argue over such a tragedy?  This is one time when the two of you should draw even closer together.  He can't blame you for something you had no control over."

"You don't understand, Shannon.  It was all my fault!"  She reported with sad conviction.

"I don't see it that way!  Lst summer after you and Max were married, when I first tried to arrange sponsors for my team, Max was so helpful and thoughtful.  All he could talk about was how pleased he was that the two of you were married and Alex had a loving mom.  He repeated it several times and reiterated it during the course of the summer.  All through the fall, even at the end of the season, he seemed so happy.  That was not an act.  Both of you glowed with happiness.  You were together at the Winston Cup Banquet in December and everything seemed absolutely wonderful.  You both looked radiant that night."

"A lot has changed since that night...."

"I don't believe Max really blames you because someone knocked you down and forcibly took Alex from you."

"Well, he does, and I can't blame him.  It's all my fault."  T.G. protested grimly.

"You couldn't help what happened.  You are as devastated about this  as Max.  I guess it's too early for ransome demands......"

"But, I know who did it, Shannon.  I recognized one of those men who knocked me down and took Alex.  I knew him."

"Then, they can catch him, can't they, and you and Max can put this horrible ordeal behind you and get on with your lives."

"It's not going to be that simple."

"Why not?  Who were they?"

"I'm getting to that, but after what I've been through, it's not easy."  T.G. dropped her head in her hands and dabbed at the moisture in the corner of her eyes.  Her chin quivered as she whispered miserably.  "I guess I've become delusional!  All that trouble last year with the deliberate attempts on Max's life at the race track and now this horrible fiasco with Alex today, Max is completely out of control and I think I'm slowly but surely losing my mind."

Shannon reached out to briefly touch her hand as she counselled her softly.  "Those wrecks last year are all behind us and the ones responsible are out of comission now.  Just tell me about the two men who grabbed Alex this morning.  Who were they?"

"I didn't know the redheaded man who was driving the car.  But, the other man, the one holding Alex on his lap as they sped away, was Derek."

"Derek who?"

T. G. refused to meet her gaze directly and Shannon's heart dropped to her toes as her voice lowered to a barely audible whisper.  She asked again.  "Derek who?"

"Derek Watson.  Your Derek!"

Shannon shook her golden head wildly in denial, trying to grasp some sort of control over the chaotic emotions whirling around her as she stared back at her friend.  "No, T.G.  You can't mean my Derek!"