Broken Road (17 page)

Willie continued driving, silently listening to everything his daughter was saying. They had always been close and were able to discuss more things than most fathers and daughters did. When Angel finally fell quiet, he gently placed his hand over hers and said, “I understand how you feel. This can’t be easy. I mean, who are you supposed to believe? Your cousin or a total stranger?”

“A stranger who makes me feel so unbelievably incredible or a cousin who is known for doing and saying anything to get her way.”

“True. My only advice is that you give it a little time. Maybe then things might seem clearer, although it does seem as though you’ve already made your decision based on the fact that you haven’t returned any of his calls.”

“I’ve made a decision that I’m not comfortable with,” she responded sadly.

“You can always change your mind.”

“I suppose. Believe me, I’m struggling with that choice.” Her eyes began to tear up again, but she refused to let them spill over.

Willie stifled a grin. “Didn’t you just meet him a few days ago?”

“Yes, but Daddy, it’s so hard to explain. I swear I’ve never felt an emotion so strong or so quickly for anyone before. I feel like a magnet being pulled by some invisible force toward him. It’s a little frightening.”

“You know, you’re never going to know the absolute truth about his feelings unless you speak to him. Yes, he might be lying to you as Morgan says, but then again, perhaps she’s the one lying to you to get you to leave him alone so she can swarm in for the kill.”

“Nice way to speak of your niece,” she said with a slight grin as she gave him a sidelong glance.

“She’s my niece and I love her, but I’m not blind to her faults. She’s always been selfish, egotistical, and too ambitious for her own good. I’m sure her own mother sees it, but just doesn’t want to admit it.”

“I suppose I can understand that. It must be hard to see your only daughter turn out to be so opposite of what you tried to raise her to be. I just don’t understand it…Aunt Helen is such a sweet, unselfish, and giving mother. How is it possible her daughter turned out this way?”

“Perhaps she was too giving,” he said solemnly.

“How do you mean?” Angel asked curiously. Based on her father’s reaction, it was obvious this was a subject he had given much thought to.

“She never said no to her. Whatever Morgan wanted, Morgan got. She doesn’t know what it’s like to not get things her way. I’m sure your aunt meant well, but I think she may have done her more harm than good by not letting her learn firsthand one of life’s more important lessons, which is that one doesn’t always get what one wants.”

“Is that why you and Mom constantly say no to me and Luca?” she said, once again smiling.

“First of all, we do not ‘constantly’ say no. As I recall, you and Luca have never wanted for anything…”

Angel smiled and chuckled before saying, “I’m only kidding, Daddy. You and Mom have been extremely generous to us.”

Ah, that smile of my daughter’s could melt an iceberg
, he thought. He smiled back.

“Yes, we have, but to be honest with you, there were many times when we could have and wanted to say yes, but opted to say no to teach and prepare you both to deal with disappointment. It also taught you to be grateful for what you do have.”

“Boy, you two are smarter than I give you credit for.” She looked at him while he stole a quick glance at her and then she squeezed his hand gently and said softly, “Thanks.”

Chapter Sixteen

“I
f you don’t fold those, they’ll wrinkle,” said Janet. Jarrod turned to find his mother standing directly behind him while he stuffed clothes into his suitcase. She was so quiet that he hadn’t heard her enter the room.

“I’ll just iron them when I get there.”

“Sure you will,” she said sarcastically. “Why don’t you just let me do that?” She gently pushed him aside and began to take over the packing. Jarrod didn’t argue with her. He hated the task of packing, so the less he had to do, the better. She began to take everything out he had already placed in it and started over again.

“Are you okay?” he asked her, looking concerned.

“I’ll be alright. It’s not easy watching your son leave home.” She blinked away tears that were beginning to form.

“I know…but you did have eighteen long years to prepare for it.”

She gave him a halfhearted smile. “A hundred years wouldn’t have been long enough.”

He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and whispered in her ear, “You did a great job raising me. Thanks.” Then he gave her a quick peck on top of her head. She just smiled past the tears that were already flowing, having lost the battle to control them, reached behind, and lightly patted his cheek with her hand.

Shortly after dinner Alec asked Jarrod to join him for a walk around the block. The evening was warm and humid with a few scattered stars making an unusual appearance by besprinkling the night sky. As they walked together, side by side, Alec said, “Y’know, it’s not going to be easy around here without you.”

“Is this your way of saying you’re going to miss me?” Jarrod asked, grinning.

“No. It’s just that you’re the buffer between me and the folks. Now with you leaving, I’ll have no buffer.”

“So you’ll just have to learn to deal with them on a mature basis. You know, like a grown-up would do.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Alec said, rolling his eyes.

Jarrod just smirked and said, “So, what’s going on? I know you didn’t ask me to join you for a walk just because you suddenly felt the urge to get some exercise.”

“Just wondering what’s been going on with you and Angel. You haven’t spoken much of her lately.”

“Nothing much to say. I had to stop calling,” Jarrod said as he bent down to pick up a penny from the ground.

“Heads up or tails up?” Alec asked as he leaned over to see the penny.

“Heads up,” Jarrod responded as he placed the penny in his pocket.

“Cool. So, why did you have to stop calling her?” Alec asked.

“She changed her number.”

“Ouch.”

“Tell me about it,” Jarrod said, frustrated.

“Listen, there’s something I want to tell you. A rumor I heard.”

“What rumor? I knew something was up.” Jarrod slowed his pace a bit. He had been feeling some discomfort and stiffness in his leg since early that morning, which he surmised was brought on by the humidity and the likelihood of rain either later that evening or the following day. After the accident it seemed as though he was able to predict oncoming bad weather as well as, if not better than, a meteorologist.

“I heard from a reliable source that Morgan broke up with Tim and she’s looking to get back with you.”

“Who’s the reliable source?” asked Jarrod inquisitively.

“Can’t say. I’ve been sworn to secrecy. I gave my word as a gentleman not to say…”

“Who?” Jarrod asked loudly and impatiently.

“Angelo Sardone,” Alec said without compunction.

Lifting his brows and grinning slightly, Jarrod tittered at how quickly his brother ratted his friend out and said, “Remind me never to rob a bank with you. You can’t be trusted with a secret.”

“Too late. You already did,” Alec reminded him.

“That’s true. You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

“Nope. I’m more loyal to family than acquaintances.”

“I guess I’m lucky to be family then,” Jarrod said, smiling.

“I’ve always told you you’re lucky to have me as a brother.”

“Repeatedly.”

“You don’t seem surprised by the info,” Alec stated.

“I’m not.”

“Why not?”

“Morgan’s been calling me and leaving messages telling me how sorry she is and how she regrets breaking up with me. She told me she wants to get back together and that she’ll do anything if I’d just give her another chance.”

“Have you called her back?”

“Nope. I have no reason to. I haven’t any interest in getting back with her,” Jarrod said matter-of-factly. He stopped and bent down to rub his knee.

“Do you want to stop and rest?” Alec asked.

“Nah. I’m fine,” he said as he loosely shook his leg and then began to walk slowly with a slight limp. Alec noticed the limp and decided to cut the walk short and turn around.

“Let’s head back. We can finish our conversation on the way,” he said to Jarrod. Jarrod nodded, and they turned back.

“I’m glad to hear you have no interest in getting back with her,” Alec said. “She’s no good for you.”

“I know. Listen, there’s something I haven’t told you.”

Alec stopped dead in his tracks and said, “Oh God, now what?”

“Nothing weird…just that I overheard the conversation you and Morgan had that day she broke up with me.”

“You mean, when she and I were outside?” Alec asked nervously.

“Yeah,” replied Jarrod.

“How?” asked Alec tentatively as he began to walk again.

“My bedroom window was open, so I was able to hear everything.”

“Dude, I’m sorry. I should have checked first.” He felt terrible remembering the things Morgan had said.
It must have been crushing for Jarrod to hear
, he thought.

“Nah…that’s fine. I’m glad I heard. At least I know the truth and my eyes were opened to what kind of person she is.”

“Yeah. Not very pretty, huh?”

“That’s being kind.”

Alec paused and took a deep breath before saying, “There’s more to the rumor.”

“Really? What?”

“She’s going to Florida.”

Now it was Jarrod’s turn to stop cold.

“What the hell do you mean she’s going to Florida?”

“From what I hear, she’s basically going out there to follow you.”

“Please tell me you’re kidding?” Jarrod said hopefully.

“I wish I were.”

“What the hell is wrong with her?” he asked angrily.

Alec placed his hand over his heart and pretended to swoon and then said in a mocking voice, “She’s in love…”

“She’s nuts is what she is.”

“I won’t argue with you there.”

“Man! What am I going to do?” Jarrod rubbed his face brusquely and began to walk fast, causing his limp to intensify.

“I think you better call her and find out if there’s any truth to that part of the rumor.”

“Doesn’t look like I have much of a choice, does it?” He shook his head in total annoyance and said, “This sucks.” He then dug into his pants pocket, removed the penny that he had found, and threw it angrily across the street.

Chapter Seventeen

M
organ was quietly sitting at her desk in her room writing an e-mail message on her laptop to her friend John. She reviewed it and smiled, liking what she had written, and quickly clicked Send before logging out. She hoped he would respond quickly as she was eager to know what his reply would be to her request. In truth John was more of a friend of a friend. She had met him at a party that her friend Annette had thrown last year. He was an acquaintance of Annette’s older brother and was visiting from a city in Florida named Alachua. She remembered the name because it sounded like a sneeze and she was tempted to say ‘God bless you’ every time he mentioned it. He and Morgan hit it off immediately, and he gave her his home and e-mail addresses so they could keep in touch, which never did happen. She had, however, placed the information in her handbag but had forgotten she even had the small slip of paper until just recently. After retrieving it, she Mapquested the distance between the two cities and found out that they were in close proximity to one another. Hopefully John would agree to let her stay with him until she could find a place of her own. She remembered he had mentioned that he had roommates, so she assumed he would have to speak with them first. She would keep her fingers crossed and maybe even consider saying a prayer or two.