My Father's House

Chapter 54

"You are killing me right now!" The plump lady on the sofa shouted. The man across from her did not look remorseful, but he didn't look murderous either. Such an idle statement she'd made with no idea what she was talking about. I rolled my eyes faintly and ducked my head to look out of the window beside to me. This was my favorite coffee house in New York, but even here I couldn't escape reminders of what I'd been through six short months ago.

The busy traffic, the honking horns, the shoving pedestrians. I was back to my life now. Try as I might, the bustle of the city could never completely drown out my memories. The counseling helped, certainly, but nothing could take the memories away. They were a part of me now.

Keeping my gaze trained out the window, I took another sip of my coffee. I loathed people's petty confrontations. I pushed aside the manuscript I had been working on and rubbed my temple, wishing my headache would go away. Even now, I couldn't decide if I wished the whole thing had never happened. The events had scared me for life but they had also given me a new outlook of the world. A more realistic outlook.

Unannounced, Kael's face flew into my mind. I wondered what he was doing now. I hoped he was alive. My fingers played habitually with the locket. Ava had insisted he would end up dead if he continued his charade much longer, but he hadn't seemed to care. He was running the business now, still working with treacherous international criminals and biding his time before one of them became wise to his duplicitous scheme.

The emptiness Garrett's absence had brought weighed heavily on me. I frowned and rubbed my temples again. I had taken for granted his friendship. Now that it was gone, I had trouble coping with the hole he'd left in my life.

Another customer came in the coffee shop and the bell jingled for what seemed like the thousandth time. The person behind me leaned back in their chair and bumped mine. They mumbled their apologies, but I ignored them.

Bored, I rose the cup to my lips and glanced over its edge to see what pathetic individual had come in this time to whine about their life over a cup of java. When my eyes fell on the man I dropped my cup. Sprays of coffee and glass assaulted the surrounding tables.

Someone shouted, but I didn't pay attention. I jumped up. I was shaking with disbelief and excitement.

"Garrett?"

I took a few steps forward, not believing my eyes. It was him. He had aged quite a bit in the last six months. More gray was at his temples. Distinct lines encircled his eyes and mouth.

"Caraleena Harper. As I live and breathe," He whispered.

"Garrett!"

I flung myself at him, jumping up into his arms. I was laughing and crying at the same time.

"Garrett, thank God you're alright!"

His laugh was mixed with tears as well. "I never thought I'd see you again, Harper."

A few seconds later, I loosened my hold, pushing back just enough to see him, returning my feet to the floor.

"How is this possible?" I asked. This was almost too good to believe.

Garrett shook his head and said, "I have so much to tell you. So many awful things I've endured." He gave me another quick hug and commented, "Kael. He didn't hate me as much as I thought. He saved my life, Harper."

"Kael?"

I looked away for a moment, amazed. After all this time, Kael had succeeded. Garrett glanced toward the street and I asked, "Is he here?"

I pushed out the door, vaguely hearing Garrett's protest behind me, "Hold on, Harper, wait!"

I took in the busy street, the traffic, each pedestrian that passed. I tried to see across the street, but the masses failed to yield a familiar face. I noticed a dark figure standing in the shadows of a green awning across the street. I waved, hoping it was him, but the person didn't wave back in recognition. Without acknowledging me, he ducked around the corner, seconds later. Honestly, it would have been inconceivable to have them both walk back into my life. I turned back into the café and my friend.

I laughed at Garrett's perplexed face which brought out his smile as well.

"You haven't changed a bit," he said. He held two coffees he had grabbed while I dashed outside. I showed him to my table and we sat down, unable to stop smiling.

Garrett closed his eyes as he savored a sip of coffee. Finally, setting it down, he said "I don't know where to begin. Perhaps it would be best if I didn't."

He watched me knowingly. The girl who fainted at the sight of blood and cowered away at the possibility of danger sat across from him. A year ago, he would have been wise to be cautious.

I twisted the locket between my thumb and forefinger. "Tell me everything, Gar," I said and leaned across the small wooden table. Dropping my voice, I added simply, "I'm intrigued.

The End.

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I'm so glad I decided to share my first novel with you all. Please comment and let me know what you thought of My Father's House. Whether praise or criticism, every vote and comment from you has been so helpful and makes writing so much more fun for me. If you enjoyed Harper's story, look for a sequel coming soon!!! 

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