Chapter 15: A Light At The End Of A Tunnel

The Master Bathroom, The Rawsone Residence, Denver, Colorado....

Dripping wet from being soaked from head to toe, Julia Rawsone, slid back the shower door and stepped out into the open bathroom, the floor had been cold even before her wet bare feet touched it due to the marble design she insisted upon after they had finally gotten enough money to renovate the house into one from her wildest dreams. A quick glance in the mirror was a clear indication to how well she had been taking the entire ordeal. The bags under her eyes despite their lovely color and the lines in her face showed that she had not had a decent night's sleep ever since her husband disappeared.

Despite the appearances and shows of independence when it came to managing her life and just how many people knew about her troubles, Julia was in a state of perpetual limbo with Hadrian missing. Colin Winters being a new addition to her family wasn't in the least what she'd been expecting when the officers brought him over and the furthered admission by the man that he purposely abandoned her husband when he was a child and started a second family made her terrified that the apple had not fallen so far from the tree as it were.

In her heart of hearts, she knew that Hadrian would never have been the type to do such a thing and considering his overprotective nature he would never have been able to be apart from her or the girls for very long without reason.

Julia sighed as she made her way into the bedroom she shared with her husband three months prior. It seemed larger than ever before with the obvious signs of Hadrian inhabiting it being missing. Resolving herself to yet another night alone in the empty house, she turned on the stereo that sat on the dresser on the opposite end of the room. It was a constant source of comfort for her these last few months as the background noise made the house feel as lived in as it had been before her daughters left for their respective colleges.

She put on the disc changer and a familiar tune played in the background as her mind traveled back to one of the last times Hadrian himself had played the song to make her feel better. The girls were leaving for college and they wanted to drive themselves. He had to work but the family got together for one last meal before parting ways.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The Master Bathroom, The Rawsone Residence, Denver, Colorado...(2000)

Steam filled the rather spacious bathroom as a lone man stood amid the white marble tile and the constant steady stream of warm water that erupted from a glistening silver showerhead. His unkempt black locks were soaked along with the rest of him as more steam began to fill the elegantly designed glass encased shower. His semi-darkened complexion was partially visible through the glass as the steam continued to build up in the wake of his lengthy shower session. He'd been the first one up in the household he shared with his wife and fraternal twin daughters and it had been that way every morning since the first day they moved in. His first order of business was a shower before his wife awoke and the kids followed soon after.

At the moment , he seemed to be in a pleasant mood of sorts with his mind on the inevitable departure of his twin daughters as they ventured into a new phase of their respective lives. His eldest daughter, Samantha was ambitious to say the least and more or less ready for adventure. Like both of her parents, Sam wanted to go to med-school and study to become a practicing physician. Her fraternal twin sister Jessica was a different story, she inherited the natural inclination toward more artistic ventures from her father whom had been a little known artist since his youth and dabbled a bit now and again when he had not been heading up the psych wards or seeing patients via his own private practice.

To his patients, he was Dr. Hadrian S. Rawsone. To his fraternal twin daughters, he was something of an out of touch Dad, when it came to his wife on the other hand, he was the same boy she had to partner with during their science assignments with back in high school. In truth, Hadrian had not known how he lucked out with meeting his wife Julia, but he had been grateful every day since then. During school she was Julia Renwald, a beautiful girl with long dark hair, baby blue eyes, with skin of fair complexion. She wasn't into junk food and kept a healthy diet even then due to her desire to one day become a practicing physician. These days, she was Dr. Julia Rawsone and been retired some four years before the girls were ready for college.

Unlike most people, Hadrian was rather fond of his in-laws and they were quite fond of him. He'd been a loner since he was sixteen years of age being the only child of his then divorced mother and after her death it was only him and Julia before he was introduced to her family shortly before the twins were born.

Jasper Renwald had been none too pleased that his daughter had gotten pregnant right out of high school when she had so many plans for her future, but he began to tolerate Hadrian after the teenaged father proved himself and married his daughter. Jasper was as old school as a man can be and didn't take too kindly to Hadrian's long hair and carefree attitude when they first met.

Ann was another story, as she seemed to be more sympathetic to the young man that entered the lives of her husband and daughter. She apparently saw something in Hadrian that made her trust him and he'd been grateful to her ever since. Ann was essentially the mother figure Hadrian never had ever since Julia brought him home.

Looking back at it now, Hadrian believed it all might have been a dream if he had even believed it at all but now here he was about to watch his daughters embark on their own individual journeys in life and he had no idea what to make of it. He recalled all the skinned knees and constant bickering as well as the various pranks and various profession changes they had gone through when they were younger and it made him smile a bit to himself.

He and Julia had finally reached the threshold when it came to parenting and their tiny little angels were now on the verge of becoming strong and capable women in their own right.

With his shower coming to an end, Hadrian took the time to rinse off one last time before grabbing his drying towel and exiting the shower. The cool drops that cascaded down his skin met the chilly morning air for a few moments before he felt he'd been awoke enough to start his day out right.

Walking back into his bedroom, he took note of the fact that his wife had been up and the bed made as he moved toward his drawer pulling out a fresh pair of boxers and sliding them on after drying his hair once more before turning to the pair of black socks he had taken out previously. He didn't mind the chill as it only served to get him dressed faster and before he knew it he had on his white undershirt and navy blue suit slacks. He filed into his shiny black dress shoes and pulled on his white over shirt buttoning it up and adjusting the cuffs.

Next came his tie, and with a bit of work he had it done and in proper condition before he threw on the jacket his dark hair dripping water onto his shoulders as he moved. Hadrian took a moment to comb it back and set about sliding on his watch and drying off his wedding ring, a silver band that seemed to have gotten all the more shiny since his shower.

The moment Hadrian stepped out of the bedroom and down the stairs to make his way toward the kitchen, he could smell the inviting scent of coffee coming from the kitchen.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The Kitchen, The Rawsone Residence, Denver, Colorado...(2000)

Upon entry into the kitchen, Hadrian's dark eyes fell upon his wife all by her lonesome doing her best to make the final breakfast she'd share with her husband and both their girls before they headed out. She had been none too thrilled with them insisting on driving off together instead of being dropped off via their parents and Hadrian had negotiated one last family breakfast before they parted until the upcoming holidays brought them back together again. Julia had as beautiful as ever despite her shoulders sagging with worry and her hands busily moving about the kitchen while she prepared everything.

Hadrian took a moment to click on the radio letting it play at a reasonable level and made his way toward the kitchen. His wife was much too busy to notice that he'd snuck up behind her and nearly jumped out of his grasp when he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Dren don't...do that you nearly scared me to death." said Julia before turning to face her husband.

She thought him to be quite handsome since their first initial meeting and his unkempt dark hair seemed fitting with his carefree personality back then. He'd been more or less professional these days but there was always something pleasant about his smile that did it for her more often than not.

"Like I'd ever let anyone hurt you." said Hadrian pulling his wife into a good morning kiss.

She reciprocated it before returning back to her previous task of making breakfast.

{You know I need your love....You've got that hold over me....} chimed the radio in the background.

Julia had known all too well what the song had been, as Hadrian played it often when he'd been in a certain mood or when he sensed she had, Gerry Rafferty, Right Down The Line.

"Long as I've got your love....You know that I'll never leave...When I wanted you to share my life...I had no doubt in my mind...And it's been you, woman....Right down the line." Hadrian proceeded to sing along to the radio before planting one more kiss on his wife's cheek before moving toward the tableware and setting everyone's places as he continued to enjoy the rest of his song.

Samantha Rawsone made her way down the stairs with a knowing look on her face. She'd been showered and dressed just as her sister and parents had. Jessica couldn't help, but smile as she ventured behind her elder sister by fourteen minutes.

"Dad's singing again." said Samantha as if she'd been annoyed although she secretly found it as amusing as she had when she was a little girl.

Jessica laughed like always and watched her father air drum as it were, with a fork and spoon before setting them in their proper place on the table.

Looking at the girls, they couldn't have been more different. Both had reached the age of eighteen and it was surreal in a sense for their parents. Both girls had wished to attend school on campus complete with living in a dorm. Julia had been against it initially, given the costs and the distance they'd be away from their home but Hadrian managed to get her to see who good it would be for the girls to venture out on their own. Of course he made it clear that they would come get them at the first sign of them not being able to handle their new found freedom.

The two of them had come a long way from terrorizing the halls as toddlers, with Samantha getting into anything pertaining to sweets and Jessica having a knack for coloring any surface she got her hands on.

Being fraternal, Samantha had looked more like her mother with brown hair and equally brown eyes. She had a fair complexion and a slightly shorter build than her younger sister. As far as her personality was concerned, she was intuitive and practical when it came to life and learning. She had a bit of a mean streak when pushed too far and a secret love of pastries that matched her father's sweet tooth.

Jessica by contrast was sweeter in personality, fascinated by art and anything pertaining to colors. She was taller than her twin sister and took after her mother with having blue eyes and dark hair. She had a slightly lighter complexion than her father's and was a bit darker than her mother and sister.

While she admired her parents for their medical degrees and seemingly pleasant lifestyle, she was about as carefree as her father had been in his youth and itching for adventure. Hadrian often thought the girls complimented each other in terms of their respective ambitions and personalities and felt they'd have each other's back out in the world no matter what came at them.

Julia was a bit reluctant to let go but she knew they'd be responsible out in the world. She made sure to remind them that she and their father was only a phone call away if need be many, many times.

The girls sat down at the table and their parents joined them. It was to be the last time they would all get a chance to spend some time together before the girls headed off to college and Hadrian headed off to work. He'd been proud of his girls and looked forward to watching them achieve each and every one of their goals.

"I'll miss you girls." said Julia at last unable to suppress her sadness for very long.

Hadrian immediately moved to comfort his wife. She'd been dreading this day for quite some time and it was only now that he realized it was ever since the day they were born.

"Mom it's only college, we'll be back for the holidays." said Samantha not in the least sentimental despite her own encroaching sadness. She had not wanted her parents to think she couldn't handle being an adult after all.

Jessica got up from the table and hugged her mother and father than sat back down in her seat. They were going to enjoy this last meal together before everything changed and hoped that it would change for the better.

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ

The Master Bedroom, The Rawsone Residence, Denver, Colorado...

The song repeated a third time before Julia realized the phone had been ringing and turned off the music before answering it. Out of habit, she anticipated any call as one from the police about an update on her husband and had been resigned to remain as free handed as possible just in case anyone had word on what happened to him.

"Hello?" said Julia not aware that her voice had cracked due to the overwhelming sadness that crept in due to the old memory.

{"Mrs. Rawsone, this is Detective Gordon."} replied the gruff male voice on the other end of the phone. {"How soon can you get to Arizona?"}

Julia had been caught off guard by the question.

"A-Arizona...what?" she began before Gordon cut her off.

{"I believe we've found your husband."} said Gordon cutting through the pleasantries.

Julia nearly burst into happy tears. Then fear once more crept in and she asked the question she dreaded knowing the answer to.

"I-Is he alright?" she asked heavily concerned.

{"He's alive mind you, but you'll need to come down to Arizona as soon a possible."} said Detective Gordon.

"What's the name of the city?" she asked composing herself as she quickly grabbed a pen and pad to jot down the information. "Okay...thank you for telling me, I'll be on the next flight."

Julia hung up the phone and immediately set to work preparing for her trip.