Book Series: Caitlin: The Love Trilogy #2
Title: Love Lost
Publishing Date: 1985
Author: Francine Pascal
Publisher: Bantam Books, Inc.
Point of View: Third Person, limited, Caitlin
Chapter Count: 19
Page Count: 198
Chapter 1- Caitlin has taken up volunteer work. She's Ian Foster's new, favorite, babysitter. (Diana who?) She and Jed are happier than ever and SO in love. Jed walks her across campus to the Foster residence. He's a little puzzled why she's doing this. What was Ian to her? Is it because of Diana? Caitlin just laughs. She's doing this because she wants to, because she really is a nice person. No, really! Anyway, she and Jed are still planning to spend part of summer vacation together in Montana; if mean old Grandmother gives permission.
Caitlin bribes Ian with ice cream and drawing animal pictures to get him to do his exercises. He's in a wheelchair and whines about everything but he loves having Caitlin here because she makes it all fun.
Chapter 2- Junior prom is coming and it's going to be the best night of everyone's lives. It's being held on the last day of school, then, all the rich kids at Highgate will be jetting off to their various summer resorts only the super rich can afford.
Caitlin goes home for the weekend where Grandmother's already got Caitlin's summer all planned out with social events, country club activities and parties so she won't have to be involved in any more of that silly charity work, like caring for Ian Foster or hanging out with Jed. Oh, he's a sweet boy, but not quite in the same league as the Ryans. A trip to Montana? Out of the question. The time apart will be good for them. Defeated, Caitlin doesn't even try to argue.
Chapter 3- Awful, awful, awful. That was Caitlin's weekend. She throws herself into Jed's arms upon returning to school and bursts into tears. Grandmother is so mean, so hateful. Jed kisses her passionately and tries to stay positive. Perhaps Regina Ryan will reconsider, if not, well, they have their whole lives ahead of them.
Returning from babysitting Ian, Caitlin learns Diana is in the hospital with an eating disorder. Her parents are still furious with Highgate for letting this happen. That's all anyone knows. Caitlin trembles with fear. If anyone knew her connection to this tragedy. Talk turns to prom and Caitlin is appropriately distracted.
Chapter 4- The last week of school, Grandmother surprises Caitlin outside the main building to present her with a brand new red Nissan 280 ZX sports car in front of Jed and all her friends. (overcompensating?) Caitlin climbs in with Rollins for a test drive. That Saturday, Caitlin shows up at the Fosters to babysit Ian for the last time. He's being shipped off to a special school for handicapped kids where he can get the help he needs to one day walk again. The Fosters and Ian are ready to nominate Caitlin for sainthood, they can't thank her enough for all the time she's spent with Ian.
Chapter 5- Caitlin and Ginny pack up their dorm room, moaning and groaning over all the stuff they've accumulated over the school year. As Caitlin and Jed load the last box into Caitlin's new car, a certain book falls out, the book Caitlin hid that letter of confession addressed to Jed. Moving fast, she stuffs the book into the glove compartment
Jed makes the trip with her to the Ryan mansion. Caitlin stops for gas on the way and while she's inside, Jed discovers the hidden book. The letter addressed to him falls out. He pockets it and doesn't say anything to Caitlin. Cost of filling the tank? $12!
At the house, Jed makes the first excuse he can to slip away where he can read the letter in private. The entire thing is reprinted here, verbatim, just in case you didn't read the last book. Jed is shaking with anger when he finishes. He'll never forgive Caitlin Ryan for this as long as he lives. She'll be sorry she ever played him like this. He'll make her pay. He'll get his revenge and he'll do it tomorrow night during prom. Until then, Caitlin must continue to believe he still loves her.
Chapter 6- Caitlin and Ginny get ready for prom. Just as the cover picture shows, Caitlin is wearing a soft, purple gown with her hair piled on top of her head, Victorian fashion. Ginny looks nice too. They don real fur coats (unheard of today) and go downstairs where all the girls are waiting for their dates to walk them over to the school gym. One by one, everyone promenades out until Caitlin is the only girl left standing. Jed takes his sweet time. Caitlin can't ditch him and walk over herself because nobody went stag in those days. This is PROM.
Jed and Caitlin arrive late but nobody cares. Jed is friendly and converses with all their friends but he's cold and distant with Caitlin; going through all the motions of being her date but he dances stiffly, talks with everyone but her during the formal dinner and when it comes time to award prom king and queen the winners are...Caitlin and Jed! Caitlin beams. Jed just shrugs, acting embarrassed. For about the hundredth time, Caitlin wonders what his problem is. Jed makes a disparaging remark in her ear as they lead the first dance about how Caitlin always gets what she wants. Caitlin decides he's just bummed they won't be together over the summer. Oh, Caitlin!
Chapter 7- There's to be an after-prom party at someone's summer house on a private island off the coast of Virginia (apparently Highgate isn't as far inland as we thought). A boat will ferry all the guests over. Caitlin lets Jed drive her car to the dock and is appalled at his recklessness behind the wheel. Who knew Jed Michaels was such a speed demon? At the party, everyone still in their formal attire, the dancing (no drinking, please, we're underage) resumes. Caitlin trades dances with some of the guys while Jed just smiles.
Later, Jed suggests they leave the party and go for a walk. Caitlin is only too happy to agree. Now maybe she can find out what's bothering Jed. They find an isolated gazebo and sit down. Jed starts kissing her. Caitlin responds eagerly until Jed grows more demanding and insistent. He starts groping her. In a rough voice he declares he's going to
Chapter 8- Back in her empty dorm room, Caitlin reflects back on this nightmare of an evening. After Jed deserted her, Caitlin pulled herself together, asked the host's dad for a lift back to the mainland where she drove herself back to the school to collapse on her bed in sobs; racking her brain for some kind of explanation for Jed's behavior.
Remembering the letter, Caitlin runs out to her car but the book and letter are there (Jed replaced it after reading it). Caitlin destroys it, but it doesn't make her feel better. She's still sobbing when Ginny walks in but Caitlin refuses to tell her anything, only that she and Jed had a fight and broke up. She hardly sleeps a wink that night. Jed is flying out tomorrow afternoon, perhaps she can catch him before he leaves campus.
To her dismay, Jed did not spend the night in his dorm but packed and left immediately upon returning from the dance. Caitlin gets Emily to call her parent's house but Jed has already left for Montana. He's gone and even Emily is shocked Jed never said goodbye, to any of them.
Caitlin bids her friends goodbye for the summer. Emily promises to call the moment Jed contacts her or if she hears any updates on Diana's condition or which hospital she's at.
Chapter 9- Even Regina Ryan notices Caitlin's forced cheerfulness and red eyes but doesn't press Caitlin for details, she's just glad to hear she and Jed decided against making that silly trip out West. Next day, Caitlin is so restless, she dismisses her maid and does her own unpacking. She goes for a long ride and when she returns, is ready to face the reality of spending the summer alone.
One week later, Emily calls to inform Caitlin of Diana's whereabouts. She's in a hospital not far from Ryan Acres suffering a nervous breakdown after trying to starve herself to death. Laurence Baxter, a boy from Highgate Caitlin always thought too nerdy and serious to date, especially because he was friendly with Diana, is planning to visit Diana in the hospital soon. Emily still hasn't heard from Jed. He won't return any of her phone calls but she wrote him a letter. Maybe he'll write back since she's family. Caitlin thanks her for calling and hangs up.
A few days later, Caitlin has her plan all ready. By disguising herself with clothes only a homeless person would wear, pulling her hair back in a severe bun, glasses and lots of makeup to hide her gorgeous features, she plans to apply as a volunteer aide at Diana's hospital and save her life, thus winning her way back into Jed's good graces, not to mention easing her own guilty conscious.
Chapter 10- Working under the pseudonym of Karen, it takes two days of volunteer work to finally locate Diana lying comatose in her bed, unresponsive, staring at nothing; like a character in a Cynthia Voigt novel. She even has feeding tubes because she won't eat. Caitlin gets permission to sit with Diana, holding her hand, talking softly to her. Caitlin is already discouraged. And it's only the first day. Diana is in pretty bad shape. The doctors have given up on her. No family ever comes to visit her. (Wonder who's paying her medical bills?)
Chapter 11- Three weeks later, Caitlin is at her wit's end. Diana won't respond to anything or anyone. Realizing she'll have to resort to drastic measures, Caitlin finally breaks down, whispering the words Diana's been longing to hear; the accident wasn't her fault, someone else left the shed unlocked and Ian is getting better. She repeats her speech until Diana's lips part and she whispers Ian's name. It's a miracle!
Caitlin refuses to share her secret-how she got Diana back on the road to recovery-but everyone is ready to nominate Karen for sainthood. When she's not playing tennis at the country club, Caitlin is sneaking off to visit Diana. One day she's running late and forgets her glasses. The director of the hospital, Dr. Westlake, calls her into his office to congratulate her. During the interview, he keeps studying Caitlin intently. She reminds him of someone. Thinking her cover is about to be blown, Caitlin excuses herself.
Diana is happy to see Karen, although she's beginning to suspect this sixteen-year-old volunteer is not who she claims to be. Diana is full of probing questions today, trying to trap Caitlin into revealing herself. After Caitlin leaves, Diana smiles to herself. It's Caitlin Ryan, but why is she doing this? Diana is intrigued by the mystery.
Chapter 12- Dr. Gordon Westlake is sitting in his office. He can't get Karen Martin out of his head. She looks so much like a woman named Laura whom he met and fell in love with in college. He and Laura, the only child of a rich and powerful mining magnate widow, were engaged to be married despite her mother's blatant disapproval. Then one day, Laura and her mother left for Europe with no explanation leaving only a note behind from Laura saying it was all over between them and she never wanted to see him again. Baffled, Gordon never got involved with another woman again, finished his education and become a successful doctor; but he never stopped loving his Laura.
Chapter 13- Caitlin has managed to avoid seeing Laurence, since he'd recognize her immediately, whenever he's come to visit Diana. Emily has kept her informed of this, not realizing Caitlin already knows. Her latest phone call reported Diana making a miraculous recovery, thanks to a mystery volunteer girl.
Laurence is sitting in Diana's room the next day and Caitlin almost greets him by name before checking herself. No one must know her terrible secret. Diana introduces them and Caitlin makes an excuse to leave before she's recognized but it's already too late. Diana and Laurence are on to her. They discuss Caitlin's strange behavior, speculating on her motives. Both agree Caitlin is very unhappy about what happened and is doing her best to make things right. Laurence tells Diana about Caitlin's work with Ian and that Jed Michaels broke up with her. Diana puts two and two together and feels so sorry for her, she decides to write a letter to Jed telling him everything that's happened to her and the mystery surrounding Caitlin who did so much to help her. She's forgiven Caitlin and begs Jed to take Caitlin back because, without a boyfriend, Caitlin is the saddest person she's ever met. As for herself, she's ready to move on, start a new life at a new school. All thanks to Caitlin.
A few days later, Dr. Westlake stops in to chat with Diana, asking her questions about her mysterious friend. Diana decides to tell him everything she knows. His reaction is more serious than Diana expected. Caitlin Ryan has no parents; raised by her Grandmother in wealth and luxury, never been much of a good-deed-doer until this summer. He promises not to reveal "Karen" but, like Diana, agrees they should wait for Caitlin to explain herself.
Chapter 14- Dr. Westlake is still reeling from the story Diana told him. Laura is dead and her child needs a father. He decides to pay Regina Ryan a visit at her office at Ryan Mining. Mrs. Ryan doesn't recognize him at first until Gordon asks her if she knows where her granddaughter is and what she's been doing all summer? And was she aware how unhappy her granddaughter must be to lie and volunteer under false pretenses? No, Mrs. Ryan had no idea. Gordon plays his ace: he was her late daughter's fiancé. At last, the truth will be known that Regina Ryan fed lies to her daughter making her believe Gordon was promiscuous so she'd break off their engagement. So, how did Laura become pregnant? He asks. Did Laura meet Caitlin's father in Europe? Then she married someone else, right? (Really Dr. Westlake, it takes two you know)
Now it's Regina Ryan's turn to play her hand. She didn't discover her daughter's pregnancy until after they arrived in Europe. Laura never married. She knows Gordon was her daughter's only romantic partner. Caitlin will spit in Gordon's face if he reveals himself to her. He was never good enough for this family. She advises him to leave well enough alone.
Gordon is ecstatic. My boys can swim! He's also furious at Mrs. Ryan for preventing their marriage and never telling him about the child but he'll get even. Caitlin will be so happy to be reunited with her biological father. Good luck with that, says Grandmother.
Chapter 15- Laurence is with Diana when Caitlin arrives for her shift. Diana will be discharged soon. Jed calls Diana later that night to talk to her about the letter she sent. They rehash old topics about forgiveness and justice. Jed wants nothing to do with the Caitlin fan club. She lies and uses people for her own benefit. He'll keep silent about Caitlin's mistake but when he returns to Highgate in the fall he's not socializing with her. Diana hangs up, wishing she could do more for Caitlin.
Next day, Caitlin finally confesses everything to Diana who smiles and tells Caitlin it's all water under the bridge. Caitlin also admits the truth about her deadbeat dad who is alive but wants nothing to do with her. Diana confirms Caitlin's fears about why Jed broke up with her. He did find the letter but Caitlin shouldn't give up hope. Jed might forgive her one day.
Laurence sticks his head in the hospital room, requesting Caitlin's presence. Yes, he called her "Caitlin," he knows everything. Since Jed has officially broken up with her, he would be quite willing to take Jed's place as Caitlin's boyfriend, if she'll have him. Caitlin wonders why she never noticed what nice brown eyes Laurence has. They make a date to the movies.
Chapter 16- Before Caitlin leaves that day, Gordon Westlake calls "Karen" into his office, first, to thank her (again) for all her work with Diana. Second, he knows she's not Karen but Regina Ryan's granddaughter. He knew her family before she was born, especially her mother, Laura. Caitlin stares at him in shock as he continues. He knew her mother. Biblically! To this day he's not sure how Caitlin's miraculous conception occurred (Really, Dr. Westlake?) only that mean old Regina Ryan took Laura away to Europe before he could marry her. Laura never told him she was preggers. He tried for years to find her but finally gave up and focused on his career. When Caitlin came here, to this hospital, looking so much like his beloved Laura, he began to hope maybe the mystery of his lost fianceé could finally be solved and it has.
He is Caitlin's father. Now come over here and give Daddy a great big sloppy kiss.
Caitlin's reaction is not surprising. Regina Ryan's prediction came true. After screaming her indignation at this idiot, (who obviously failed sex ed in medical school) Caitlin runs sobbing to her car and drives back to Ryan Acres. She's angry at Grandmother too. Seeing Caitlin drive away, Gordon phones Ryan Acres to warn Grandmother adding she better be nice to Caitlin who is very upset and could use a supportive adult right now.
Chapter 17- The first words out of the controlling and manipulative Regina Ryan's mouth to her victimized granddaughter are about her father keeping her late at the hospital. Yes, she knows everything, (except the story of Diana) it's a shame that hurtful man ruined Caitlin's day by telling her the truth about her parentage but she'll feel better after eating and a good night's sleep. Caitlin's decides it's easier to go on believing Gordon Westlake is a jerk who can't be trusted.
Next morning, Caitlin needs to go back to the hospital one last time, if only to say goodbye to Diana and tell the staff she's done with volunteer work. Grandmother gives her consent, adding Laurence Baxter called last night; she's always thought very highly of his family. A good match for her.
Laurence is at the hospital waiting to meet Caitlin. He has an idea for a picnic outing they can take Diana on before she checks out later this week. He's glad they're still on for their movie date this Friday. Dr. Westlake tries one more time to talk to Caitlin who calls him a liar and walks away.
Chapter 18- The date with Laurence goes well. Since she has nothing to hide from him, Caitlin finds him fun and pleasant to be with. Why did she never notice him before? He's not Jed but it's okay.
Sunday is the picnic with Diana. The three friends talk and laugh. Ian is returning home from the special school; too homesick to make any progress. Caitlin and Diana take a walk while Laurence sets up the picnic and builds a fire. Diana gives her blessing on Caitlin and Laurence since she called Jed the other day. He still hates Caitlin so it's just as well she goes for Laurence.
Chapter 19- Laurence and Caitlin say goodbye to Diana a few days later. Laurence is driving Diana home from the hospital. Caitlin and Laurence are exclusive the rest of the summer. He calls her every night. They go out and do everything together while Grandmother shows her approval by presenting Caitlin with a new gown to wear to the upcoming country club dinner Laurence is taking her to. Caitlin realizes she's happy.
Two days before school starts, the two lovebirds are strolling the woods at Ryan Acres where Laurence confesses to Caitlin she's his first girlfriend. He kisses her but Caitlin can only think of Jed, dreading the first day of school where she knows she'll have to face him again but she can't let Laurence know. She's through hurting people. She's turning over a new leaf. No more boy chasing. At least until the next book.
The End
No comments:
Post a Comment