Kelli woke up slowly to the intense pain in her head. She looked around the room that was disheveled and found her mother looking at her from the couch she had insisted be brought from her house. It was a small request, but since she felt so bad and sorry about what she’d inadvertently caused, she didn’t want to ask for too much.

 

“You don’t eat… you don’t talk… I’m worried about you.”

 

Kelli looked at her mother and knew that the woman probably only wanted the best for her, but this was one of the things she missed about being on her own. There was no one that came into her room and stared at her. Usually she really wouldn’t care, but right now it felt like a train was going through her head.

 

“I’ve brought you a little something,” her mother said as she pointed to the night stand.

 

The water and what looked like aspirin may go quite a way with the headache and pain for betrayal. It was enough that she was able to sit on the side of the bed and take the medication, but she knew that her mother was going to be ready to talk about whatever she had on her mind, and she wasn’t in the mood for that right now.

 

“Mom?” Kelli said after she waited for her mother to either say something or get up and walk out. They all knew she was the mother of the year, and she was as patient as the statue in the backyard, but she was just not ready.

 

“Yes, princess,” her mother said gently like she thought a confession or a long monologue was going to come out of her daughter’s mouth.

 

“I’m not really ready to talk yet, but when I am you’ll be the first to know.” Kelli wondered how long she was going to have to lay here and not say anything.

 

Kelli heard the sigh and knew that her mother was going to give her a break. Her mother was nothing if not consistent. She always thought that is how the rest of the family got by with her father’s sporadic behavior and limited interactions. Her gentle and quiet mother was always here and ready to try and pick up the pieces.

 

“I guess that has to be good enough. You’re just like your father. If you aren’t ready for something, then it’s just not going to happen. You two are so much alike I don’t think you even realize it. Don’t scrunch up your face… it’s true.” Her mother walked to the door but stood there and waited for her to look up at her before she walked into the hallway and closed the door.

 

Hmmp… passive aggressive much?

 

She had a lot to drink last night and into this morning, but that didn’t make what she saw on the DVD her brother had given her any less guilt producing. Her father had told her he knew for a fact that Carson had shot Argo himself even though Carson himself had told her that he didn’t. She’d been mocked and ridiculed for believing a common criminal over her flesh and blood, but the truth had somehow been taped, and she had witnessed with her own eyes that her lover had been telling the truth and her father had lied. She felt like she was in some alternate universe. Her father had always preached that you had to tell the truth to those you loved, and she’d always believed what he’d told her because of that, but either something was wrong with the system or he didn’t love her anymore.

 

Taking a big breath, she picked up her phone and called the number she’d only texted up until now. This shouldn’t be this hard. They’d spent time together, and she’d wanted to stay with him in that little cabin forever, but that was before she lost her cousin and her whole world turned to shit.

 

“Hello,” Carson answered like he’d been sleeping. His deep sexy voice always made her feel so many things, aroused, safe, and happy, but in the last month she’d been trying to reprogram herself away from him. It hadn’t been working, but she’d been making a very strong effort. Now that she had him on the phone, she was really nervous, and there were so many things she wanted to get out but she was at a loss of what to say… how to start this conversation that really needed to be had.

 

“Kelli? I know this is you.”

 

“Hi, Carson. How have you been?” She said knowing that she probably sounded like a lunatic. She’d read some of the text messages calling him names and wishing bad things for him so to call and be all cordial was insane, but at least the words had started. For a minute she thought she was going to have to hang up and try again after she felt better, took a shower, ate a sandwich, built a rocket ship or any of the other things to do in the world before she called back.

 

He laughed that rough sexy laugh, and she could almost feel it through the phone. That was one of the things she had enjoyed. Laying on his chest while they talked in the dark there would be times when he would find something humorous, and she would be able to feel his laughter.

 

“Well this is a good change from last night, I guess. I’ve been going out of my mind with boredom. How are you? Since we are going to act like we are mere acquaintances and not the knock down drag out lovers that we used to be.”

 

“I’m well. I wanted to talk to you alone. There are a few things I have questions about, and I want to know the truth.” She thought he would be happy about this call, but he didn’t say anything for a few seconds.

 

“Where and when?” Crisp and clean. That was how his voice was. It didn’t waver, and he didn’t waffle. It was times like this she couldn’t remember why his calm, cool demeanor rubbed her the wrong way sometimes. Oh yeah, she wanted him to lose his shit when he had sex with her instead of being so in control. There was that one time, but it happened right before her world fell apart.

 

“How soon could you get to my boutique?” This was such a risk, but it was one that she had to take. There was a lot to put together to make this work, but if he would do it, she’d make a grand effort.

 

“I could be there tomorrow afternoon.”

 

“Okay then let’s meet there at 2 PM. I have to go now, but I really am looking forward to seeing you.” She didn’t know why she felt self- conscious, and she wasn’t much for being shy, but there was something about him that drew out a lot of things that didn’t usually pop up.

 

“I’m looking forward to it too.” His husky voice made her tingle in a way she thought she may never tingle again. It wasn’t just a sexual relationship she had with him; they’d shared a lot of themselves.

 

She hung up before she started asking questions that would either make her upset or jealous as she had no right to be either things. Kelli knew that she and her family had been in the wrong, but she wondered what had made Leo go against her father and show her something she’d never have found by herself.

 

Getting herself to the shower was the most important thing. She was going to have to figure out a way to make it to her boutique tomorrow and be alone. It was so difficult to do in the past, she’d stopped trying, but if it didn’t happen the way it was supposed to, she may just stage a breakout and worry about the consequences later.