The house was so quiet Alex could hear her own heart beating in her chest as she lay there in bed. She thought a good shower would help clear her head and calm her anger and frustration, but she was wrong. Now more than ever, she was upset with herself. She simply couldn’t believe Jayden betrayed her trust. Everything was a lie. She punched the pillow a couple of times before snuggling her face against it.
An hour later, her BlackBerry rang. Who could it be? Jayden? Is he calling to apologize?
She picked it up and noted it was from New Zealand.
“Hello?”
“Alex, it’s Dad.”
Alex felt the knot in the pit of her stomach. “Hi, Dad. How’s things? Are you all right?”
There was a long, intense pause. “Alex, I know what’s going on. I know you’re not in New York for a conference.”
Alex felt as though her heart dropped down to her shoes. “Wh—wh—what?”
“I know you’re with a man.” Another pause. “I’m very disappointed in you, Alex.”
“But, Dad, I—” She knew when her dad said he was disappointed in her that it was a big deal. He never said that to her except when she did something very stupid. Her throat was so tight with emotions that she couldn’t find a way to express it.
“I want you home, Alex. I don’t want you with a man who treats you like you’re worth nothing. You’re better than that. We love you. Come home.”
Her voice shook with emotions as she said, “All right. I’m coming home.”
She hung up the cell and just sat there, staring into space as tears brewed in her eyes. Then she tossed the BlackBerry to the side of the bed, threw herself onto the soft pillows, and cried her heart out.
* * * * *