AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How’s your dad?”
He snorted. “How can a man have a massive heart attack, be out for days, and wake up as vicious as ever? He might be released tomorrow.”
“You’re kidding.” He’d been critical. So bad that the doctors had been preparing Teague, Lincoln, and Beau that he wouldn’t make it.
“Nope.”
Something muffled through a loudspeaker was in the background.
“Are you staying until he gets out?”
He sighed. “I don’t know.”
I couldn’t stand the struggle he was going through. He was being ripped in two for reasons I wasn’t sure he understood. His father was awful, but Teague was wonderful. He wouldn’t leave him alone. It wasn’t in his nature.
“Have you talked to him?”
“If you could call it that. I just wish we could have a normal conversation. He could start by apologizing to you.”
I pictured him in those white halls with his phone pressed to his ear, pacing. “I don’t need an apology.” If he left us alone that was all theI’m sorryI wanted.
“He owes you that.”
“It wouldn’t change anything.” What was done was done. It was the future that mattered.
“He wouldn’t do it anyway.”
It sounded so trite to compartmentalize my kidnapping like that, but what other choice did I have? Even more traumatic things had happened since, and if I focused too hard on the anger I saw in Hollingsworth’s eyes, I’d probably fall apart. So, no, I refused to give that man another ounce of my pain or fear. His apology would be words I’d ignore.
I finally coaxed Sadie to keep moving. Who was I kidding? She’d grown bored with the lamp post and decided we’d press on.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about family over the past few days,” I said, hugging the front of the buildings to let a woman pass.
“Yeah?”
“I’m trying to feel what I’m supposed to about my aunt and my parents.” I flipped my hoodie onto my head. “But that doesn’t make sense.”
“Whatdoyou feel?”
I thought for a minute. “I’m sad they died horrific deaths.” I hoped they’d had heart attacks before the fire, though I wasn’t sure. Technically, I didn’t know if the other bodies were my parents, but it was an . . . assumption. It was surreal enough that it had been my aunt in one of the barrels, so all I could assume was that if one was her then the others could have held my parents. As bizarre as that could be.
“I’m angry they lied to me. They robbed me of the choice of knowing my parents. I’d have liked to have decided if I wanted them in my life.”
It felt good to say that out loud. And once again, Teague listened without interrupting or adding his opinion. That encouraged me to go on.
“I might have shared blood with them, but they weren’t my family.” Pain stabbed at my heart. The truth hurt, but I’d rather face it than be in denial. “I’m thankful my aunt gave me a place to grow up. And I’m pretty much over how we left things. People make mistakes. They say things they don’t always mean. My life here is a thousand times better than it ever was there.”
I wished I’d had the kind of relationship with my aunt that I did with Miss Adeline. But Miss Adeline was one in a million. The bond we shared was unique and rare. I wouldn’t have given it up to go back to Cope.
“I don’t understand why they were killed. Was it the choices they made, or does it have something to do with me?” I tugged on the leash so Sadie would stop at an intersection.
“It could be both,” Teague said.
Maybe it was.
“I guess what I’ve figured out is that it’s okay for people not to be in your life, even if they’re blood.” I looked both ways before we crossed the street. “I don’t mean that we shouldn’t make an effort, but—” I tried to find a way to phrase my thoughts. “I like the family I’ve chosen. And that’s okay.”
I winced. “Does that sound heartless?”
