Love Forgives

Chapter I

Caitlyn Daniels stood against the hood of the fancy looking Mercedes parked on the curb looking at a photo of a three-year-old on her phone and she wiped the hair from her face.

“Daniels! Are you going to carry on daydreaming or are you going to race?" A cold female voice yelled from the crowd.

“Coming." Caitlyn said and she locked her phone and then went to the crowd and placed the race money on the back of the pickup-truck and waited while it got counted before she went to her car and climbed in. She checked the map that got marked on the GPS and then put the safety belt on and went to the starting line.

“Still driving daddy's car, are we?" One of the other racers asked.

Caitlyn glared at him and then focused on the race ahead of her after putting the window up and she flew away when the flag dropped and enjoyed the adrenaline rush she got from racing and she looked in her rearview mirror when she heard sirens and groaned softly and then accelerated and focused on finishing the race and she stopped at the finishing line.

“That was some driving." The race organizer said coldly and handed her the cash.

“You might want to scatter." Caitlyn said and she put the money in her pocket and then pulled away tires screeching and she got out of the old run down dock area and drove to her favorite fast food joint in the city. She parked once she got there and then crossed her arms over her chest when a cop car pulled up behind her and she closed the door and leaned against the car and avoided the cop until he stood in front of her. She looked at him once she was sure he was standing in front of her and she bit her lip.

“You are not supposed to be parking here." The cop said.

“What is wrong with where I parked?" Caitlyn asked. "I just want to run in and grab something to eat. I am starved.”

“At two in the morning?" The cop asked.

“Yes. I was hanging out with some friends and forgot to stop to grab a bite to eat." Caitlyn said.

“Do your parents know you are in the city at this time of night, young lady?" The cop asked.

“Leave my parents out of this." Caitlyn said and she yanked the car's door open and climbed in and she moved her car with screeching tires showing she was upset and parked in the parking area. She climbed out and went into the fast food joint and got herself a burger and soda before she paid and then went and climbed into her car again after taking the slip of paper stuck in under the wipers with the police emblem on. She got her safety belt on and then opened her soda and took a sip of the cool drink before she looked at the police slip and rolled her eyes when she saw the cop said he would contact her parents. She crushed the paper into a ball and tossed it into the dustbin right at her window before she drove back to the mansion and parked in her garage. She climbed out and pulled her leather jacket on and then zipped it up before she went into the house and showed her step-mom’s Yorkie to keep quiet before she picked her up.

“Nice time to get home, young lady." A male voice said off to the side.

Caitlyn turned and smiled at the butler. "You knew I was going to be out late, Mr. Eden.”

“True. Why did I get a call from the cops?" Eden asked.

“So my step-mother knows nothing about this?" Caitlyn asked handing him the bag with her burger and fries in.

“After she had another one of her parties here and got a little high? Nah." Eden said.

“The cop call was innocence. I just parked in the wrong spot and a cop thought he was going to nail me about being out late before I moved my car." Caitlyn said. "No big deal.”

“Very well then. Get up to bed before the Witch of Daniels Mansion wakes up." Eden said.

Caitlyn smiled at him and then went up the stairs and to her room and she got dressed in her pink satin pajamas and climbed into bed. She lay awake and stared at the ceiling while listening to the night life outside her window until early morning hours and then drifted off to sleep. She woke up with a bang when someone bashed her door and sat up.

“Get out of bed, now, you lazy spoiled brat." A middle-aged woman said.

“Arianna, it is Saturday morning." Caitlyn said and she rubbed her eyes.

“Exactly which means there is a kitchen, dining room and lounge to clean before you get any food." Arianna said and she left.

Caitlyn groaned and she stood up and got dressed into some old jeans and a t-shirt before she brushed her hair and tied it into bun. She went downstairs and looked at the messed up kitchen and then began working on getting it cleaned.

“I am going out and this time I locked the cupboards and pantry so you cannot sneak in and eat everything." Arianna said showing her the keys and she took Caitlyn’s car keys from the counter.

“Arianna, leave my car alone." Caitlyn said.

“It is your father's car until you turn twenty-one." Arianna said and she left.

“Witch." Caitlyn said and she carried on washing the dishes and she turned when the door opened and then wiped her cheeks when she saw Eden.

“I got you this." Eden said and he handed her the car keys. "She drives too much like a hooligan for me to allow her to take your car out.”

“Thanks." Caitlyn said and she placed the keys in her pocket. "How did you get them?”

“Nothing much. I just took it for a quick spin this morning." Eden said. "And we had a summer shower between five and seven.”

Caitlyn giggled and she wiped her hair from her forehead. "So Arianna is too prim and proper to take my muddy car out.”

“Exactly." Eden said. "She will rather drive her spotless jeep than drive in muddy style.”

Caitlyn smiled at him and kissed his cheek before the two of them got busy cleaning the house and then went to Eden's flat at the back and watched the sport channel. "I am thinking of selling the mansion once it is mine.”

“Why?" Eden asked.

“Too many memories." Caitlyn said softly. "Good and bad. The bad I can get over, the good reminds me of my parents too much.”

“I understand that." Eden said. "Your dad's car?”

“After I had it tweaked a little?" Caitlyn asked. "I am keeping my car.”

“Good." Eden said and he smiled at her. "You should get back into the house.”

Caitlyn nodded and she stood up and went back to the house and she made sure everything was spotless before she sat down on the couch in the lounge and began watching her TV show. She switched the TV off and looked up when the front door opened and she peeked over the top of the couch and watched as Arianna struggled with fancy shopping bags and she snuck up to her room and closed the door quietly before she went and sat at her desk with her earphones on and tried studying. She smiled when she saw her door slamming shut out of the corner of her eye and she took her earphones out and stood up. She went to the door and took the post-it note from the door post and threw it in the dustbin before she lay down on her bed and went back to sleep.

◦♥◦Ɽ◦♥◦

Caitlyn sat in her car three months later at the starting line of another race and she revved the car and then pulled away when the flag dropped and tried doing her best but kept on missing important stuff during turns and ended up hitting a wall with the tail of her car while taking a turn after the police were on their tails and she hit her head against the wheel and then got rammed into the seat by the airbag and went unconscious. She woke up with a major headache and hurting wrist and leg about ten minutes later but she unbuckled her safety belt and winced when she moved her leg to try and get out.

“I see you are awake." The police officer who caught her at the fast food joint said. 'Once the ambulance and fire truck arrives you will be transported to the hospital under police watch.”

“I am fine." Caitlyn said and she tried climbing out again and winced.

“Your leg is stuck. We will have to cut the side of the car open. One of the police cars rammed the nose." The police officer said.

Caitlyn shook her head and she laid her hand on the steering wheel and began sobbing. "Do not cut my car.”

“Why?" The police officer asked. "You could stay here forever if you would like.”

Caitlyn looked at him and when the paramedics and firefighters arrived she started getting hysterical even though it felt like her whole body was on fire.

The paramedics got her on oxygen and cleaned the cut on her temple before they kept her steady in the car while the firefighters started the Jaws-of-Life and then cut her out. They lifted her out and onto the stretcher and then got her legs braced up before they took her to the gurney and pushed her into the ambulance.

Caitlyn tried to calm down but ended up crying until she went unconscious again and only woke up in some sort of medical room with bars over the windows. She sat up and winced softly when her leg hurt and she stood up carefully and tested her foot before she limped to the door and pressed the button there and then rested against the wall and closed her eyes. She opened her eyes when the door opened and she winced when the police officer put handcuffs on her injured hand and she bit her lip when he forced both arms in behind her back and she tried to keep the tears back when he nearly shoved her ahead of him and she stopped at the desk.

“Ah Ms. Daniels." The female officer on desk duty said and she stood up with the file she had with her and then took Caitlyn into a small room that only had a desk and two chairs in it and she took the handcuffs off. "Go sit.”

Caitlyn nodded and she went to the far side and sat down and rubbed her injured wrist. She endured the interrogation from the officer who came in and then looked at the police officer who came in that seems to be out to give her a hard time since the first day.

“Thanks Kev. I will take it from here." The police officer said and he pressed on the desk and looked at Caitlyn. "According to US laws you are still a minor so you have a choice. You can tell me where to get a hold of your father and not some butler or I will lock you up like a major for illegal street racing.”

“You are a police officer, why do you not just go and check on your database for my father?" Caitlyn asked coldly.

“I did and the only numbers I got that was working is the house number and a mobile number and both got me to a butler." The police officer said. "The other mobile number was answered by a lady who mumbled that I had the wrong number in a very slurred way.”

“It is Arianna." Caitlyn said and she stood up. "I will rather go to jail than have her fetch me and take me home.”

“Your mother?" The police officer asked.

“Step-mother." Caitlyn said and she played with her necklace.

“Just tell me where your father is?" The police officer asked.

Caitlyn turned away and she looked out of the window at all the other officers busy hustling and bustling around.

“Caitlyn Daniels." The police officer said firmly.

“He died two years ago to this day!" Caitlyn said sharply and coldly. "Are you happy now? My dad died of a heart failure a week after he married Arianna for convenience when he thought I needed a mother at the age of eighteen! I am racing like a hooligan at night to try and catch the man who kidnapped my little half-sister two years and two months ago after shooting my first step-mom. Is that what you want to know?”

“You are still breaking the law. You could have opened a case at the police station and have us handling it." The police officer said.

Caitlyn looked at him and then gave him the case number. "I waited six months and every week I got the same response and it told me nothing so I decided to do something about it myself.”

“Caitlyn, we can only do that much." The police officer said.

“I was studying to become a police officer." Caitlyn said and she crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him. "And I was doing well until Arianna spent so much money a month that she decided she had to fire the staff except for Eden because my dad's company pays his salary and not she and she took me out of college because she needed a maid. At the age of seventeen I was racing once a month because I made it my life goal to rule out Illegal Street racing and my father told me the only way to catch an illegal racer was to think like an illegal racer so he agreed to me joining the local gang for a race once a month.”

“Why do you want to take them out so badly?" The police officer asked.

“My mom got killed in an accident with a racer on her way home from a party when I was nine. A racer boss kidnapped my sister and killed my second mom when I was eighteen. Why would I not hate them?” Caitlyn asked.

“So you became what you hated?" The police officer said.

“It was the only way." Caitlyn said.

“It is not." The police officer said.

“My father paid the police big time to investigate when I got text messages asking about if I want to race and where it would happen and not once did we get positive feedback. He paid the police a small fortune to be on the case of my little sister's kidnapping and my mom's murder when it happened and we got no results back. Why would I turn back to the police for help?" Caitlyn asked getting worked up and starting to raise her voice again. "Why?”

“Caitlyn, whether the police are helping or not they are the law enforcers so you have to trust them to handle the cases to the best of their ability, within the law." The police officer said.

“So you want to catch a bunch of street racers who drive over ninety miles an hour breaking every law of the road while you cruise along at exactly ninety miles an hour, use indicators the whole time and stop at all the red lights and stop signs?" Caitlyn asked. "Obviously you need to start thinking outside the law before you try and catch more street racers.”

“I am not a stubborn eighteen-year-old." The police officer said.

“I am twenty." Caitlyn said coldly and she left the room and went outside and sat down on the steps and watched as cars came and went.

“I am taking you home." The police officer said coming out.

“I would rather go to jail." Caitlyn said coldly.

“Young lady, obviously you do not know how it is in a jail." The police officer said.

Caitlyn looked at him and then stood up. "And obviously you do not have to jump at the slightest peep of a forty-year-old spoiled daddy's brat who thinks the world is her maid.”

“I got you bailed with the chief of Police and you want to go to jail." The police officer said.

“Fine." Caitlyn said and she went down the stairs and climbed into the police car after he opened the door and she put her safety belt on and then looked out of the window while they headed uptown again. She climbed out at the mansion and unlocked the front door and went in and she groaned softly when Arianna instantly climbed on her case and began yelling at her.

“Mrs. Daniels?" The police officer asked.

“What?" Arianna asked coldly.

“I am Cuan Lee. Your daughter was in a car accident on her way home last night and we kept her longer than necessary at the police station because we thought she was part of a racer gang." Cuan said.

Caitlyn frowned slightly and then just listened to the story he made up.

“She would have meant more to me locked up than at home." Arianna said coldly and she pushed past them and left the house. "Get the house spotless, you little brat.”

Caitlyn sighed softly and then turned to Cuan. "Thanks for the cover.”

“You are welcome." Cuan said. "I have to go so I can sign out and get home.”

“What? You have a girlfriend waiting at home?" Caitlyn asked.

“No but I do have a date with a four-year-old." Cuan said.

“Your daughter?" Caitlyn asked.

“I wish. She is the daughter of my best friend and it was her birthday in the week so I am taking her out for an ice cream." Cuan said and he left.

Caitlyn smiled and then looked at Eden when he joined her. "I guess you were up all night.”

“No. I decided to take a nap and then I would go to the station once Arianna left and ask about you after I got the call." Eden said. "Does he know?”

“Yeah." Caitlyn said. "He just bailed me with the chief and then covered for me.”

“Seems like a special type of man." Eden said.

“Well I am not interested in guys. My focus needs to be on getting Contasha back home." Caitlyn said.

“With an injured hand?" Eden asked.

“Okay maybe right now it should be in getting the house cleaned for Arianna before she has a fit when she gets home." Caitlyn said and she went to the kitchen and cleaned the kitchen and the rest of the house even though her wrist protested loudly and afterwards she went and crashed on her bed.

◦♥◦Ɽ◦♥◦

Caitlyn sat on her bed trying to work through some paperwork and groaned softly when she heard Arianna's two spoiled brats arrived home from their shopping trip and she began wishing the summer away so they could go back to college when they called her. She went downstairs and did their biddings until late before crashing and she went about doing her best to keep them and Arianna happy over the next couple of weeks and would have forgotten about her birthday if Eden did not wake her up at five that morning with a giant choc chip muffin that had a candle in.

“Happy Birthday Princess." Eden said and he handed her a box.

Caitlyn smiled at him and then blew the candle out before she opened the box and looked at the fancy pair of high heels. "Thank you.”

“You are welcome. I thought you would need some for when you go visit your father's lawyer instead of those dirty old sneakers." Eden said.

Caitlyn smiled at him and then kissed his cheek before she ate her muffin. "Until I was able to go and see the lawyer, I will have to do Arianna's bidding so I need to get out of bed.”

“I know." Eden said. "Just try and have fun.”

“Thanks and thank you for breakfast." Caitlyn said and she got out of bed and got changed after he left her room and then went downstairs and she made breakfast and took it up to her step-sisters and Arianna and just did her best to stay cheery even though she was kept busy the whole day through and she collapsed on her bed at ten. She woke up at six again and went downstairs and frowned when she heard Eden talking to someone before she went to the front door and looked at Cuan. "Morning.”

“Morning. I brought you a gift for yesterday." Cuan said and he handed her an envelope. "It is not much but I thought you would appreciate someone remembering your birthday since you live in a nightmare.”

“Thanks but I did get a gift from Mr. Eden." Caitlyn said.

“My apologies." Cuan said. "I have to go. I am meeting my parents for breakfast before I go and crash after a long night.”

“Enjoy." Caitlyn said and she closed the door and then went to the kitchen and she looked at Eden who has started breakfast already. "I do not know what I would do without you.”

“Probably be in trouble a whole lot more without reason." Eden said. "What did you get?”

Caitlyn smiled and she opened the envelope and took the birthday card out and then opened it. She took the gift card out and read it before she looked at the concert tickets. "Christian music concert Saturday night and he gave me a gift card just for incase I needed money to buy a cute outfit because of the women around here.”

“I know you are not into the whole Christian thing but you have been dying to get out of the house." Eden said. "You are not paying for it so I think you should go and enjoy it. At least you will be away from this place for a few hours.”

“You are right." Caitlyn said and she placed everything back into the envelope and stuck it into the pocket on the inside of her summer jacket before she began helping Eden and then went and gave the women upstairs their food and got busy with her 'chores'.

◦♥◦Ɽ◦♥◦

Saturday afternoon Caitlyn stood in front of the mirror in her room and looked at the new bell-bottom jeans and white strappy silk gown-like top with pink and orange flowers all over it with the high heels Eden gave her. She did her makeup and then brushed her hair and put an Alice band in before she took her purse, phone and summer jacket and then headed out and kissed Eden's cheek before she went outside when she heard the car honking.

“It is mine!" Ronelda, the eldest of the two girls at twenty-three yelled racing down the stairs.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and then went outside and climbed into the car after kissing Cuan's cheek and she smiled at him when he got in on the other side.

“You should tell your step-sister not to have her mouth open like that. Just now she chokes on a fly." Cuan said while reversing out.

Caitlyn giggled and she put her safety belt on and then played with her necklace. "I am going to be honest with you, Christian stuff is not my thing really.”

“But you still came which is more than I can say for a girl I dated for about two years who claimed to be Christian but made excuses for going to church and feigned headaches when I wanted to go to small group and stuff like that until I dumped her about two years ago." Cuan said. "I would prefer you being Christian but I will not let that come between us. You need to get away from home and I feel the need to go out and have a blast.”

Caitlyn smiled and she felt a whole lot less nervous and enjoyed pizza with him for supper before they went to the huge church where the concert was set up. "This is so different.”

“There is a coffee shop and a book shop and a gift shop and I think they have a clothing store too." Cuan said. "Of course it will sell Christian stuff but still.”

“I like exploring." Caitlyn said.

“Well the stuff are open late tonight due to the concert happening." Cuan said.

“How do you know?" Caitlyn asked.

“Well firstly because I am a member of this church and secondly because it is on the posters everywhere." Cuan said. "I also got these tickets at half-price because church members were able to buy the tickets every Sunday at a twenty-five percent discount at the book store and all first responders, marines and police officers get them at an additional twenty-five percent discount if they have their ID cards with them. Not everywhere but the sales that happened at the churches had that discount running.”

Caitlyn nodded and she went into the huge auditorium with him and just marveled at the stuff around her.

“The balcony seats have chairs for the elderly people, pregnant couples, disabled people and parents with little kids. Usually this auditorium is rigged for about five thousand people seated just on the floor. The balcony can take another thousand I think." Cuan said. "At the moment we are squeezing for at least seven thousand on the floor.”

“Wow." Caitlyn said and she listened to more facts about the church and she smiled when he slipped his hand into hers and then gently pulled her in a direction. She followed him closely and then smiled shyly at the young man and woman they met around the middle.

“Caitlyn, this is Hugh and Emily. Hugh is my best friend and Emily is his date for the evening but she is actually his cousin." Cuan said. "Guys, this is Caitlyn. I told you guys a bit about her.”

“It is nice to meet you." Hugh said and he shook her hand. "I am heading to go and buy refreshments at the coffee shop quick since Cuan bought our tickets due to his officer privileges. Would you like anything?”

“I do not usually get offered something to drink." Caitlyn said. "I just have water on outings because it is the safest thing to grab on the way past a fridge.”

“Well tonight is different and I want you to think about it and then decide." Cuan said. "Or you could get water if you really want to because I am taking you out for a milkshake or sundae at a late-night roadhouse afterwards.”

“I think I just want a coffee." Caitlyn said.

“Latté or cappuccino?" Cuan asked.

“Last time I had a cappuccino was when my dad took me out for coffee for my eighteenth birthday." Caitlyn said softly.

“Well you could have a normal coffee as well if you would prefer that." Cuan said.

“No it is okay." Caitlyn said.

“Cream or froth?" Hugh asked.

“Cream, please." Caitlyn said softly.

“Would you like some potato chips or popcorn?" Cuan asked.

“Just plain salted crisps, thank you." Caitlyn said.

“Okay." Hugh said and he got Cuan's order before he and Emily left.

Cuan looked at Caitlyn and then kissed her cheek. "I do not want you to feel as if I am forcing you to do something you do not want to do, okay?”

Caitlyn nodded and she tucked her hair in behind her ear and she thanked Hugh once she got her stuff and she was quiet for about half the concert before she felt like she was loosening up and then just began enjoying the music and lost herself in the worship music. She looked at Cuan when they were on their way out and then kissed his cheek. "Thanks for bringing me.”

“You are welcome. " Cuan said and he smiled at her and kissed her temple before he showed her around and then took her to his car and opened the door for her.

“Thank you." Caitlyn said and she climbed in and put her safety belt on before she watched as he climbed in.

“Are you still up for a milkshake or would you prefer going home?" Cuan asked.

“I think I would prefer going home." Caitlyn said softly. "I need to get enough sleep that I can finish all my chores before bed time tomorrow.”

“I thought that all ended with your birthday because now you are a major so you can go claim your inheritance." Cuan said.

“If I can get to my dad's lawyer, yes." Caitlyn said. "But I have been too busy this week to go.”

“Seems to me you were kept busy on purpose." Cuan said. "Can you go and see the lawyer tomorrow?”

“No." Caitlyn said. "It is okay. I have managed two and a half years. A couple of days longer will not kill me.”

“True." Cuan said and he started the car and then drove to the Daniels Mansion. He climbed out and helped her out before he took her to the front door and waited while she unlocked the house.

“Thanks for an enjoyable evening and I will see you again another day." Caitlyn said.

“I am glad you enjoyed it." Cuan said and he kissed her cheek. "Sweet dreams.”

“Thanks. You too." Caitlyn said and she went in and locked up behind her before she went up to her room, got changed and went to bed.