Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
“Hey, I’m supposed to be the one to say something romantic like that.” He smirks, taking me into his arms.
“That thing you mentioned about my dad before. You said you were going to expose him and the Williams family. How?”
Casey takes in a deep breath, like he doesn’t want to say what he’s about to say. “I know he’s your father, Michelle. But he’s been skimming money from the church for years and using it to make himself rich.”
It’s like a blanket of realization settles over me. I nod and step away from Casey and go over to the window.
How simple the forest is. Only nature. No politics, no humans angling for power. Nothing but a beautiful landscape to admire.
“I thought he might be doing that.”
“You did?” Casey asks. “What makes you say that?”
I turn to face him. I can see the interest written across his face.
“Before we were really wealthy, back when my mom was alive, whenever something would come up where my dad needed something–a boat, a pool, a cabin–he’d just throw some fundraiser for the church, and we’d suddenly have the money for it.”
“Son of a–” Casey curses under his breath but stops himself before he finishes. “Do you think you could get proof of this? Your father’s records at home maybe?”
I feel myself go tense. Even now, after all this, I’m still nervous about following through.
“I don’t know, Casey,” I admit. “I hate him, but at the end of the day, he’s still my father. What if he goes to prison?”
“I understand,” he replies, rushing to me and pulling me into his arms. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. When he finds out you’re pregnant, he’ll let you go.”
I look up, feeling myself start to tear up.
Am I not good enough? Am I failing to do my part for the man I love?
“Are you sure? You’re not mad at me?”
Casey smiles and kisses me. “Of course not, baby. And yes, I’m sure. We are going to be together.”
11
CASEY
Taking Michelle back to her car has to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But when she finally checks her phone, she has over twenty missed calls from Jerry. I drop her outside the gate to Jerry’s house, just to make sure I’m not spotted and things don’t get out of hand.
“I’ll see you soon?” she asks before stepping out of the cab.
“Of course you will.” I pull her to me and kiss her deeply. We’re getting so close. “Soon we’ll be together, and you’ll be free of him. Free of them both.”
She smiles, and my mind is overwhelmed with thoughts of our future together. How can a woman so perfect exist?
“Okay.” She smiles. She grasps the door handle and is just about to step out of the truck when I take her wrist and pull her back. Her eyes widen, and she looks back up at me expectedly, waiting.
Say it.
“Hey, I love you. You know that?”
Tears well in her eyes. A moment later, she nods as her smile broadens. “I love you too, Casey.”
My chest swells with such emotion, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It’s the greatest rush in the world. No drug could ever compare to what I’m feeling right now.
I pull her to me again and kiss her once more. Deeper this time, longer. I hold her in my arms, not wanting to let her go. But I know I have to. I have to get things done so we can fully be together, or things could collapse around us. Time is critical right now.
As hard as it is to do, nearly impossible, I pull my lips from hers and tell her I have to go. Neither of us wants it, but she understands. I run my fingers through her hair one last time and watch as she steps out of my truck, blows me a kiss, smiles, and shuts the door.
I drive off, trying hard not to think about her going back to the same house that Jerry is in. Focusing only on what I need to do to get her away from him.
When I get back to my apartment, I find my mom there waiting inside for me with an elderly lady in a tangerine colored dress with a lime shawl.
“Honey, this is my friend, Margaret,” she explains. “She works for the church.”
I try not to burst with excitement as I go over to her and shake her hand.
“Nice to meet you. I see my mom has already made you some tea. Can I get you anything else?”
“No thank you, dear,” she replies. Despite her frail appearance, Margaret’s voice sounds like a newscaster’s. “I’m just fine. Don’t need to be waited on. Eighty years old this November.”
“Eighty?” I reply, impressed. “You don’t look a day over sixty!”
Margaret frowns, but I can see she’s also smiling. I take a seat at the table across from them and glance at my mom.