Can I Trust You With My Heart?

Chapter 13

Italy- Christmas Eve- early evening

Sgt. Moore told his daughter he had a few Christmas gifts arriving special delivery for her, causing her to squeal with delight. Angela hugged her dad tightly as he gave a deep chuckle. "Now, baby girl, I have a lot to do so I'll drop it off before I go take care of some work. That way we'll spend Christmas together." He told her before grabbing his hat to put on his head. "Okay, dad."Angela began to say. "Here's a plate I made you in case I'm sleeping when you get back. Merry Christmas, daddy." She told him with a soft smile.

He smiled back as he took the wrapped plate of food, looking at her one more time before heading out the door. He drove ten minutes away to the International airport ,which wasn't far from the military base he lived on. Sgt. Alvin Moore had walked into the airport remembering Alan Matthews calling to tell him the good news. He also told him what Cory told him on the way to the airport that early morning. It seems his daughter ran away from the most important fight of her life. He didn't raise a quitter and he wasn't going to let her walk away from this again.

He glanced up from his thoughts when he heard his name being called. He smiled when he saw Cory stand before him. He was packed light ,but looked like he carried alot of weight on his shoulders. "Matthews!" Alvin greeted to Cory. "Sgt. Moore." Cory said and stood before him,with his hand extended. Alvin took one look at the hand and grabbed it before pulling Cory into a hug. "Cory, I'd be honored if you called me dad or pop, seeing how we may end up being family." Alvin told the young man.

Cory walked out the airport with his bag as he glanced at Sgt. Moore. "There's no maybe ,sir. It going to be." Cory said, sure of himself. Alvin just smiled and gave a small pat on Cory's shoulder. "That's what I wanted to hear. Now, this is the plan." He explained while they walked to his jeep.

Meanwhile back at the house

Angela had her Ipod hooked up to the mini speakers as she sat in the living room, reading. She was deep into her book when flashes of the last night she had with everyone came to her mind.

"I can't believe you,Angela. My best friend!" Shawn yelled at her. "I didn't cheat on you! You dumped me! You pushed me away! You walked out on me and left me like my mother did!" Angela yelled as Shawn stood straight along with everyone else and paid attention to her. "What? She did?" Shawn said softly as he walked up to her and touched her shoulder. Angela snatched her shoulder away from his touch as she turned away. "I didn't know. If I had known-." Shawn cut himself off. 

Angela turned around as she faced them all. "You would have what, Shawn? Stayed?" She asked him with a mock tone. "I didn't need you stay for that. I didn't need you to stay out of pity or obligation. I needed you to stay because I loved you. I wanted you to stay with me because you loved me." She began to sob hard. "I wanted you keep me because I was all you ever needed. Because I was all you would ever need. But I wasn't enough,Shawn. And you can try to beat up Cory all you want. But it won't change the fact that if it wasn't Cory it might have been someone else if I had let them in." She began to hiccup through the tears.

"I needed someone and he was there. I wanted someone and he was there. I needed to be desired and HE WAS THERE! Cory was where you should have been. I know and understand that you have issues and things to deal with. But all of us do.You pushed not only me and Cory away, but you pushed everyone else away. "Angela continued to yell,. "Well ,let me ask you this. Did you find what you needed? Was it all worth it?" Shawn stood there as they all waited on his answer.

When he remained silent, Angela stepped away only to step back up to him. "Well, let me ask you this?" She fumed with hurt in her heart as she stood so close to him, she could smell his Aspen cologne. She used to love that smell, but not the scent makes her want to be sick. "Why now to come and claim me? Why didn't you come at the beginning of school. Hell, at the beginning of summer?"