True Love

Book Series:                Caitlin: The Love Trilogy #3
Title:                            True Love
Publishing Date:         1985
Author:                        Francine Pascal
Publisher:                    Bantam Books, Inc.
Point of View:             Third Person, limited, Caitlin
Chapter Count:           18
Page Count:               199

Chapter 1- Caitlin's first day back at school is ruined. She sighted Jed across the quad but he didn't see her. Luckily she has her new boyfriend, Laurence Baxter, at her side. Tall, dark and handsome with dimples to boot, Laurence is a God-send for the prettiest, most popular girl at Highgate. As if to verify Caitlin's social status, all her best girlfriends come squealing over to say hi. Ginny Brookes is Caitlin's best friend and her roommate for senior year. She is still out of the loop regarding Caitlin's involvement in the terrible accident she inadvertently caused that made Jed break up with her. Caitlin will continue to babysit Ian Foster this year to ease her guilty conscious.

Chapter 2- Caitlin and Laurence go for a ride. Caitlin is not student body president this year which leaves her more free time to spend with friends and babysit Ian. Laurence reports Diana is doing well at her new school and has made many new friends. They race to the end of the pasture but Laurence isn't as sexy on a horse as Jed.
Early next morning, Caitlin surprises Ian at the breakfast table. Ian can't wait to have Caitlin come over and babysit him tomorrow after school. Mrs. Foster wants to pay Caitlin this year but Caitlin refuses to take any money. She wants to do this.

Chapter 3- Caitlin eats lunch and gossips with her friends. The girls want to plan a party. Caitlin gives them a good idea (and for once she didn't steal it from someone else) to hold it outside on the school quad. Later, she works with Ian, making up a game to get him to stop whining and do his leg exercises. Emily comes calling at Caitlin's dorm room that night while Ginny is in the shower so they can talk privately about Jed who has started going with another girl. Seems like all of Caitlin's friends are pushing her to get back together with Jed as it is obvious they are both miserable without the other. Their relationship was written in the stars, you know.

Chapter 4- As the cover picture shows, Caitlin and Laurence stare dreamily into each others eyes on the dance floor while Jed pouts in the distance. The party is a great success. Caitlin and Laurence mingle and while Caitlin is busy advising a group on organizing the senior class picnic, Jed is holding court with two girls. Caitlin frowns seeing how they are practically drooling all over him. She's more hurt than angry and pulls Laurence back out to the dance floor. They leave together. Caitlin lets Laurence kiss her good night and goes inside feeling like the world's biggest heel. As well you should, Caitlin.

Chapter 5- Caitlin has a call on the dorm house phone early next morning and has to go downstairs to take it. It's Grandmother. She's wondering if Dr. Westlake has been trying to contact Caitlin recently because he won't leave her the hell alone, constantly calling to harass her about his paternal custody rights. Caitlin says no but if he does she'll keep repeating what she told him the last time she saw him, that he's not her father and she wants nothing to do with him.
Caitlin and Laurence go for a long Sunday drive in Caitlin's red sports car. They stop in Middleburg (way up in northern Virginia) for hamburgers and get back just as the sun is setting. Next day, Caitlin has to really plead with Ian to do his exercises. She leaves feeling more guilty than ever because her efforts aren't producing the same kind of miraculous results like Diana. Caitlin also frets about not having Jed. 

Chapter 6- Caitlin is studying hard at the library when she runs into Jed who snubs her. Caitlin cries, insisting she's changed but Jed doesn't believe her and exits. Zombie-like, Caitlin gathers her things, leaves the building and finds herself at the stables where she saddles Duster for a long ride in the evening twilight. Not the wild, chaotic ride from the first book but calmer, just enough to ease the pain. Back at the stable, Caitlin cares for her horse, promising him a bag of carrots which she'll purchase from Martinsville tomorrow. This is the first hint we get as to where Highgate is located in the commonwealth of Virginia. Martinsville happens to be in the southern part of the state, near the North Carolina boarder. Narration says it's exactly fifteen minutes away from campus by car.
It is past curfew when Caitlin finally gets back to the dorm and has to get Ginny to sneak her in. It doesn't take much prompting from Ginny to get Caitlin to spill everything: how it was her fault Diana was blamed for Ian's accident and that Jed dumped her when he found out. Ginny understands, encourages her to keep the faith that Jed will forgive her in time and urges her to come clean and tell the Fosters everything. Caitlin knows she's right.

Chapter 7- Turns out Grandmother shows more affection and approval to Ginny than her own granddaughter which is why Caitlin has invited her best friend to Ryan Acres for the weekend. We learn Ginny's father is a diplomat. The girls dress for dinner in Caitlin's bedroom where Caitlin gives Ginny pointers on make-up removal. Dinner conversation centers on college plans. Caitlin wants to attend a school where she can explore her options but Grandmother turns up her nose at all of Caitlin's suggestions. She's been planning Caitlin's future for years. Caitlin hides her anger by sarcastically suggesting Brown. To her surprise, Grandmother approves. Having Ginny there to mediate also helped.

Chapter 8- Next day, Laurence and his parents are here. The three Highgate students go for a ride together and hang out before dressing for dinner where Grandmother continues to annoy Caitlin gushing approval over Laurence's college ambitions, hinting he ought to consider Brown. Caitlin nearly chokes on her prime rib in silent indignation. Her Grandmother's controlling, manipulative behavior is just too much sometimes. 

Chapter 9- Monday, Caitlin takes Ian to see Duster at the school stables. Unbeknownst to her, Jed is following them, eavesdropping on the conversation. What he hears is troubling. Caitlin is so genuine in her concern for the boy. At Ian's request, she puts him in the saddle and mounts behind him. Ian has never been on a horse before and he loves it. Caitlin discovers the exercise is good for his legs. Jed turns away in a huff and Caitlin never sees him. Back in his dorm room, Jed re-reads Diana's latest letter, begging Jed (again) to forgive Caitlin and take her back but Jed can't do it.

Chapter 10- Caitlin is shopping alone when she runs into Gordon Westlake who is with a woman. He introduces Caitlin as "his daughter" and it's really creepy; like he purposely stalked Caitlin to this drugstore in Martinsville to pressure her into accepting him as her biological father. Caitlin spits in his face and practically runs out of the store.
It's raining the next afternoon so Caitlin can't take Ian out. As they work on his leg exercises, Ian comments how different Caitlin is from his old babysitter, Diana, who was boring and never any fun; always reading or doing homework instead of entertaining him every second. It was all Diana's fault he got sick, he adds, because Diana didn't run into the shed and pour ipecac down his throat to stop him from eating poison. Now he's stuck in a wheelchair. All because of Diana.
Caitlin is shocked at the narcissism of this seven-year-old. Before she can stop herself, she blurts out the truth, the accident was all HER fault. Ian reacts by going into hysterics, sobbing and screaming that Caitlin is not his friend anymore. Caitlin pleads forgiveness but Ian just turns away in his wheelchair. Just then, Mrs. Foster enters. Caitlin takes her aside, wasting no time confessing. Mrs. Foster sadly informs Caitlin she's fired and it would probably be better if she never saw Ian again. Back at the dorm, Caitlin sobs on Ginny's shoulder who repeats her earlier advice to keep a stiff upper lip. In time, everyone will come to forgive her. Caitlin isn't so sure.

Chapter 11- The annual patrician fox hunt is being held at a neighboring estate, similar to Ryan Acres. Grandmother and the Baxters go  every year. This year, Catilin, Laurence, Ginny and Ginny's boyfriend Bart Burt Simpson are all coming too. Depressed at the way her life is going right now, Caitlin puts on a brave smile as they congregate outside the stables. Sensing her discomfort, Laurence kisses her and tells her to cheer up. Riding always makes everything better. Caitlin throws herself into it, determined to do something to impress her Grandmother and prove she's no longer a child. Despite Laurence's protests, Caitlin risks herself and Duster to be one of the first riders to corner the fox, thus winning one of her Grandmother's rare smiles and a compliment. She feels better now.

Chapter 12- Emily has something very important to tell Caitlin, so they take Caitlin's car into Martinsville for a hamburger. Emily had a long talk with Jed. He can't get over seeing her with Ian at the stables because it means Caitlin really has changed. Jed is also depressed Caitlin will never take him back; she has Laurence now. Tears well in Caitlin's eyes and Emily confirms she's miserable. Jed and Caitlin have simply GOT to get back together. But is it already too late?

Chapter 13- In the cafeteria line next morning, Caitlin smiles and nods a greeting at Jed who glares and turns away. Caitlin sits down at a table and is immediately engaged in conversation with her friends. Turns out the plans for the senior class picnic are a mess. Nothing's been organized. All the committee members slacked off. Never fear, Caitlin will use her incredible leadership skills and wealthy connections to save the day. She's also volunteered Ryan Mining land as a picnic site.
The day of the event, the senior class boards three chartered buses into the Blue Ridge mountains where the site is supposedly located-one hour away from Highgate. To everyone's surprise and disgust, the land is pockmarked and ugly thanks to Regina Ryan's strip mining endeavors. Caitlin thought her Grandmother would've taken responsibility for restoring the land. She and Laurence take a walk. Caitlin decides to explore one of the mine shaft tunnels. There's a cave in. Laurence is knocked in the head by a falling rock. He passes out. Caitlin runs outside and down to the picnic field to get help. Jed is one of the responders. As the boys lift Laurence, the rocks shift again and now Caitlin is trapped. Water, released from deep inside the earth, swirls around her ankles. Will she make it out in time?

Chapter 14- Jed digs frantically and calls to Caitlin who can somehow hear him through the wall of debris. There's an opening at the top of the wall. Instead of waiting for the water to float her up, Caitlin climbs up the treacherous incline. With all the drama of a back-to-school-special she begs Jed to to run, save Laurence, save himself, forget about her. Jed insists he's not leaving this mine shaft without her. Caitlin climbs out, Jed helps her down and they dash outside to safety. Throwing themselves into each others arms, Jed and Caitlin rekindle their love. They've learned a valuable lesson: that they can never live without each other.
Paramedics arrive on the scene (What took you so long?) Laurence will be okay. He woke up just in time to witness Caitlin's dilemma and begged Jed to save her. Very noble of him. The EMT insists Caitlin hop into one of the waiting ambulances and get herself to the hospital as she might have life threatening injuries. This prevents Jed from riding with her and they are denied make up sex. For now. 

Chapter 15- Gordon just happens to be harassing Regina Ryan in her office (again) rehashing the old paternity issue when the phone rings. Caitlin's been in an accident! For some reason they took her to a hospital clear up in Winchester (Johanna Campbell must've failed geography because Winchester is located in extreme Northern Virginia. The drive would take longer than one hour.) Gordon and Regina take off in Gordon's car where Grandmother's heart grows three sizes during the trip as she berates herself for her cold treatment of Caitlin and resolves to be a more loving guardian from now on.

Chapter 16- Caitlin is in the examining room when Regina Ryan bursts in; throwing herself at Caitlin, begging her forgiveness. Dr. Westlake enters and Grandmother tells Caitlin how wrong she was in her deception. She had planned to put Laura's baby up for adoption but her daughter's deathbed request to her mother to raise Caitlin explains why Caitlin grew up the way she did. She begs Caitlin not to hate Gordon Westlake because of a bitter old woman's foolishness. Everyone loves her very much. Caitlin hugs her Grandmother then turns to Gordon and calls him "father" instantly accepting her Grandmother's story.
Before leaving the hospital, Caitlin stops by Laurence's room who gives Caitlin his blessing and will step aside so Caitlin and Jed can be together. What a tool.

Chapter 17- Outside, the drama continues as Ian Foster rolls up in his wheelchair pushed by his parents. They heard what happened and rushed right over to make sure Caitlin was all right. Ian is so overjoyed to see Caitlin alive, he rises from his wheelchair and walks. It's a miracle!
Caitlin introduces Dr. Gordon Westlake to the Fosters as her father, proving all is forgiven. Gordon drops Regina back at Ryan Mining and returns Caitlin to Highgate. They make plans for future daddy/daughter outings and Caitlin finds herself looking forward to finally having a father in her life after all these years.

Chapter 18- Back at Highgate, Jed is the only loose end waiting to be tied up. After updating Ginny on everything that's happened, Caitlin leaves the dorm and finds Jed sitting alone by the soccer field. They reconcile, kiss passionately and are officially back together.
And wuv, TWUE WUV, will fowow you fowevah...

The End