*Chapter 28*

The next morning came and went without any sight of Auds around the hotel. The guys got ready and headed for the castle to do their sound check. Urs was worried, more so now about the fact that Auds hadn’t turned up yet, rather than about seeing her again. They did the sound check and started getting into their stage clothes. The others were worried about her as well and Carlos had even asked Steve if he could find out what had happened to her. Sonia had tried calling her, but kept getting no answer. They had to start the show, but Sonia and Steve promised them that they would try and find her. After trying everything they knew to get hold of her without success, Steve decided it was time to phone Simon. He dialled his number and waited for him to pick up. When he did he said “Hello Simon, its Steve. No, everything is fine here, the show is underway. I was just wondering if you knew where Auds was, she hasn’t turned up yet and if she has, nobody can find her.” Simon sighed and said “I swear that woman is going to drive me insane, I’m sorry Steve, she was here last night with me having dinner and we were talking about how she felt about having to be around the guys again, Urs in particular and she was awfully nervous. She seemed to be having doubts about whether she could do it. But when she left here last night she was definitely going. She was going to drive down this morning.” “Okay, I’ll just keep trying to get her on her phone.” Steve said. “She probably isn’t answering it, when she was here and everyone kept phoning her, she just ignored it all the time. Let me try and see if I can find her. She may still be around here. But let me know if she turns up” “Thanks Simon, I’m sorry for bothering you and I will” then he hung up. Simon put down the phone and picked up his jacket. He walked out of his house and headed for Auds apartment to see if she was still there. She wasn’t there, so he tried ringing her and was surprised when she answered. “Auds, its Simon, where are you?” There was silence and then she said “Sitting in my car at a petrol station halfway to Warwick.” Simon was confused and said “Why, are you okay?” He heard Auds take a deep breath and then she said “I don’t know Simon, I really don’t know. I got so far and then something made me stop. I turned off at the next junction and have been sitting here ever since.” Simon shook his head and said “Okay, stay there and I’ll come and meet you, what’s the name of the place you pulled into?” Auds gave him the name and then said “I’m sorry Simon, I didn’t mean to cause anymore problems.” “Its alright Auds, but can you please phone Sonia or Steve as they are practically sending out a search party looking for you.” Auds groaned and said “God, I forgot all about them, I only just switched my phone on. I will do and thanks Simon.” then she hung up and started to dial another number. She got halfway through it when she stopped and changed her mind. She cancelled it and dialled a different number and waited for it to be answered. When it wasn’t she quickly left a message on the answer phone and then switched her phone off. She sat there for ages until Simon appeared and she must have been dozing as she jumped when he knocked on her window. She got out and just stood there looking at him. It was pretty late now and quite dark. He looked at her and said “What happened? You were fine last night. “ Auds nodded and said “I know, lets go and get a coffee, this place seems to be still open.” He nodded and she locked her car and they headed towards the little café.

They walked in and found that the place was open, but there was no other customers, they sat down at a table and ordered two coffee’s. Auds looked at Simon and said “I don’t know what happened, I was driving along one minute then the next I just couldn’t do it. I turned off at the first junction I came to and came into this place. I just sat there and did nothing for hours. I totally forgot about everything, where I was going or meant to be going, the fact that people were expecting me, everything. I just knew that I couldn’t drive down that road and go to that hotel.” She looked down and then said “And on top of all that, I’ve really lost Urs now.” Simon stared at her before saying “What do you mean, I’m sure he’ll realise that you’re just nervous, once you actually get there and see him you’ll be fine.” Auds shook her head. “After you told me to phone Sonia or Steve I dialled Sonia’s number then changed my mind and decided to call Urs instead, but he didn’t answer. So, I quickly left him a message and hung up. He’s obviously not wanting to talk to me or he would have answered.” Simon looked at her face, it was full of sadness. He looked at the time then said “I told you to do that about 2 hours ago, they would have still been on stage then, that’s why he wouldn’t have answered, did he phone you back?” Auds shrugged “I don’t know, I switched my phone off after I did it.” Simon shook his head in amazement then said “I am never going to understand the way women think, switch the bl**dy thing on and see if he phoned you back.” Auds smiled and said “Okay dad.” Simon frowned at her and said “God, I don’t sound like a dad do I, that makes me feel old.” He saw the grin on Auds face and said “Don’t even think about it. She laughed and switched on her phone. She had two messages, 1 text and 1 voice, she opened the text first. It said “Glad you’re okay, you had us worried, see you tomorrow. Sonia.” then she listened to the voice message which was from Urs. “Auds, its good to hear from you, I was getting worried when you didn’t arrive, I guess I shall see you in Cardiff tomorrow then.” Simon looked at her and said “Well?” She hung up and nodded. “He said that he had been worried when I hadn’t arrived and that he’ll see me in Cardiff, Sonia said the same in the text message.” Simon smiled and said “You are going to make it Cardiff aren’t you?” Auds looked down and Simon went “Auds” she looked up and said “Maybe” Simon sighed and said “What’s stopping you? Its obviously not Urs or you wouldn’t have phoned him.” She looked down again then said “Its David, I’m nervous of seeing him again.” Simon looked confused. “What did David do?”

Auds sighed and said “Nothing, but ever since the night at yours I’ve done a lot of thinking and I know it wasn’t his fault, I even told him that, but he’s Jodie’s brother and seeing him is going to be like having a constant reminder around of what she did to us.” Simon nodded then said “I’m beginning to understand, but you were alright with him the night at mine.” Auds nodded and said “That’s because I never really noticed he was there, I was more focused on Urs.” Simon nodded then said “Okay, this is what we’re going to do, we drive back to London to my house and we fly to Cardiff on the first flight we can get, okay?” Auds stared at him then said “You would do that for me? What about your work?” Simon smiled and said “Yes, I would and the guys are my work, so I can get away with going to see them.” Auds smiled then nodded and said “Okay then, thanks Simon.” They got up and left to drive back to Simon’s house in their own cars.