Part 43 (1/2)

”I need to know what you expect of me. I don't think Drew, and I are going to stay together.”

He looked shocked. ”Are you two having problems? What did he do?”

”It's nothing like that. Drew is fine. I just need some time. I don't know how to process all of this,” I lied.

I should have thrown him under the bus right there. Anyone in their right mind would have wanted him to suffer a slow painful death. I wasn't blessed with a normal mind, whatever that was.

”Morgan, I don't know how much Drew has told you, but all of this is yours,” he said, waving his weak hand around the room full of dead animals. ”You will never want for anything for the rest of your life.”

I knew that was a lie. Money couldn't buy what I needed.

”None of this will be Drew's without you. If he walks away now, he'll be homeless,” he added.

”He's not the one that wants to walk away. I am.

And I don't want that. Drew runs your company better than anyone could. He is good at it. He takes great pride in it,”

I stated, not having any idea what I was saying. Why wouldn't I render the b.a.s.t.a.r.d homeless? He deserved it.

He smiled at that. ”He always did, even when he was still just a boy. What do you want, Morgan?”

”I don't know. I guess I just need some time to figure things out.”

I went there with the intention of finding out how my mother became pregnant by his rich son. I wanted to know where she was, and what she was doing. It didn't seem to matter anymore. She was obviously one of the people who could be happy with money, and it was also apparent that she didn't need me.

I cried all the way back to Drew's or my house I should say. I knew what I had to do, and the sooner the better.

I walked the north corridor and unlocked the door to h.e.l.l. I didn't walk in, and stayed back as Drew slowly walked out. He stared at me cautiously with his hands in his pockets.

”I don't want any of this,” I said, crossing my arms. ”I'm going back to my small town, my job, and my friends.”

He nodded. ”I'll have Felix fly you there,” he said.

He took a step toward me and my heart fluttered as I closed my eyes.

I tried not to feel anything when he placed his hands on my arms.

”Morgan, for whatever its worth, I'm sorry.”

”It's not worth anything, Drew,” I replied looking up to him.

d.a.m.nit...Why did I have to go and look at him?

I was fine until he ran his hand up and held my face with his hand to keep me from looking away.

”I know it's not worth anything, but I do love you, Morgan, and if I could take it all back, I would in a heartbeat.”

I stepped away from him. I had to. I was having an emotional breakdown, and n.o.body in their right mind would forgive this man.

”I'm going to a hotel,” I said. ”I can't stay here.”

He let me go with a nod as his hand slid back into his pockets.

I stayed locked in a hotel room for three days. I

didn't shower, I barely ate, and I cried a lifetime of tears.

Finally, on the third day I called Drew.

”Morgan?” he answered on the first ring.

”I would like to fly out this afternoon,” I said.

”Okay, I will have Felix get things ready.”

I hung up. I was interested in carrying on a conversation with him.

I stopped and visited Mr. Callaway before going back to the house to pack. He looked a little better and talked more. I ate lunch with him, and for the first time in days, I felt like I was going to be okay. He hugged me and told me that I should stop by Desert Springs Hospital and say h.e.l.lo to my friend Derik.

I did do that. I felt the need for some reason. Call me a little malicious. I needed to rub it in.

The nurse directed me to his room. He was in a body cast, and his face was black and blue. He had a tube running down his throat and was hooked up to every machine possible. I didn't stay but just a minute because I knew that Jena was close by getting coffee, and I didn't want to run into her.

I bent close to his face. His eyes fluttered open with a look of pure terror.

”I told you not to f.u.c.k with me,” I whispered with a honeyed voice. ”Have fun s.h.i.+tting in a bag for the rest of your life.”

I was sure that Derik would never touch me or anyone else for that matter again. Ever.

I didn't see Drew while I packed a few things. I knew that he was watching me from his office, but I paid no mind. I shook my head with a snort when I realized that I didn't need to pack anything. I was going home, home to my cozy little house in Misty Bay. I had everything there.

Thinking about my little house in Maine gave me a warm comfortable feeling.

Chapter 19.

I thought about how things would be in Misty Bay as I stared out the small plane window. I knew that it wouldn't be the same. I was a different person than when I had left. I didn't know what was in store for Dawson and me, but I owed it to him to try.

Drew had arranged for a car to take me wherever I wanted to go once I had landed. That surprised me. I had the driver take me to my house. I needed time to myself to regroup before I let anyone know that I was home, wherever that was.

I smiled when I saw my old white Honda sitting in the drive. I hated that car so much, I loved it. It was beautiful there that time of year. I could hear the ocean screaming my name. I took a deep breath, savoring the warm summer, sea air.

I moved the flowerpot, hoping the key that I had kept hidden there was still there. It was and fell from the bottom of the pot, clinking when it hit the concrete porch. I opened the door and stepped in. I wasn't sure how I felt. I didn't feel how I had expected it to feel. I mean it still felt warm and inviting. It just didn't feel like mine anymore. I looked around and noticed the thick dust around the furniture.