Awakening Book One of the Trust Series(73)

Lionel always did have a soft spot for orphans, as he was one himself. “I never knew that.”

“But what is bothering you about Garrett?”

“As Caitlyn’s mentor, I need to spend a lot of time with her. Remember the hours upon hours you spent with me my first couple of years?”

“I saw more of you than your own father did.”

“Exactly! Well, let’s just say that Garrett has not taken kindly to that either and was thinking that there was something more than the mentor-student relationship going on.”

Lionel’s eyebrows rose. “And is there?”

Declan thought about the night before but quickly shook himself out of it, his response aghast. “No! Never! Caitlyn is a very good friend granted; sometimes I think only you, my father, and her get me sometimes, but that is it. Friendship is where it ends.”

“Just making sure. It’s been a while since I have seen you with a girlfriend, ever since Janelle.”

“Yes. And you and I both know that did not work out.” Janelle had definitely not worked out. Janelle and he were polar opposites; at first, that was the attraction. She was carefree and wild, while he was tight and reserved. They balanced each other out, or so they thought, he had even contemplated proposing to her at one point. But it soon became obvious that the differences were too great. Her father was the head of Trust Corporation and a Descendant, but yet she desperately wanted out of the whole Trust/Cine Tofa scene. She wanted nothing to do with the responsibilities of being an Actual; she wanted to live her own life, without the restrictions. She wanted him to come with her, buy a house somewhere, both get jobs, live a normal life forgetting about what they were.

Declan could not make that sacrifice for her. He cared too much for the Trust, he was the Trust. He loved these people and wanted to protect them and the normal humans as much as possible. By leaving and living a normal life, he felt that he was abandoning them and his father. Declan couldn’t do that; wouldn’t do that. Janelle did not understand. Eventually he and Janelle went their separate ways. Sometimes he checked up on her to see how she was doing. She was living in Wisconsin of all places, attending graduate school. Last he had heard, she was dating a normal human.

Lionel interrupted his thoughts. “I know the two of you did not. But if memory serves me correctly, that relationship was over two years ago, Declan. Don’t think that it has escaped your father and I that you have been busier than normal lately, and most of the time it is with Caitlyn. I think we both had figured that maybe there was more to the two of you. When we saw the two of you at your home a few months back, there seemed to be quite a bit of potential. Surely it would not be the first time that the mentor/student relationship bloomed into something more.”

Declan shook his head at the absurdity of that. “Not in this case. As I have told you before, Caitlyn is a prodigy. Her talent is amazing. Not only is she learning at an extremely accelerated rate, but she is smart, strong, and capable. You met her, Lionel. Unquestionably, you could tell the same as I that she was someone who was going to be a tremendous asset to the Trust.”

“Yes… I did see that. Your reports on her progress have been more than impressive. Caitlyn probably has the most potential of any new Actual since yourself, Declan. I understand why you would want to spend so much time mentoring her. But even you realize there is more to life than training and council meetings. I also taught you that there needs to be a balance, Declan. And you are precariously standing on the edge. Certainly there are plenty of women here to provide some distraction. And with all the stress of everything going on, you could use that. If you still plan to ignore what is right in front of you, then find a pretty girl and woo her. Who cares if it is not love? Companionship is nice too.” He winked at him.

Declan rolled his eyes. He could not believe that Lionel was trying to play matchmaker with him and Caitlyn Young. “Well, I was thinking that I might take a few days to myself, get away from all of this. Not saying I want companionship, but a beach with nothing around to distract me sounds nice.”

“That sounds wonderful! Get away; forget about the Trust and all its stresses. Even Trust members need a vacation. Remember a few days away, and the Trust will not fall apart, Declan.”

“I’m sure it won’t.”

With that, Declan hugged his friend and said his goodbyes. He would go away. It would give Garrett the reassurance that he was not after Caitlyn, would let him recharge, and hopefully give him an open mind when he returned to figure out who was giving away Intel. A vacation was just what Declan needed.