The Day I Chose My Parents Over My Fiance Chapter 06
I was jolted back to the present. On the other end of the line, the anger in Tristan’s mother’s voice had caved into desperation.
“Audrey, I was wrong. All of it – every single thing that was my fault.”
“You didn’t come to the engagement party. Lily put on your dress. She wore your ring.”
“Tristan kept waiting for you. When you didn’t show, he saw Lily wearing your dress. Your ring.”
“He lost it. Tore the whole venue apart. When Lily told him you were gone, he was screaming – ‘She didn’t
leave. She wouldn’t leave.”
– “He ran out – said he was coming to find you and then… then he…”
“Your name was the last thing he said before he lost consciousness.”
“Audrey, I am begging you. Please come see him.”
“He might not… he might not make it this time…”
She fell apart. Nothing left but choked, ragged sobs. I was gripping the phone so hard my knuckles had turned white.
A hand closed gently over mine before my nails could break the skin. I looked up. Both my parents were watching me.
My mom squeezed my fingers.
“Honey, don’t worry about us.”
“He did save your life. If you can’t live with yourself walking away, get off at the next stop.”
My dad leaned forward.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Your mom and I already talked it over.”
“If you really love that boy, we’ll move out here. Be closer to you.”
“That way, if he ever makes you cry, you’ll have somewhere to go.”
I looked at them – really looked. Somewhere along the way, their backs had stopped being straight. That stoop had crept in so slowly I almost hadn’t noticed.
Their eyes had gone cloudy around the edges, the sharpness fading year by year. I swallowed hard.
“But Dad, your back. You know what happens when the cold really settles in.”
“The winters up here would destroy you.”
He waved me off with a grin, like I’d said something ridiculous.
“I’m tough as a tank, kiddo. I can still throw you on my back and spin you around, same as when you were little.”
My vision blurred.
“I don’t believe you.”
His face faltered. He started to argue, but I didn’t let him.
“My friend who picked you up told me everything.”
“Your back seized up the second you got off the train. Mom wanted to put a heat patch on it.”
“You wouldn’t let her. You were afraid the smell would embarrass me in front of his family.”
“You sat in that thin suit for three hours. They never showed up.”
“It’s too cold up here, Dad. We’re going home.”
The line went quiet. Then a sharp click. Mrs. Hayes had hung up.