Drew Gets It Right: Sequel to Never A Cougar

by Ludima Gus Burton

Drew Lawrence is now a widower. He returns to Rayburn determined to forge a loving father/son relationship with his estranged, sixteen year old son, Todd. Slowly he realizes that his ex-wife, Audrey, has changed. She is confident, independent and stunning. She now has a career. She shows no interest in him as a man, only as her son’s father. Drew is drawn to her and wants to rekindle their lost love. Todd is happy to have this happen and that they can be a family again. But fate has other plans.

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Romance/Sequel

Prologue

Dark clouds raced across the sky. A light mist came down. The world was still.

Drew Lawrence placed three red roses at the base of the gray stone marker. One for each happy, glorious year of their marriage. His gaze traveled over two words:

Beloved Wife

His voice quiet, he said, "My darling Kay, you left me three years ago. Since that time, I've loved your family and my work, but it's not enough. What am I to do?"

He closed his eyes and bowed his head. He felt her gentle warmth surround him.

"My Beloved, you must live your life to the fullest. Find another and be happy."

His head snapped up, eyes wide.

"Kay?"

He looked around, but she wasn't there. His instant joy disappeared. But he had his answer. Then the mist faded away and the sun lit his world. He turned and walked down the hill with a lighter step.









Chapter 1

Several inches of snow lined the sidewalk in front of the stores. While thin clouds drifted slowly across the blue sky, bright sunshine warmed the January air.

Drew Lawrence slid on a patch of ice and stopped short, inches away from colliding with a woman.

"Sorry," he said. He stepped back. He looked down into a woman's face. Shock raced through his veins.

"Audrey?"

"Drew?"

He stared at his ex-wife. "This is a surprise," he said.

His gaze swept over her. Although six years had passed since they last met, she looked much the same. Well, maybe a little thinner, though hard to tell in her winter coat. Her brown hair was shorter. He had never noticed those red high-lights before. But he always had admired her long black lashes that brought attention to her deep green eyes. She never used to wear stiletto-heeled boots--afraid of falling. He liked them. They made her taller, her head reaching his shoulder.

"Are you visiting?" he asked. She had moved to San Francisco after her marriage to Harvey.

"Todd and I returned this past weekend. Todd wanted to graduate from his old school."

That didn't surprise Drew. Audrey had always been the doting mother who granted Todd, their only son, most of his wishes. He wondered what role her second husband played in this move.

"What brings you to Rayburn?" Audrey asked.

"I've left Jefferson and am in partnership with Alan Sidon again."

"Really? Like old times. Best of luck to you."

"If you ever need legal advice, we're here for you," he said with a grin.

Audrey shrugged her shoulders. "If my divorce isn't finalized soon, I may take you up on it."

"Divorce? I'm sorry. I thought--"

Before Drew could say more or ask any questions, Audrey glanced down at her watch and said, "I have to run. I've an appointment with the guidance counselor to get Todd enrolled in school. See you around."

Drew watched her hurry away. A divorce? The last he knew, she and Harvey Hanson were happily married. And what of Todd? What did he think about all this?

Where had time gone? His three-year marriage to Kay Holland had ended with her tragic death in an auto accident. Their marriage would have been perfect if not for his son Todd's rejection of Kay.

Todd, only ten years old at the time of their divorce, had wanted his mother and father to reconcile. As time went on, Todd had bitterly resented what he considered his father's abandonment and blamed Kay for it. It was even worse to have his father marry a woman who was fifty years old. Todd didn't want a stepmother, and especially, not an "old" one. He refused to come to their wedding or to visit them in Jefferson. Todd's rejection hurt Drew to his very core.

Then Todd's mother married Harvey Hanson, a former classmate of Audrey's, six months after his father's marriage to Kay. To top it off and make matters worse, they moved to San Francisco. Todd hadn't spoken on the phone or written to him since. However, Drew hadn't renounced his parental love and responsibility. He kept the lines of communication open between them by sending letters, e-mails, birthday and Christmas gifts.

Now, Todd was in Rayburn.

Drew felt his spirits rise. This was his chance to patch up their differences, to have a father and son relationship once more. He wondered where Todd was living and wished Audrey had given him a phone number.

Shaken by the encounter with Audrey, Drew retraced his steps to Alan's office.

"Alan, I just had a shock," he said, storming in. "I bumped into Audrey outside the bank. Did you know she was here?"

"No. All I knew was that a divorce was in the works. A lawyer in California is handling it."

"I can't believe this. The last I heard she and Harvey were happy together. She left for a school counselor appointment before I could find out where they're living."

"She'll let you know."

"This is my chance to patch things up with Todd." Drew frowned. "I don't know anything about being a father to a sixteen year old. It's not like I can toss a ball to him or buy him an ice cream cone."

"Yes, you're in for it," Alan said. "My advice? Give it time. Wouldn't hurt to read a few books or surf the internet."

"Good advice. Well, I may as well get back to my house."

"How's the remodeling going?"

"Great. I got rid of the wall-to-wall carpet. The floors are sanded and refinished. I'm glad I kept the old house after the divorce. It's still in good shape, despite being rented all these years."

"Are you moving in?"

"That's my plan. However, I just had a thought. Do you think Todd and Audrey would like to live in it again? But, probably not. Might bring back some unhappy memories."

The house had been Audrey's home for many years. What would she think of him living there again?

He had to contact Audrey as soon as possible. She had his son who was a stranger to him. Come to think of it, so was Audrey. The passing years had blurred the outlines of his first marriage. Scenes and past emotions had been pushed away or forgotten. He, too, was an unknown person to her. It would be interesting in the coming weeks to see what developed between the three of them.

Kay had taught him so much about loving and caring. About expressing his emotions and not being afraid to say I love you. He had cherished her spontaneous hugs and kisses. And, most of all, her laughter and her love of life.

Drew thought about Brandon, Kay's grandson. He was now eleven. What good times they had had in the past years. Another gift from Kay--an opportunity to play a big part in the life of a small child. Why had he never done this with his own son? Had Audrey shut him out with her obsessive care? Had he let her?

Since Todd was now in Rayburn, this was his chance to mend fences. Never would he be a workaholic father with no time for Todd.

"I remember Audrey's flower gardens," Alan said, bringing Drew back to the present.

"They're not there any more--just grass." Everyone had admired her gardens and landscaping. He recalled she had made the house comfortable and homey during their married life.

"I'll be on my way." At the door Drew said, "We'll talk about the clients on Monday if it's okay with you."

Alan nodded and Drew left.

Alan picked up the phone to call his wife. Phyllis would want to know Audrey was in town.

They had known Drew all his life. When Drew finished law school, Alan had asked him to be his partner. Their practice flourished and their friendship deepened despite of the ten-year age difference. He had tried to warn Drew that he worked too much, that he was ignoring his wife. Drew hadn't listened. When Drew and Audrey divorced, it had come as no surprise.

While he waited for Phyllis's return call, Alan thought about the last six years. Kay Holland Lawrence's beautiful face, radiant smile and loving ways were recalled easily. No wonder Drew fell in love with her. The fifteen-year age difference didn't matter. Her death in an auto accident, after only three years of marriage, was heart breaking. For the next two years Drew had assured him he had a life in Jefferson. Alan recalled Drew's conversation in October.

"I have my law practice and a circle of friends. I have Sunday dinner with Anne and Eric every week as we did when Kay was alive. Saturdays are filled with things to do with Kay's grandson, Brandon," Drew said.

"Are you happy?"

The silence stretched between them. "No, I'm not," Drew said finally. "I've tried, really tried, but it doesn't get any better. I miss Kay and the life we had together. I'm grateful to have had those happy years, but they're in the past."

"You'll figure it out," was Alan's encouragement.

After Alan told Phyllis of his conversation with Drew, she had a suggestion.

"Alan, darling, why not close the branch office in Jefferson and have Drew practice with you again? You need to lighten your load. We could even take that vacation we've been planning for years."

Alan laughed. "That's a great idea."

Two days later Drew answered the phone. Alan had a proposal for him.

"Why don't you move back to Rayburn and join me in the practice?"

Drew was silent.

"Well?" Alan prodded.

"This may be what I need to do," Drew said.

"You'd even have a few of your old clients again. It'll be like old times," Alan said and laughed.

"You sure make me want to say yes right away."

"If you decide to accept, you'll need time to wind up your affairs in Jefferson," Alan said. "This is October. Plan to come back in January. A new start in a new year."

"That sounds good to me. I'll have Thanksgiving and Christmas with Anne, Eric and Brandon. Of course, it'll be hard to leave Brandon. Kay's daughter, Anne, never really warmed up to me, but she is good to me, despite it. Jefferson hasn't felt like home without Kay. It'll be good to come back to Rayburn."

"We'll talk more later."

"Sure thing. And, thanks, Alan. You're a true friend."