In the Lindsay family, "mother" was like a forbidden word. No one dared mention it.


    With a sigh, Nanson looked at the young man, "Hey, kiddo, what''s your name? Leave me your


    number, will ya? I''m a born and bred Cloudcrest local. If I hear anything about your mom, I''ll give


    you a call."


    Gerard rattled off his digits. "I''m Gerard Lindsay."


    Nanson looked up at Gerard and continued, "My name''s Nanson Yeager. Just call me Nanson."


    Meanwhile, in the Capital City.


    Edna was out on her balcony, talking on the phone.


    Suddenly, her face went pale, "What did you say? Cloudcrest. He''s gone to Cloudcrest."


    If Gerard had indeed gone to Cloudcrest, all their secrets could have been exposed.


    Panic surged through Edna like never before.


    Had her eighteen years of hard work been in vain?


    No. She couldn''t ept that.


    "Keep your shirt on," the voice on the other end said, "Gerard doesn''t have a clue right now, and he


    won''t find Carole. But we need to get the Lindsay n to bring Gerard back pronto. If he keeps this


    up, trouble''s brewing."


    "I got it." Edna hung up and rushed over to the Lindsay family mansion.


    "J. We''ve got a situation."


    "What''s the fuss about?" J set down her chicken noodle soup.


    Edna continued, "Darleen Fletcher''s ssmate told her that Gerry never went to Saltwater


    Metropolis. J, are you sure Gerry went there?"


    J nodded affirmatively, "That''s what he told me."


    "Could something have happened to him on the road?" J frowned, "Where''s the butler? Check


    on Gerry''s whereabouts, stat."


    The butler promptly set out to investigate.


    It wasn''t long before they tracked down Gerard, and the butler returned with a strange look on his


    face, "Madam, Gerry..."


    "What happened to him?" J asked, impatient.


    The butler continued, "He''s in Cloudcrest."


    J was stunned. What in the world was Gerard doing in Cloudcrest? Was he looking for Carole?


    That little bastard!


    She had raised him from diapers, and he hadn''t even bothered to tell her before he went off in


    search of that flighty Carole.


    Did he even consider her, his grandmother, anymore?


    "The scoundrel. The absolute scoundrel." J mmed her fist on the table.


    "J, calm down," Edna quickly stood up to support J, "Gerry''s just a kid, and he doesn''t


    understand. Maybe he just went to Cloudcrest for a bit of fun."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    J didn''t respond directly but instructed the butler instead, "Get someone to bring Gerry back


    from Cloudcrest immediately."


    "Right away, madam," the butler hurried off to make arrangements.


    As the butler''s figure disappeared, J sat back down, unable to help coughing loudly.


    Edna soothed J, "Maybe Gerry just missed his mother, that''s all. You mustn''t get upset."


    "That woman, fit to be Gerry''s mother?" J fumed, "When he was just a little thing, no bigger


    than a kitten. I raised him with sweat and tears. Would he even be alive today if it weren''t for me?"


    The memories brought a fresh wave of anger.


    Anger at Gerard''s thoughtlessness.


    Anger at Carole''s flightiness.


    Edna added, "Gerry''s young now, but when he grows up, he''ll understand all you''ve done for him."


    "Grow up? How much more does he need to grow?" J looked at Edna, "He''s already 19 years


    old. He''s about to start college. Edna, you tell me, how much longer does he need before hees


    to his senses?"