Kellie and Nick left Tampa the next day. Kellie told Nick everything and he was both stunned and saddened at the turn of events. He was as worried about Kevin as Kellie was. They tried to reach Brian at home and on his cell, but there was no answer.They finally got into Booneville at 2:30. When they entered the house, they saw Michelle and Brian sitting the living room, talking quietly. Brian looked up as they came into the living room, a big smile on his face. "Hey bro, glad you're back. I missed you!" "I missed you, too," Nick said, hugging his friend. "Kel told me everything. I can't believe it. Did you find Kevin?""Yes, and he's fine. Lorne had him tied up in his basement, but he was unharmed."Kellie let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God!" she exclaimed. "What about Grace? Have you gone to look for her?"Brian shook his head. "We didn't get back from Lexington until about an hour ago. We were just resting. It was a long night. Something else happened last night.""What?" Kellie asked in trepidation."When the police went to Bill Evans' place to arrest him, they found him dead. He killed himself. Not that I feel any pity for the man. Jessica is beside herself. She told us that she said some nasty things to her father and blames herself for his suicide.""Wow," Nick mused. "This is one big mess." "Yes, it is," Michelle agreed. "But out of all this, I gained a great brother and a cousin that I have to get to know -- Grace.""Wait a minute, how are you related to Grace?" Nick asked, clearly confused."Our mothers are sisters." "Ah!" Nick said. "Ok, and Kellie and Grace share the same father so they're half-sisters. Boy, you Kentuckians really know how to confuse people." They all laughed."Brian let's go get Grace," Kellie said. "I want to see my sister! I can't believe that I have a sister."As they headed out, Nick pulled Michelle aside. "I...I owe you an apology. I'm sorry for everything I've said in the past few months. I was a jerk.""No, I should apologize. I was a bitch." She laughed, Nick joining her."I guess we were both pretty mean," he said. "I'm also sorry for what happened to you. I hope you'll be ok." Michelle kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks Nick. That means a lot to me. I'm glad you and Kellie found your way back to one another. You guys were meant to be. I guess I was always jealous of what you have."Nick smiled. "You'll have it someday, too."
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When they arrived at The Sleeping Willow Institution, Brian took charge. He had the court order the police had given him which gave him permission to get Grace out of there. He told the others to stay outside and he went into Grace's room. Grace's eyes flew open as she heard someone come into the room. She saw Brian and she screamed in delight. "BRIAN, you're here! I knew you'd come." Brian went to her and she flung herself into his arms. "I knew you would save me. You're my angel....and angels never let anyone down." Her voice broke as she started sobbing.Brian held her tightly, tears streaming down his face. "I would never let you down, Grace. I'm here to take you home."They pulled apart and Grace looked at him. "Home? I don't want to go back there. My family hates me.""No," Brian said, wiping her tears away, "home with me.""REALLY?" she screeched, smiling through her tears. "Grace, a lot has happened since you've been in here. A LOT! First of all, I'm really sorry to have to tell you this, but your father, Bill, is dead.""He is?" Grace said quietly. She wasn't sure what she was feeling, but it wasn't a feeling of complete loss. Just sadness. "How did he die?""He shot himself last night." Grace's eyes widened in shock. "Shot himself? Why?"Brian groaned. "It's a long, torrid story. Why don't I take you home and then I'll tell you everything?" "I'm ready to go! Trust me! They were horrible to me here! This horrible man kept coming to see me, threatening and scaring me.""He won't be coming anymore, Grace. He's in jail. Grace, there's one more thing you need to know.""Yes?""You're not crazy. You were never raped. Those voices you heard...you heard them because you were scared as a child...so scared that you believed what someone told you and grew up thinking that you had been bad and deserved punishment.""Oh...my...Brian...I'm glad to hear that. I take it this is all part of what you have to tell me?" Brian nodded. They gathered Grace's things and left that place.
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The next few days were filled with chaos. Grace was stunned to find out that her real father was Lorne. She was also stunned, but thrilled to find out that Kellie was her half-sister. They spent hours talking and they both agreed that they always had a connection. Grace wanted to start going to the gym so she and Kellie signed up at the local YWCA. Kellie talked her into cutting and highlighting her hair. Slowly, with Brian and Kellie's help, she started feeling more self-confidant. She also started seeing Dr. Swanson once a week. She was shocked when Michelle told her who she was. Her cousin. Michelle apologized for everything and they started threading a path to friendship. The thing that shocked her the most was finding out that Jessica and Lorne were Kellie's birth parents. Brian took her to the Evans place where she packed up all her belongings. Gwen was there and didn't seem the least bit in mourning nor did she show any emotion at losing her "daughter." She informed them that she was moving to Miami where she had been offered a job as director of a prominent art gallery. Grace wished her well. That was the last time she saw Gwen. "I guess I have no family now," she said to Brian, trying not to cry."We'll be your family," Brian said, kissing her forehead.Grace felt tingly, like she always did when Brian was around. She wanted him to tell her that he had feelings for her, but she knew that wouldn't happened. But maybe in time.Michelle settled in nicely with Brian and the gang. He told her that she could live there as long as she needed to -- even when he left to go back to Florida. The therapy was helping her a lot and she was slowly getting her life back on track. She went to see her mother and Melissa. She loved them and didn't want them out of her life. She knew that she would never see Sally as her mother. Victoria and Melissa were distraught over the entire ordeal. Victoria had not known what had happened in the past and cried as Michelle told her the story. Michelle assured her that she would always think of her as her mother. Victoria asked her to come back home, but Michelle wasn't ready to. She wanted to get her life sorted out first. She wanted to go to Lexington and talk to Harold.Brian had not spoken to his father yet. He didn't know how to approach him. Some part of him just wanted to leave well enough alone. He couldn't stand to think of his mother's reaction if she found out about this. It could kill her. He wanted Michelle to feel completely part of his family, but on the other hand, he didn't want to stir up another crisis.Jessica was leaving for Miami with her mother. There was nothing left for her in Booneville. She had tried calling Kellie, but Kellie didn't want to talk to her. Kevin, however, did call her. He wanted to see her. They met one evening in town. Jessica apologized for lying to him and, in the process, putting his life in danger. They went to a motel where they fucked all night long. When Jessica woke up in the morning, Kevin was gone. He had left her a note. "Jessica, I enjoy being with you. You're great in bed, you know how to make me feel like a man. But as I told you in the beginning, I don't want a relationship. All I want is a bed partner. Which is what you were. I say were because I can no longer see you. You lied to me. You lied to Kellie. You tore Kellie and Nick apart. When my family get hurts, I get hurt. I hope that someday you find someone that will make you happy. Take care for yourself. I don't hate you, Jessica. Good luck. Kevin." Jessica sighed. It was good while it lasted. Sally Carruthers-Littrell was found dead one morning in early June. No one knew what had happened. She had left letters for both Kellie and Michelle. Kellie's letter was a confession, saying how she and Lorne had plotted to have Kellie find that letter which would lead her to Jessica. She included Kellie's real birth certificate and the actual papers that were with Kellie when she found her. Michelle's letter was one of a grieving mother, telling her how sorry she was to have let Lorne run her life. Both Michelle and Kellie felt some sadness, but tried not to dwell on it. They had each other and their friends. Kellie, Michelle, and Brian attended the funeral out of respect. Kellie and Nick were probably the happiest of the bunch. They were together night and day. Kellie graduated from high school on May 31st with Nick applauding proudly in the audience when she went up to accept her diploma. In the few weeks following her graduation, she poured over college applications, not knowing what to do. After everything she had been through and hearing what Grace and Michelle had went through, she had a deep desire to go to law school and study Child Advocacy Law. She wanted to help kids, but another part of her couldn't stand the thought of being away from Nick. He was leaving for Florida in early December and had asked her to live with him in Tampa. He also wanted her to go on tour with him in 2000. She had to make a decision and return all the applications as soon as possible. "Nick," she said, one evening in mid-June. "There's something that I need to tell you." Nick saw the apprehension on her face. "What is it?""I made a decision about college," she said quietly.Nick felt his stomach knot. "What did you decide?" His voice seemed to come from far away."I really want to go to college. It's a desire -- like your desire to sing. It's something you crave. I crave learning, wanting to help kids."Nick felt his eyes well up and lowered his head, hoping she wouldn't see him crying. "I understand. You should always follow your heart," he managed to say."I am," Kellie said, "which is why I'm going with you."Nick's head flew up. "You're coming with me? But, you just said...""I know what I said. And I meant it. But, there's always time for college after the tour. I have another desire....you. And I crave you more than anything else in this world."Nick grinned as he took her into his arms. "Have I told you today how much I love you?""Yes," she giggled, "but you can tell me again.""How about I show you instead?"He lowered her to the bed. They started making love, their desires for one another burning deep within their souls.