God, I really didn’t want to be alone with him and praise be the Lord because right before the doors shut, Laurel snuck in and reached for my hand.
“Thought you could use a friend.”
If she only knew how right she was.
I really could use one. In more ways than one.
For a short, hot minute, I had George, but he turned out to be a dud.
I should have known a leopard wouldn’t change his spots.
There was so much I wanted to say, so much I wanted to get off my chest. Just to be able to talk to a real, honest-to-God friend, someone who would sympathize, understand,commiserate with me. Instead, I had no one, and I kept everything all bottled up inside me.
Did I know that staying silent wasn’t healthy? I sure did, but with no one around that I could trust, I kept my mouth shut.
About everything!
Of course, it didn’t help that I really didn’t know anyone here in Rosewood. While I was born in Rosewood, I didn’t grow up here, because the second I was old enough, my dad sent me away to the most expensive and prestigious boarding school he could find.
Yes, those things still existed, and my dad took full advantage of one when my mom died shortly after my fifth birthday.
In a way, I kind of understood. Dad just lost the love of his life, was getting ready to break ground on the Ski Resort and well, he really didn’t have time for a growing little girl. So, while Dad devoted his time to ensuring I had every advantage, I spent my formative years away from the only family I had.
On the plus side, I traveled around a lot. Saw some beautiful sights, met some wonderful people along the way, and even got a top-notch education.
Lot of good that did me because the first chance I had to spread my wings, I found myself pregnant with twins, and that’s when shit went sideways and downhill fast.
Because that’s when I met Freddie‘The Con Man’Hennessy.
It wasn’t my finest moment.
I would gladly admit that now, but in my defense, I was a scared girl who just found out she was pregnant. How was I supposed to know that the idiot I married was a two-timing gigolo who possibly had more than one wife out in the world?
What’s that saying...Never try to con a con man?
Yeah, well, I got played and if my dad’s attorney was right, that asshole was about to play me again, right out of my trustfund. ’Cause that’s what the bastard was demanding, or he was refusing to sign the divorce papers.
Looking up at Laurel, I whispered, “Thank you. Dad is private. He didn’t want to be in a hospital. He won’t listen to me.”
“That’s why I’m here, Josephine. Stubborn fool will listen to me.” George sighed angrily as the elevator doors opened into the spacious family-living quarters and George marched forward.
“Jack! Where the hell are you?”
“Go away!”
“Listen up, old man!” George shouted, storming off to pick a fight with my dad. “I don’t have time for your damn games.”
“Then go away!”
Standing near the elevators, I shook my head. “Dad has been a little combative lately. He only listens to George. I don’t know why, because George aggravates him the most, and he scares the home nurses I’ve hired. The only time Dad is remotely reasonable is when the kids are around.”
“Josie, can I ask what is wrong with your dad?”
“That’s just it. George can’t find anything wrong with him. Last year, Dad started having dizzy spells and was forgetting things. But so far, every test has come back negative. I thought if the kids and I moved back home, I could help take some stress off him. But he’s only gotten worse. Now, he refuses to leave and walks around in a robe all day muttering about stuff that doesn’t make sense.”
“God damn it, Jack! Where the hell are you?” George bellowed.
“Don’t you curse me, boy! I can still whip your ass!”
