AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Guess youarehungry. I know a place and on Tuesdays it’s not too busy. Later in the week they have an all you can eat prime rib and the lines can be crazy,” I said.
“Damn, don’t make me call the airlines again and switch my flight,” he joked.
“I’m sure you have a case waiting for you back home,” I reminded him.
“Not this week. I’m on vacation,” he said as I pulled out of the parking lot.
“I thought you were here on a case?” I said.
“No. I said I was here on business. Not the same thing,” he corrected.
Sure sounds like it to me.
“I’m sure that being a detective means there’s a lot you can’t tell me, so I won’t even bother asking,” I said.
“Or maybe you don’t want to know the answer.”
I shot him a quick look before focusing on the road again. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“I’m talking about Colton. You haven’t even asked about him,” he said.
Trying not to.
“I’m sure he is doing fine,” I said flatly.
“And you think that why?” he asked.
“Because he hasn’t called or texted.”And hasn’t asked me how I’m doing.
“I would say he is trying to respect your father’s orders. ‘Stay away from my daughter’ I believe is what he said.”
“Colton doesn’t strike me as a man who is told what to do. I thought he did what he wanted,” I said.
“Annabella, he knows that family is very important to you. He didn’t want to come between you and your parents. And honestly, he was blindsided by your father’s reaction. He has no idea why your father hates the Hendersons so much. Do you know?”
“No, I don’t. It’s been a long time. Dad came home from work saying that he’d never work for James Henderson again. And he didn’t. We weren’t even allowed to utter his name in his presence – it was a surefire way to set him off,” I said.
“Don’t want to know why?” he asked.
“Of course I do. I asked him several times. It always ended in an argument. In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m not big on confrontation,” I said. “And the way Colton just walked off, I take it he’s not either.”
“Oh, you’d be wrong there. I’m sure it took much restraint on his part not to get into it with your father. I’ve had to break up plenty of fights over the years because he won’t back down,” Jack said.
“Then why did he?” I asked.
“Because of you. He can’t change that he was born a Henderson, but if he fights with your father, there’s no coming back from that. Whatever you two have would be over for good,” he explained.
“Are you saying that…this might not be…over?” I asked, and held my breath waiting for his response.
“I know it’s not. At least not for him. What about you? Are you calling it quits or are you willing to give him time to find a way to make this work?” Jack questioned.
“Colton may be trying, but I don’t know how he can fix it. My dad is so stubborn. He’s never going to let me be with a Henderson.”He’ll disown me first.
“That wasn’t my question.”
I know.
“I…I’m afraid that if I hold onto hope and he can’t fix it, then this will hurt even more later,” I said softly.
