They had a really good weekend. It was the best she’d had in a very, very long time. Amy ended up staying for the whole time and she loved being with Josh.

She also loved being in his house and not having to go back to her horrible shoebox of an apartment, with those creepy men.

Her excitement and lovely weekend was, however, short lived. On Monday afternoon she got a call from Dr. Carson. Her mother had contracted pneumonia so any plans for surgery had to be postponed until she got better.

Until then Dr. Carson was keeping a close eye on her with a course of strong antibiotics. She was grateful that her mother was getting such good care but she would have been happier to have the surgery out of the way. Waiting meant still being in the danger zone and further deterioration. However, waiting was what her mother needed now because her body wouldn’t be able to go through such an intense, invasive procedure with pneumonia. So once again Amy had to gather faith and strength.

As she was leaving Josh’s house the next day they got a surprise visit. Amy opened the door and found a man standing on the porch. He was just about to ring the bell.

It was Josh’s father. She’d seen pictures of him, but seeing him standing before her displayed the wealth of similarities he shared with Josh. Josh was the spitting image of him. Same piercing-blue turquoise, same strong features, same build, height, and smile.

“Hi, I’m—”

“Dad?” Josh said from behind her. Amy turned and saw him.

He’d been in the basement working out in the gym. His hair was dripping with sweat and his white jersey clung to his chest.

“Hi son.” His father gave Josh a tentative look, then returned his gaze to her. “I’m sorry, I can see that you were leaving.”

“Oh, it’s fine. It’s really great to meet you.” Amy shook his hand. “I should go, though, and leave you two.”

Josh caught her hand and tugged her back towards him. “No, stay.” He then bent down and whispered to her ear. “Can you hang back for a while?” He looked nervous.

She nodded. “Sure.”

He squeezed her hand looking grateful.

* * *

Josh took Amy into the kitchen while his father waited in the living room.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot like that. Did you have plans?” He should have asked her properly before practically dragging her back into the house.

“I was just going to brush my hair.” She giggled.

He reached for a lock of her silky hair and held the ends between his fingers.

“I can brush your hair for you.” This was the way they’d been since Friday. A continuous flirt cycle where she teased him painlessly with her beauty and he tried to keep his desires under control. Yes, he hoped for more, but this was fine.

“I’ll hold you to that.” She smiled sweetly. “Now go talk to your dad. You’ll be fine. I’ll bring in tea in half an hour or so.”

“You aren’t going to bring in tea because you want to check out my dad are you?”

Her bright green eyes widened and her cheeks turned that sweet rose color. “No, of course not.”

He chuckled, enjoying her protests.

“He looks like you, a lot.”

“Okay, well just remember I’m the real deal. And heck, I saw you first.”

“Oh Lord.” She rolled her eyes and walked into the office. “Don’t keep him waiting,” she called back over her shoulder.

No, he wouldn’t. He’d kept his father waiting long enough. For months.

Josh entered the living room and looked across at his father sitting in the armchair. He straightened up on seeing him and offered a smile. Josh sat in front of him and tried to think of what to say.

“How are you doing?” his father asked.

“Better.” Josh had made a full turnaround of his life. When he looked back to the mess of a person he was weeks ago, it made him feel good that he’d accomplished so much. He was training with the team and doing incredibly well with them, he’d given up alcohol completely and had done a full course of treatment with a therapist who’d worked wonders with him, and he didn’t have that doomed outlook he used to have of life. He was by no means a hundred percent, quite far from it, but he hoped to get there one day. Seeing his father was the last challenge. He’d geared himself up for the last few days to call him and planned to do it tomorrow, but this was good, even though Josh was still uneasy as hell.

“I’m happy to hear that.” His father nodded.

“How are you doing?” The last time Josh was this close to him he’d watched him sob by the gravesite, inconsolable. It was one of the most heart-wrenching moments of his life.

“Better too. Clarissa’s birthday was hard.” He nodded. “Everything’s been hard, but what’s been harder is not seeing you. I really, really miss my son.”

Sometimes he wondered how his father could offer him such pure, unrequited love that was neverending and unconditional. Especially since Josh had treated him so badly. His father had called him every day, and Josh had cowered away, hiding under his grief.

“I miss you, too, Dad.” Josh focused on him, focusing on the wealth of love he saw displayed in his father’s eyes and felt a sense of calm fill him. “I’m sorry for not coming to see you.”

“Son, I understand why you took everything so hard. I do, but you have to stop shutting me out. I’ve tried to do what works for you. I’ve stayed away, I’ve tried to visit, I’ve called you, and now I’m here.” He sounded desperate.

Josh pulled in a breath. “I know.” He wanted to make sure he explained his feelings to him in the best way. “I didn’t want to shut you out.” He brought his hand up to his chin. “I felt guilty for everything. It felt like I killed Mom and Clarissa. I felt guilty for taking away the lives of the people you loved so much.”

“That’s not true, son.” His father shook his head. “And you know I love you too.”

“I know.” His father’s love was something he’d never doubted. Josh just believed he was undeserving of it. “But unlike me, Clarissa was like some magical being who had the ability to spread joy, happiness, and love wherever she went, and Mom was your everything. I felt like I took them away from you.” Josh brought his hands up to his temples as the vein there throbbed under the pressure of his memories.

His father moved over to sit next to him and rested his hand on his shoulder. “Talk to me. Talking is good.” He offered a soothing smile.

Josh looked at him and took a moment to steady his emotions. “Mom was the love of your life. You loved her to no end, and I saw you fall in love with her every day. Not many people can say that about their parents, and not many people find love like that. I felt like I took her away from you. Their lives were taken away because of me and football.”

His father shook his head as he patted Josh’s shoulder. “It’s easy to blame yourself. But it wasn’t your fault. I blamed myself too. I was the father, the husband. I didn’t have a big game to worry about. You just wanted them there to watch you and be proud like we always were. There was nothing wrong with that. But I could have taken charge and told them not to come, not to drive after a storm. I could have done that. Josh, in all honesty, it was me who should have taken better care. But I never thought anything would happen.” He wiped away a tear that ran down his cheek.

Josh looked him over, finding it hard to believe that he’d blamed himself too. It was the same for Josh. The same for anyone who loved his mother and sister, and felt like they could have done something different to change the course of events.

“It wasn’t your fault, Dad.”

“I know.” He steadied his breathing. “And that’s the most important thing to realize. These things really do just happen, and we have to remember that they wouldn’t want us to suffer the way we have. It will make all the happiness we shared count for nothing.”

Josh nodded in complete agreement. “We should go to the cemetery together. Maybe we could go once a month.”

“Yes. I think that’s a great idea.” His father smiled. “I’ll be there for all your games, too, as usual, and we can support each other.”

“I’d like that. I think this season is going to be different than any other.”

“I see you’re playing the Centaurs first.”

“Yep, they are serious talent. But I think the season will be different because I’m different.”

“I see.” His father smiled.

Josh was different. He was taking things more seriously and trying to do everything by the book. He was trying to change in other ways, too. He looked towards the door and thought of Amy. It was her that helped him to get to this point. She helped in a tremendous way that he couldn’t have been more grateful for.

His father followed his gaze and a soft smile spread across his lips. “So, is that a new girlfriend?”

Josh looked back to his father. “Oh…um no. She’s my…” It didn’t seem right to call her his PA. Besides being insanely attracted to her, Amy had done a lot for him. She’d also awakened something in him that he never thought existed. She wanted slow and he wasn’t used to that. But if he had any sort of chance with her he’d grab the hell out of it. “She’s my PA,” he decided to say.

“Your PA?” his father humored him.

“She is.”

“Okay, I believe you. She’s your PA.”

That chance was something he may never have, but he’d enjoy their little before and after work kissing and flirting sessions.

At least she wasn’t averse to any of it and seemed to like him too.

* * *

Amy was glad to have the privilege of meeting Josh’s father. He seemed like a really nice guy.

True to her word, she brought out the tea like she promised in half an hour. At that point they’d talked about the more sensitive matters and looked in better spirits.

Josh invited her to sit with them and she listened with keen fascination as his father talked about the family property development business. He explained how he grew it and expanded to countries in the Caribbean and South America. She loved his talk of Italy and all the exciting places there. It was one of the places she desperately wanted to visit and planned to when she made it big as a designer. If. She shouldn’t get too overconfident. It was still an if.

She left them later than she had planned and headed back to her apartment. This was the part of the day she disliked the most. She hated when she drove out of Malibu and headed towards downtown L.A. and watched the scenery around her change. No more grand mansions, manors, and beach houses. No more style and glamour.

Amy could only describe where she lived as rough and unsafe. She parked in her usual spot and headed into the complex with more caution than she usually exhibited because it was later.

Police were outside again questioning witnesses to whatever crime had happened today. It was a daily thing here. She just made sure that when she was here she walked with her head focused straight ahead and got up to her apartment as quickly as possible.

As she got on her floor she heard talking and laughing. Amy hoped it wasn’t Dom and his friends, but sadly it was. She froze when she saw them standing at her door.

No, not at her door. They were inside her apartment, she quickly realized to her horror. She was shocked to see him holding a pair of her panties to his lips.

She would have run away but saw that one of the guys was holding her dress for the showcase. He was picking the rhinestones off and laughing.

“What are you doing with my stuff?” She’d been taught to never confront anyone who could have the potential to harm her. She’d been taught self-preservation over challenging a threat. But, as Amy looked at the dress she had worked so hard on, and saw that they had it and were destroying her chance to fulfill her dream, she felt like she wanted to die.

All she’d done most of her life was take care of others, but when it came to what she wanted the opportunities were always pushed back or delayed in some way. Or pushed out of her reach.

She put her heart and soul into that dress, and her last cent. So no, she couldn’t just run.

“Blondie,” Dom said, coming up to her. “I’m tired of waiting. It’s time for that Kit Kat.”

“Give me back my stuff,” she cried. The men behind him laughed and walked away. As they did she saw that they had her mannequin and sewing machine. She made a move to go after them but Dom grabbed her and held her back. “Let go of me,” she cried, pinching him.

He did let go, but not without striking her across her face first. She screamed as the impact of his massive hand split her lip and sent her to the floor, reeling in pain. It felt like her brain had been knocked out of her head as everything spun around her.

“Crazy bitch,” he balked. When she looked up to him cold terror gripped her as she found herself staring down the barrel of the gun he held at her. Certain this would be her last moment, she started to cry and shake. “See this, girlie? Next time you try something like that this will be in your pretty head. Be glad that I like you and have other plans for you. Go inside and wait for me.” He motioned inside her apartment. His gaze burned with such an intensity she felt her soul shiver. She did as he instructed, trying to make her body move against the fear and pain she felt. “Good girl. I’ll be back.”

Amy broke down the minute he left.