Underestimated Part 43

"I need to know what you expect of me. I don't think Drew, and I are going to stay together."

He looked shocked. "Are you two having problems? What did he do?"

"It's nothing like that. Drew is fine. I just need some time. I don't know how to process all of this," I lied.

I should have thrown him under the bus right there. Anyone in their right mind would have wanted him to suffer a slow painful death. I wasn't blessed with a normal mind, whatever that was.

"Morgan, I don't know how much Drew has told you, but all of this is yours," he said, waving his weak hand around the room full of dead animals. "You will never want for anything for the rest of your life."

I knew that was a lie. Money couldn't buy what I needed.

"None of this will be Drew's without you. If he walks away now, he'll be homeless," he added.

"He's not the one that wants to walk away. I am.

And I don't want that. Drew runs your company better than anyone could. He is good at it. He takes great pride in it,"

I stated, not having any idea what I was saying. Why wouldn't I render the b.a.s.t.a.r.d homeless? He deserved it.

He smiled at that. "He always did, even when he was still just a boy. What do you want, Morgan?"

"I don't know. I guess I just need some time to figure things out."

I went there with the intention of finding out how my mother became pregnant by his rich son. I wanted to know where she was, and what she was doing. It didn't seem to matter anymore. She was obviously one of the people who could be happy with money, and it was also apparent that she didn't need me.

I cried all the way back to Drew's or my house I should say. I knew what I had to do, and the sooner the better.

I walked the north corridor and unlocked the door to h.e.l.l. I didn't walk in, and stayed back as Drew slowly walked out. He stared at me cautiously with his hands in his pockets.

"I don't want any of this," I said, crossing my arms. "I'm going back to my small town, my job, and my friends."

He nodded. "I'll have Felix fly you there," he said.

He took a step toward me and my heart fluttered as I closed my eyes.

I tried not to feel anything when he placed his hands on my arms.

"Morgan, for whatever its worth, I'm sorry."

"It's not worth anything, Drew," I replied looking up to him.

d.a.m.nit...Why did I have to go and look at him?

I was fine until he ran his hand up and held my face with his hand to keep me from looking away.

"I know it's not worth anything, but I do love you, Morgan, and if I could take it all back, I would in a heartbeat."

I stepped away from him. I had to. I was having an emotional breakdown, and n.o.body in their right mind would forgive this man.

"I'm going to a hotel," I said. "I can't stay here."

He let me go with a nod as his hand slid back into his pockets.

I stayed locked in a hotel room for three days. I

didn't shower, I barely ate, and I cried a lifetime of tears.

Finally, on the third day I called Drew.

"Morgan?" he answered on the first ring.

"I would like to fly out this afternoon," I said.

"Okay, I will have Felix get things ready."

I hung up. I was interested in carrying on a conversation with him.

I stopped and visited Mr. Callaway before going back to the house to pack. He looked a little better and talked more. I ate lunch with him, and for the first time in days, I felt like I was going to be okay. He hugged me and told me that I should stop by Desert Springs Hospital and say h.e.l.lo to my friend Derik.

I did do that. I felt the need for some reason. Call me a little malicious. I needed to rub it in.

The nurse directed me to his room. He was in a body cast, and his face was black and blue. He had a tube running down his throat and was hooked up to every machine possible. I didn't stay but just a minute because I knew that Jena was close by getting coffee, and I didn't want to run into her.

I bent close to his face. His eyes fluttered open with a look of pure terror.

"I told you not to f.u.c.k with me," I whispered with a honeyed voice. "Have fun s.h.i.+tting in a bag for the rest of your life."

I was sure that Derik would never touch me or anyone else for that matter again. Ever.

I didn't see Drew while I packed a few things. I knew that he was watching me from his office, but I paid no mind. I shook my head with a snort when I realized that I didn't need to pack anything. I was going home, home to my cozy little house in Misty Bay. I had everything there.

Thinking about my little house in Maine gave me a warm comfortable feeling.

Chapter 19.

I thought about how things would be in Misty Bay as I stared out the small plane window. I knew that it wouldn't be the same. I was a different person than when I had left. I didn't know what was in store for Dawson and me, but I owed it to him to try.

Drew had arranged for a car to take me wherever I wanted to go once I had landed. That surprised me. I had the driver take me to my house. I needed time to myself to regroup before I let anyone know that I was home, wherever that was.

I smiled when I saw my old white Honda sitting in the drive. I hated that car so much, I loved it. It was beautiful there that time of year. I could hear the ocean screaming my name. I took a deep breath, savoring the warm summer, sea air.

I moved the flowerpot, hoping the key that I had kept hidden there was still there. It was and fell from the bottom of the pot, clinking when it hit the concrete porch. I opened the door and stepped in. I wasn't sure how I felt. I didn't feel how I had expected it to feel. I mean it still felt warm and inviting. It just didn't feel like mine anymore. I looked around and noticed the thick dust around the furniture.

I looked toward the table confused. I had a whole stack of mail. Some of them were opened, and someone had been paying my bills. I was sure that it was Dawson. I would figure it up and pay him back.

"I wanted to make sure that you had electric when you got home," I heard Dawson say from my front door.

I smiled at him. He was so handsome in his uniform, and my heart ached for him. I couldn't imagine what he had been through for the last almost six months.

"Hey, sheriff," I quietly spoke. I walked toward him as he smiled back.

He wrapped me in his arms, and he felt so, so, I don't even know how to describe how he felt. I felt like I belonged there, and I missed him.

"Are you home?" he asked. I couldn't answer that.

I didn't know where home was at the moment.

I didn't answer. I just looked up to him, and he kissed me, softly. "I missed you," he whispered to my lips.

"I missed you too. How did you know that I was here?"

"I didn't. I come by and check your mail every evening."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Does Lauren know that you are here yet?"

"No. I didn't tell anyone. I just left."

"Did he let you leave?"

I didn't want to talk about Drew. I know it was stupid, and Dawson would never understand, not after what I had told him, but I didn't wish anything bad on Drew, and I knew that Dawson did.

"Riley!" Lauren screamed from the door.

I laughed. I loved that girl.

She squeezed me so hard that I thought my eyeb.a.l.l.s would pop out.

"I can't believe that it's you. It is you, isn't it?" she teased.

I couldn't answer that either. I wasn't Riley Murphy. I was Morgan Kelley. I only smiled. "How are you?" I asked.

"Better now that we know that you're okay. Do you have any idea what you've put me through?" she asked, c.o.c.king her hip and resting a fist on the side.

I laughed. "I'm sorry. How can I make it up to you?"

"Well, after you get settled back in, you could cook for me," she joked.

"I would love to cook for you," I admitted. I realized at that moment the simple things in life. I did miss her waking me up at the b.u.t.t crack of dawn, and her coming over and raiding my refrigerator for leftovers.

Lauren didn't stay long, knowing that I needed the time with Dawson. I told her I would call her later and gave her my Las Vegas number.

Dawson ran back to town and brought us Mexican while I showered. The refrigerator had been cleaned out, and there wasn't much to cook there.

I pulled on my Riley jean shorts and a t-s.h.i.+rt. My cellphone rang while I towel dried my hair and I had a feeling that it was Drew. I didn't think that Lauren would be calling already. It was Drew. I determined, looking down at the name.

"h.e.l.lo," I answered.

"Hi, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Yes. Drew. I'm fine."

"Are you with him?" he asked. I could hear the hurt in his voice.

"Yes and no. He went to get us something to eat.

He should be back any minute."

"Oh," he replied.

"Drew, I don't know what you expect from me."

"I don't know that either, Morgan. I guess I was just hoping that you would see things different."

"How could I ever forgive you?"

"I don't know that you could, but I sure would like for you to try," he softly spoke.

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. Why did this have to be so difficult? I should hate him. I should throw him out on the streets. That's what anyone else would have done. Why couldn't I?

"I have to go, Drew," I said hearing the car door from the driveway close.

"Because he is back?"

"Yes, and I have enough on my plate right now. He doesn't understand why I would talk to you."

"Did you tell him?" he asked. He didn't have to say anymore. I knew what he was asking.

"Yes, Drew, but I will tell you about it later. I have to go."

"I love you, Morgan."