AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Instead, I swallow the sour thickness in my throat and force my voice to be steady. “Micah, I just wanted to see you.”
This is all I can manage to say without risking a very loud, heaving sob. Diving behind the wheel of my car, I slam the door closed behind me.
He knocks on my window, says my name, but I can’t deal with looking at him.
If I look at Micah right now, I’ll be reduced to that lonely little girl who sobbed out her heartbreak after yet another gesture of friendship was refused.
To preserve my remaining dignity, I drive off without a second glance.
Chapter10
Tess
After speeding away from the east side, I squashed my tears of embarrassment, worked on my laptop until midnight and then fell asleep on the couch.
Today, the sting remains.
But I’m about to be late for work.
The garage door is slowly creaking open when I see Uncle Josh’s police cruiser pull up to the curb. He steps out and waits while I back the car to the end of the driveway and lower the window.
“I’m here bearing gifts.” He hands over a white bakery bag. “Your favorite.”
I peek inside and inhale sugary goodness. “Thanks. If ever there was a day that I needed cheering up, this is it.”
Uncle Josh flattens his hand on the top of the car and leans in to take a closer look at my face. “What’s wrong?”
Partial truth will have to do. No way am I about to vomit out all of yesterday’s Micah angst.
A tension headache blooms at the back of my skull. Uncle Josh waits while I shake out a pair of Tylenol and down them with a mouthful from my water tumbler.
“It’s nothing. Just being dramatic amid a grueling campaign that’s taking a toll. Not just on me. I saw Dad taking his blood pressure pills this morning. He said his doctor had to increase the dosage.”
Josh peers into the empty garage. “He’s gone already?”
“Yes. He’s speaking at Em City Community College and then he’s having lunch with a group of donors. There’s some stuff at campaign headquarters that could use his attention but I told him I’d handle it.”
My uncle’s face resettles on me with concern. “You’re doing too much.”
“Me? No, I’m all right. I don’t mind working hard. Anyway, the day is fast approaching when I can go back to being an ordinary realtor.”
“Is that what you want?”
I realize I might have said too much to my uncle. “I’m not cut out for the high stakes world of politics. Not a word to Dad. Please.”
“No need to ask.” He slides his hand across the top of the car. “Don’t you know I’d never rat you out?”
One of the pills feels like it’s caught in the back of my throat. I take another sip of water. “He expects me to follow in his footsteps. At some point I’ll have to tell him that’s not in the cards.”
One of my favorite things about Uncle Josh is that he always listens and weighs every word I say. I was about five when I ran to him in tears after accidentally destroying an anthill. He took my concerns seriously and then patiently explained that the ants are very used to rebuilding their hills.
Josh’s gaze wanders as he silently considers his next words, which I expect will be a pep talk. “Sometimes Stuart does a poor job of understanding other people.”
It’s about as close to criticism of my father as I’ve ever heard from him. Yet I doubt he’s talking about himself. No, Josh has always received unwavering support from his older brother.
“I don’t want to let him down.”
His face softens, full of sympathy. “I know that, Tessie. But you have your own life to live, no matter what he says. How can I help? Can I take anything off your plate?”
