Searching for Home
by Chelle & Nikki

~ CHAPTER 9 ~

"...and we really need to get that done by this afternoon." Taylor glanced up to see Brianna staring out of the window in her office. He sighed heavily and added "Besides, the aliens will be here for the business luncheon and you don't want to be in the middle of your pie eating contest when they all get here." Brianna quickly looked up to face him. "Huh?" she asked confused. Taylor laughed. "What is with you today? You're so spaced out. Have you heard anything I've said for the last ten minutes?" Brianna rubbed her forehead. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just not all here today or something. What were you saying?"
"The recording, it needs to be done this afternoon." Taylor said walking over to the window. He looked down at the street. "Isn't that the car we saw yesterday when we were moving you into the apartment? The one that lady was next to?" Brianna closed her eyes for a moment then answered, "Yes, that's it. She stayed outside until dark last night, and when I woke up this morning, she was by the main office doors, staring at my apartment window. She looks away really quick if our eyes meet but she keeps glancing back at me. I didn't see her pull out behind me so I forgot about it until I saw her parked there when I opened the blinds after I got in here."
"Brianna. Why didn't you say anything until now?" Taylor asked. Brianna shrugged and spun her chair around to face Taylor. "I don't know. I guess I didn't think much about it. I don't understand why she doesn't say anything. I mean, if it's me she's after and not one of you guys." Taylor shook his head and lowered the blinds quickly to cover the window. He leaned against the wide window seal and crossed his arms. "No. If it was us she wanted, I think she'd have left your apartment building when we did, or at least stopped staring. She obviously wants to talk to you but following you around and stuff is too much. I think we need to have security let her know that she can't sit out there like that. At least that will deal with her for today." Taylor picked up the phone receiver and dialed the extension to the security office.

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Later that afternoon, Taylor and Brianna met in the hallway. "Have you seen her anymore?" Taylor asked. "To be honest I haven't looked. I'm just gonna go home and maybe she'll say something when I get there." Brianna said. "Wait. Just hold on for a minute. I'll walk you out." Taylor said. Brianna followed him back to his office where she sat down and waited as he made a few phone calls to set up recording times for the next day. Brianna slowly stood up and walked to the widow. She looked down and moved away quickly when she saw the car parked across the street. Taylor hung up the phone and stood up and walked to the window. "I don't believe this." He said walking back to his desk. He picked up the phone receiver and dialed an extension number. "Hey Ike, it's Tay. Listen that woman is parked across the street so I'm gonna..." Taylor glanced out of the window again. "...Yeah. Ok... Ok I will. Talk to you tomorrow." Taylor hung the phone up. He pulled the blinds over his window and said "Come on. I'm going to follow you home." Brianna walked out of his office and waited nervously as he locked the door. Taylor lightly placed his hand on her back as they stepped into the elevator and rode it to the ground floor. "God Taylor, this is creepy. I mean, I just wish I knew what she wanted." Brianna said as they walked to the front door. "Don't worry about it." Taylor said. "We'll figure something out." He added, holding the door open. "I'm parked over there." Brianna pointed to the end of the parking lot. Taylor walked her to the car and said "Drive around to the back where I'm parked and I'll follow you." Brianna nodded as she and Taylor glanced over and saw the woman still sitting in her car. Brianna climbed in and started her car. She watched as Taylor walked to the back of the building and then drove around to meet him. She pulled out onto the road and Taylor pulled out behind her. Brianna tried to stay calm as she drove to her apartment but her heart was beating so fast she thought she was having a heart attack. Her stomach turned as she kept glancing in her rear view mirror and saw that the lady was one car behind Taylor. She could see that he too kept looking in his mirrors. When they got to her apartment, Taylor parked next to her. They stood by the car for a moment, watching as the lady parked at the other end of the parking lot and got out. She placed her purse on the hood of her car and began digging through it all the while glancing sideways at Brianna and Taylor and quickly looking away. "What is she doing?" Brianna whispered as she got her keys out. "I don't know." Taylor said as he and Brianna walked up to her door and unlocked it. They quickly walked inside and Brianna locked the door behind them. Taylor slowly moved the curtains away from the window to see if the lady was still there. She was. "Brianna, maybe we should just go ask her what her problem is." Taylor said. He ran his hand through his hair and crossed his arms over his chest. "You never know what people like that are going to do." Brianna said. "Let's just see what happens. Will you stay for a little while." she asked. Taylor looked over at her. He could see that she wasn't comfortable with the idea but she was nervous and had gotten a little scared now. "Sure I will." Taylor said with a smile. He put his hands on Brianna's shoulders. "I'm sure she's harmless. She probably just wants to talk." He said. Brianna smiled and walked over and sat in the chair. Taylor sat down on the couch. "Hey, this is comfy." He said making Brianna laugh. He could see she was somewhat relaxed now. He was glad to help her. He wanted to make her relax. He wanted to protect her.

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"Bri, let's order a pizza or something. It's dinner time and I know you're hungry too." Taylor said as he continued to flip through the TV channels. He had been there for a few hours and Brianna had asked him twice to stay just a little bit longer. He couldn't leave her. Aside from enjoying spending time with her, he was as uneasy as she was and didn't want her to be alone. The woman had left her car at some point but now that darkness was setting in, Brianna had grown even more anxious and restless about the whole situation and the fact that the woman knew which apartment she lived in made her more nervous. It worried her that maybe the lady was waiting on Taylor to leave and so, now that she was more relaxed than she had been at first with him being there, she had asked him to stay the two times he had mentioned the time and him needing to get home. He had stayed and she was thankful for that. Brianna liked him being there because she didn't like being alone anyway but with him there, she felt safe. "What kind do you want?" Taylor asked. "Mushrooms and black olives." Brianna answered, grinning when Taylor rolled his eyes. He ordered the pizzas and they watched TV until their dinner arrived. Taylor stood up and answered the door. "Hey, thanks. How much?" Taylor asked handing the pizzas to Brianna and reaching for his wallet. "No charge, it's already paid for." The delivery man said. "What?" Taylor asked confused. "The lady down there. I asked her where your apartment was and she pointed to it and then paid for the pizzas. She said to tell you it was on her." The guy smiled and then walked away. Taylor and Brianna stood facing each other, both surprised. Taylor watched as the lady paced outside of the front office. He quickly closed the door and locked it. "Let's just eat." He said to Brianna. They ate slowly and watched television until they were both full.
Taylor stretched and said "Bri, I gotta get home." Brianna started to protest but knew that there was nothing more that could be done. They hadn't seen anyone outside for a while and neither of them felt right about Taylor spending the night. Brianna knew she had to let him go. "I'll walk you out." Brianna said. "No. Maybe if I leave alone she'll think I'm coming right back." Taylor replied. "Look, you have my number. Call me if you need me, no matter what time it is. I'll see you in the morning." He gently rubbed Brianna's back and smiled. If she comes up knocking on the door or bothering you, just tell her you can eat half of a large pizza on your own." Taylor said with a serious expression. "Shut up, you ate half of your's too!" Brianna said. they both laughed and Taylor said "Lock the door. You'll be fine I'm sure but you call if you need me." He ran his hand down her face and Brianna felt a moment of butterflies flutter through her. Taylor walked out and Brianna locked the door. She couldn't help but glance out of the window. She didn't see anyone outside and when Taylor had pulled away, she walked over and sat back in the chair.

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Brianna quickly walked down the hallway and burst through Taylor's office door. He looked up, startled. "She followed me!" Brianna said walking in and shutting the door. "She followed me to work again. She's parked across the street. She was waiting by her car when I walked out of my apartment this morning." Taylor stood up and walked to the window. There sat the woman in her car. "She was in the gas station this morning when I stopped for some coffee." Brianna added. "Alright, come on!" Taylor said. "What? Where?" Brianna asked as he pulled her out of his office. They got into the elevator and Taylor was furiously running his hands through his hair and over his face. "I have had it. This has gone on long enough! She can't keep doing this." Taylor said when they stepped off of the elevator. He held her hand and pulled her down to the security office. "Danny! I want you to go get that lady in the white car across the street and bring her in here." Danny, one of the security guards said "Alright." And walked out. "Maybe Danny won't scare her too bad." Taylor said. Danny wasn't a large man, only about six feet tall. He wasn't all that muscular. He had dark, short spiked hair and blue eyes. He had been one of the security guards for the guys when they were a band. Danny walked back in with the lady. She looked a little nervous but not surprised. "Come in here please." Taylor said. He and Brianna followed the lady into a break area with two couches and a television. A small refrigerator was in the corner. "Would you like some water or coffee?" Taylor asked. "No, thank you." The lady said. Taylor patted the couch next to him and said "Brianna, come sit down over here sweetheart." Brianna was standing by the door. She had frozen as soon as they had walked inside the room and the lady had faced her. It was the first time she was seeing her up close. Brianna slowly walked over and sat next to Taylor (only momentarily noticing that he had called her 'sweetheart.') where they faced the lady. "First, my name is Taylor Hanson, feel free to call me Taylor, and this is Brianna Dennison. And you are..." Taylor said raising his eyebrows. The woman moved her gaze from Brianna. "Oh, nice to meet you. My name is Lynn Garrison. I'm Sheila and Tom's daughter." Taylor said "Yes, well, we have to talk. Now you following her has made us both uneasy. You have watching her and following her around like she's under surveillance. Now, I don't understand what your problem is but you have got to stop. It ends here. Whatever it is you want or that you feel you need to say, let's have it. Because I am not putting up with this anymore." The lady sighed heavily and then said "I am sorry. I never meant to cause any harm. I apologize. I have wanted to talk to you for a long time, ever since my mother told me about you. I do have something to say and I'm not sure how you are going to take it. I don't want to upset you." Taylor and Brianna exchanged glances and Brianna said "Whatever it is, just say it. I can't take you watching me all the time." The lady stood up and began pacing. Brianna took more time to look over Lynn. Their lightly tan skin matched. Their hair was the same shade and Lynn's fell just to her shoulders. It was cut in a feathered style and teased. She turned to face Brianna and Taylor and they could see that her sapphire colored eyes were glazed over with tears. Brianna took Taylor's hand and felt her stomach tighten. Taylor too felt his heart begin to race as he had the same idea about what Lynn was going to say. He was anxious about the reaction Brianna would have and was glad he was there. But what Lynn said threw both he and Brianna off as it was certainly not what they thought they'd hear. "Brianna, my parents and I, we believe that... oh how can I say this?" Lynn put one hand on her hip and the other on her forehead. She finally said "Mom swears you are her granddaughter. We believe that you may be my sister Julie's daughter."

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