“Sahara, you don’t know that. Can’t you give me the benefit of the doubt?”
“No, because girls like me, we don’t get that choice. All we have is rich husbands who could be our fathers and the feigned respect from people who secretly want to stab you in the back.”
“So, then why don’t you leave?” Anthony demanded, now sitting up himself and glaring at me with an aggravated expression. “You don’t have to leave with me, or anyone else but for your own sanity, you should get the hell out of here and live your own life for a little while.”
“You’re wrong, Anthony. You and I are nothing alike,” with that, I stood up, yanked my clothes from where they were strewn and left the hotel room.
I was so focused on getting out of there, I wasn’t even sure if Anthony tried to stop me.
Not wanting to go home but having nowhere else to go, I drove around the small town for what seemed like eternity before returning to my house and sneaking into the garden to think.
However, memories flooded me while I was there, making me hope to God that my mistake of bringing Anthony here hadn’t ruined the one place where I found some comfort.
Chapter 6
I returned home late that night, hoping to God that my parents were in bed but once again, I met with my father who was sitting up, purposefully waiting for me.
“Where have you been all day, young lady?”
“Dad? What’s wrong? Why are you up waiting for me?”
“Why don’t you answer my question first?”
“I went out with Sarah. She’s home from school so we decided to go out to dinner, then we hung out in our old stomping grounds, catching up.”
“Is that right?”
I nodded, both impressed and ashamed at how fluidly I had lied.
“Okay, well, then I guess I stayed up for nothing,” he answered as he stood up from his old chair.
“Well, I appreciate you staying up to make sure I made it home all right,” I answered, unable to stop the thought that at least now, he made an effort to keep me in mind. It was nice, for once.
“I didn’t,” he admitted, making me wish he had kept his damn mouth shut, “I wanted to make sure you weren’t out with that northerner. He’s gonna screw me out of my money one day, I know it.”
“Oh…Well, thanks for your honesty, pops,” I replied sarcastically but all I received as a response was a grumble as he headed off to bed.
After he left, I stood there, watching after him for a long time, fighting back tears and wondering what my next move should be.
Early the next morning, there was an unexpected knock at the front door.
We were all awake, but I had yet to come downstairs.
I didn’t pay any mind to the knock until I heard a familiar voice once the door was open that caused my heart to flutter.
Despite the anger, I had displayed towards him yesterday, the fact that he was here proved to me that there was something that was possibly worth fighting for.
I hadn’t slept well last night and had ultimately decided that I was wrong to have gotten so upset at Anthony. It wasn’t that I thought he was wrong, it was more that I had no interest in hearing it. My reaction towards him was bred more out of my own shame and inability to find my own way.
Therefore, hearing his voice and realizing that I hadn’t pushed him away for good gave me a renewed sense of hope.
“Good morning,” Anthony greeted cheerfully.
“You don’t have a meeting with Raymond this morning, Mr. Shields, do you?” My mother asked, sounding slightly rude and obviously displeased at his early arrival.
“No, Mrs. Daniels I don’t. I’m actually here to see Sahara,” he replied confidently, “Is
she here?”