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“Yeah with Linda and Matt. They broke up ages ago. But Molly and Sam are still together.”
“The Molly and Sam from the same high school year as you?”
“Yeah. They stayed back in Henderson and got married.”
There's a start if I ever saw one. "Married huh?"
She nods “They have a little boy now. We’ve remained friends although they’re not Drew’s favorite bunch. But then again, Drew doesn’t like a lot of people. You, for instance.”
“Understandable." Drew was great as an employee, but most disapproving of my relationship with Bree.
"What about Maria?" I know I have a lot of groveling to do, that's if Bree's mom ever forgives me.
She looks at me solemnly and I see pain in the golden brown depths of her eyes.
Bree slowly shakes her head.
"Hell no! Don't tell me…"
"She died Jordan. Five months ago."
"Jesus." I shut my eyes against the pain and regret. I'll never see that woman again.
Maria was the last of Bree's family and friends that I met but we took to each other with a speed that shocked everyone, ourselves included. She was the older, louder version of Bree and she would feed you to a stupor given half a chance. I loved her to bits.
"She got melanoma shortly after Dad returned from prison."
"Come here, baby." I gently drag her into my lap and take her in my arms. To my delight, she comes willingly, burying her face in my neck.
"The treatment was successful at the start, but it came back seven months ago, even more aggressive than before. I think at that point she just gave up the fight."
"I'm so sorry Bree." I wish I could have been there for her through the loss of both parents.
"It's alright. It happened really fast, so she didn't suffer. And I think she missed daddy too much. She'd waited five years for him, and when he returned as a completely different man, a part of her died."
"So, is Drew now the only family you have left?”
“Apart from Uncle Ben, my mom’s older brother in Staten Island.”
“And Drew is still in Henderson?”
“Yeah, he’s literally growing there. He’s that unlikely to leave.”
I need to find a way to talk to the man.
“Okay.” I rub her back soothingly. “I’m terribly sorry about what happened to your parents. And Bree", I look deeply into her eyes. "I'm sorry I hurt you all those years ago.”
She looks away. “Thanks, Jordan. I appreciate the apology.” But won't accept it? I decide not to press the issue.
“So do you mind me asking why you were crying so hard?”
She starts sobbing on my shoulder again. “I was taken aback by what you told me and wondered if everyone I knew lied to me about that night. It's frustrating that I can’t remember what happened before the accident. I mean…did it look like— you know, like I didn't want to be there?” Her gaze searches mine.
Red-rimmed and puffy, her eyes are still the most beautiful I've ever seen.
I know what she’s asking and recall how she linked her arms around the fucker’s neck and kissed him.
I shake my head. “I’m sorry. If I thought you were being harrassed I would have stepped in.” Another regret of mine, although it was probably for the best because I know without a doubt I would have killed the man if I'd laid hands on him that night.
