My Last Love (4 page)

Sue told Lorraine that she would see what could find out around town in regards of Jim and Barbara’s relationship and call her.

Lorraine still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life or if she really didn’t want to see Jim again. He just had to understand that she had been hurt so bad by Doug, and when she went to Los Angeles that she felt she wasn’t any better than the women Doug had
gone with while they were married.

Lorraine sat down on the terrace of her apartment in San Lupus, watching the children play just before sunset. This was her favorite time of the day. The sun felt warm on her face. She laid her head back on the pillow of the lounge, close
d
her eyes
,
and listened to the breeze blowing past her as she drifted off to sleep.

Lorraine went back to work in the new shop the next day. She loved the location of the shop. There were several Indian families living around the area and came in to pick up supplies. Lorraine felt in her gut that this was the place she wanted to spend her days. It was in a small shopping center with about ten stores, right off the freeway. The location was perfect. It still needed some cleaning and fixing, but Lorraine knew just the want she wanted it to look. The walls would be a pale yellow, so the sun light would make the shop look bright and cheerful. The carpet would be li
te
beige and on the walls she would have lots of Indian painting s from unknown artists.

Lorraine was cleaning and stocking shelves when the phone rang.

Lorraine saw that the caller’s ID showed the name “Unknown”
”Hello, Lorraine’s Gift and Things, May I help you?” she answered.

“What in the hell is going on with you? Lorraine, you mean everything to me. Don’t you see that? Why did you just leave without saying anything to me? She heard Jim’s voice shouting.

“It has everything to do with last weekend. It was the fact that I had to be Barbara for an evening. It had to do with the fact that you are still engaged to Barbara. Jim, I’m not that type of a women and I refuse to live that way. I know how it feels when it happens to you.” Lorraine was crying and shouting at the same time.

“Well, I just want you to know that I did get the position with the Globe. They
are
giv
ing
me a month to get my affairs
i
n order and then I will be moving to Los Angeles. First on the list is to have a talk with Barbara. I know it’s not fair to her or you for me not to be up front with both of you. I just wanted to let you know what my plans are just in case you’re interested and oh, by the way, I do still love you with all my heart.” Jim hung up the phone.

The next day Jim called Barbara to say he was back and would be coming over that evening.

Jim took a drink of his tea. “This is very good. Thank you. First I want you to know that I’ve loved from the time we were in high school, but it’s just not the kind of love where I could make you happy for the rest of your life. Secondly, I did get the position with the Globe and I’m going to take it. I know how much you love living in Pine Valley and I know you would never be happy in Los Angeles. You know, Barbara that it has been over for us for a long time. Don’t you?” Jim moved ove
r and put his hand on Barbara’s hand.

Yes, I guess you’re right. I haven’t felt the same as I did when we first got engaged. I guess I was just worried about the gossip. I do love you Jim, but I also know it’s not the kind of love that would last. I also know that you are in love with Lorraine. I have known for a while. I could tell just by the way you would look at her when she was around.” Jim
saw
tears coming from Barbara’s eyes. He reached up
and wiped
one off of her cheek.

“I’
m
so sorry I didn’t tell you before now, but I have been so confused for the last few months, trying to make it work here in Pine Valley and with you.
I was also worried about Dad and Paul, and how that would work out. Th
ey have giving
me a month to get things in order before starting to work. That will give me ti
me to get Dad and Paul settled,
and work out getting the paper sold. The employees have decided they would like to buy it and continue the paper. Jim was surprised that Barbara was taking everything so well, after all of the screaming she did before.

“What about Lorraine? Will you ask her to marry you?” Barbara asked him as they sat there in the quietness of the evening. The sun was starting to sit and the sky was glowing. “Jim, I do think this will be the best for both of us. As you know, I would never leave Pine Valley and I know you would be happier in Los Angeles. I wish you the best of a great future whatever it may be.” She leaned over and kissed Jim on the mouth.” One last kiss for old time sake.” She smiled.

Jim smiled and answered. “I just know that
Lorraine
lives somewhere in the Los Angel
es area. Jim wanted to leave right then and find Sue. He knew that she would know where Lorraine lived, but he sat very still and watched the sun set, ending a part of his old life. He knew he
had
a lot of t
h
ings in the near future for him to take care of.

In the next few months Jim had moved to Los Angeles and was working at the Globe. Lorraine had been busy setting up the shop. She was so busy that she hired a college student by the name of Ed to work part-time.

One afternoon when Lorraine was getting ready to close the shop she felt the floor begin to shake. “What in the hell is going on?” She asked herself. All of a sudden the building began to move and things from the shelves began to
fall. The lights when out and Lorraine couldn’t find her way to the door. All of a sudden one of the shelves
fell over
knocking her to the floor.
Lorraine only remembers feeling like she was floating on a cloud.

Jim was working at his desk when Tom busted into his office. “You have five minutes to grab your things and high tail it to San Lupus. There has been a huge earthquake and there is a lot of damage.” Tom helped Jim gather up the things he would needed and meet the camera crew downstairs.

When Tom arrived at San Lupus there were buildings dow
n, power lines down, and people
being helped out of fallen buildings He quickly got set up and started to report what was going on in San Lupus. While he was reporting he heard one of the other report
er
s talking about one shop that had a women trapped inside and they were afraid that the gas lines to the building was going to explore. She mentioned the name of Lorraine Williams, the owner of the shop.

“Jim
yelled
“cut” to the camera crew and turned to the report
er
. “Did I hear you say Lorraine Williams?
”
He couldn’t believe his ears. “
Oh, my God,
i
t’s Lorraine.
”
He fought his way through the crowd. They were saying the building could blow up anytime.

Lorraine could hear people calling her name. She screamed as loud as she could
,
hoping they would find out where she was t
r
apped. She felt so cold and
alone. Please hurry and find me,
she prayed. I can’t stand this much longer. She took a deep breath so she could breathe easier. Gas, I smell gas. The gas line must have busted under the building. She tried once again to free herself. “Please don’t let me die.” She screamed.

Jim leaned against the wall. “Are they sure that Lorraine Williams is in there?

Yes, I work for her and I know that she was working late. Please help her.” A tall young man told Jim.

Jim’s heart was racing as he ran into the building.
”
Lorrain
e? Lorraine? Can you hear me? It’s
Jim. Where are you? I’m coming. Hang in there! “Jim started digging away the boards of the shelves that had fallen. He knew he had to find her quickly before the building flew up.

“Jim? Please hurry. I can smell gas. She couldn’t believe it was Jim. She thought she must be dreaming. The angels had sent him to her. She had to live. Jim was here to rescue her from this pit of hell.

Jim fought his way toward her voice, digging as fast as he could. His hand reach to pull a board away and he saw Lorraine. “Darling, I’m here. It will only be just a few
more minutes. He could hear voices in the background telling him to get out of the building, but he wasn’t going to leave without Lorraine. He had lost her once and he wasn’t going to lose her again. They would leave together or not at all.

Lorraine could feel him pulling on the boards to free her legs. A few moments later he was holding her in his arms. She closed her eyes as she felt him lift her up and start to carry her out of the building. She knew that at last she was safe.

The Firemen had moved every
one
back from the building. “I want all of you to go home. There isn’t anything you can do here. We have been able to turn off the gas and everyone is safe.” There is someone bringing Ms. Williams out of the building now. Just stay where you are sir.” He grabbed Ed by the arm as he started for the building.

“Is Lorraine alright?” Ed asked in fear.

“We don’t know until we get her out of the building.” The Fireman tried to calm Ed. “They’re coming out
of the building
now
.
”

The crowd cheered as they saw Jim and Lorraine coming out of the building. The Firemen started pouring water on the building as Jim carried Lorraine to the ambulance. The
ambulance attendants started an I.V. on Lorraine, and bega
n checking her for injuries. Jim want
ed to go with her to the hospital, but the attendants told him he would have to meet her at the hospital. “Sweetheart, won’t worry I’ll be there when you arrive at the hospital.” Jim told Lorraine as they closed the doors and drove away. Jim told the camera crew to call the paper and explain what happened and he would meet with Tom later.

Jim drove as fast as possible to the hospital. He knew that Lorraine would be al
l
right, but he had to be there when she arrived.

“Can you tell me where they have taken Lorraine Williams?” Jim asked the nurse at the desk. “You are just going to have to wait and
I will
answer
your
questions as soon as
I
c
an
. It
is
like a crazy place with bringing in all of the people hurt in the earthquake.
”

Jim finished talking to Tom
explaining what had happened,
turned to see if he could find out any
thing about Lorraine when Ed came up to him.

“Excuse me, but aren’t you the guy who save Lorraine? I want to thank you very much. Ed shook Jim’s hand.

“That’s okay.” Jim had lots of questions on his mind like, who is this guy” How does he know Lorraine?
He acts as if they
were
a couple.
“Do you work for Lorraine?”

Ed laughed. “You might say that.” We are very close friends.” Ed winkled.

“Oh, that’s very nice. Well, I have to get back to work. A reporter’s work is never done.” Jim stood to leave.

“No. Hold it.” I’m sure L
orraine would want to thank you
. You can’t just leave without
seeing her and giving her a chance to thank you.” Ed insisted that Jim stay until they could see Lorraine. They sat waiting in the
waiting room
to hear any news about the condition of Lorraine

The Doctor came into the waiting room. Ed jumped up and ran to him. “Is Lorraine alright?”

“She is going to be fine. She was a very lucky young lady. She has bruises and some cuts on her arms and legs. She can go home in a couple of days.

“Can we see her now?” Ed motioned for Jim to come over. “Yes, but only stay for a short time. She has been giving some medication to help her sleep. She is in room #12 down the hall and to the right.” Jim and Ed thanked the Doctor as they started down the hall.

“Maybe you should go in first
.” Jim told Ed as they reached the room. “I’m sure she would like to be alone with you for a while.” Jim was still trying to find out what the situation was between Ed and Lorraine.

“No, it’s okay.” Ed answered as he opened the door to Lorraine’s room. “Lorraine, I’m so glad to see that you
’
re alright. Ed leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Lorraine was still sleepy from the shot they had given her earlier. “Ed, I’m alright. I’m still just a little shaken. I had the strangest dream while I was trapped in the building
. It seemed as if an old friend was the one who came and rescued me. I guess I was just out of my head.”

“The person who rescued you was one of the reporter
s
covering the story when someone heard you screaming. In fact, I insisted that he come in and meet you. I told him that you would personally want to thank him.” Ed turns and motions for Jim to come to the side of the bed.