Until You

Mindy

I woke up with a start, my head pounding.  I was so exhausted! It was morning and I looked out the window. Mom and dad were due back soon and I needed to clean up my act. I didn't want them to know anything. If my father knew I slept with a guy before marriage, he'd be heartbroken. He wanted the very best for me. If he knew what he did to me, he would probably kill him.

I got dressed and headed downstairs. Everything was exactly like it was when they left. I didn't need to hide anything. But I was full of secrets. Comforter in hand, I threw it away. I needed no reminders. And I remembered I had another set in my closet. 

I spent the day laying around. I didn't want to call or speak to anyone. Even though my phone rang, it was Sharon. She needed me to come in early tomorrow to help her open up. Jess was going to be late. 

I got into some schoolwork and tried to busy myself. Anything that would get my mind off of him. When I heard the door open. They were back.

"We're back!" Mom yelled up.

"Coming!" I ran down the steps. They had their bags in their hands and they had all smiles. "How was your trip?" 

"It was magnificent! I wish you would have come." Mom walked over and gave me a small hug. "I hope you weren't too bored."

Me? bored? no way! I had plenty of things going on in my head right now that were too painful and too strong to be bored. "No I just did some schoolwork and read a bit, but I missed you!"

I helped them bring their bags upstairs. Dad had questioned why my comforter was in the trash and I just told him I spilled nail polish all over it. He looked at my hands but there was not one nail was polished.

I busied myself with work and whatever I could do to keep busy during the week. Work was slow, due to the storms we had this week. He was still on my mind, though. I wondered what he was doing right now? Even though he treated me bad I still cared about him and I worried. He didn't look good that night he showed up at my door the night before. 

I was finishing up with the last client of the day when my phone rang. It was a number I didn't recognize. "Hello?" I answered.

"Hi, uh, is this Mindy?" the voice said on the other end of the phone. It was a male voice and one that I didn't recognize.

"Speaking." I thought this was another joke. Another one of his friends calling to pick on me from that traumatic night at Damion's house.

"Yea, well, this is Mike." And there was a long pause, "Tony's brother."

Why was his brother calling me? How did he get my number?

"My brother wrote down your number on a piece of paper and stuck it on the fridge." He laughed, "I'm not sure why but probably so he didn't lose it." I wondered where this was going. What did he do now? "I'm calling because I would like to talk to you." Another pause, "I know we've never met but there are some things that I think you should know about him, well, about how we grew up." I really didn't have any interest. I was still pissed off. And I wanted to forget about it. But my mind wouldn't.

"Okay," Was all I could say. "Can you wait until I'm off work I got to lock up tonight."

"Yea sure, um, I was hoping you would come by the cabin so we could talk." And, "Hes not here, he hasn't been here all week." That touched a nerve. Well where was he? How come he hadn't gone home that night?

"Is he alright?" I sighed. 

"Yea, well, I guess." I could hear the TV in the background. "Hes fine." He assured me. "I just need to talk to you about some things and I don't want my brother to know I am about to tell you these things but I really think you should know." I paused for a second. I needed a minute to think this out. What if this was some kind of joke or another lie? What if I showed up and Tony was there to try and talk to me? I didn't know what to do. But I took a chance.