Changing Lanes (Highway 17 #1)

by Leaona Luxx

  “Being a parent takes nothing more than loving a child. You will fuck up, oh god, will you ever fuck up. You just pray that your fuck up doesn’t fuck the kid up. You have one and think, ‘I got this.’ So, you have a second one. That one is night and day different from the first, and you have to start all over on how to handle them.

  “And this is the best part, when they get older, even if you had fuck ups, all they remember was that you loved them. Played in mud puddles with them. Taught them how to ride a bike. Torrie, I watched you with Andi, you were the only mother she knew. You loved each other, and it had nothing to do with her dad.” Lea makes sense.

  “I have so much to think about.” I lay my head back.

  “Are you coming down for the grand opening?” Thayer asks.

  “I’m not sure. Father has no clue Brannon’s down there, so maybe.” I sigh.

  “Have you changed your mind again?” Lea questions me about my earlier words to her.

  “No. I know where home is, I just have to figure out how to get there.” We say our goodbyes and I get back to work.

  I’m exhausted as I walk through my front door. Brannon’s home, he sent me a heart saying it was from Andi. I sit the box beside my phone on the nightstand. Falling back onto my bed, the air swirls around me and I can smell Brannon’s scent everywhere.

  Is this what I smelled like to everyone today? I decide not to shower, I want him with me a little longer. I roll to my side and immediately feel sick. Ughhh, I forgot to eat today with all of this excitement. I trudge back to the kitchen, opting for milk and graham crackers.

  I wait all week to hear from my father about going with them to the grand opening. The day before we’re supposed to leave, I’m informed I’ll be staying behind to handle an issue within the office. Isn’t that a bitch. My stomach turns, and I can’t shake the bad feeling.

  Arriving home later that night, I make a beeline to my bed. Fixing my pillows so I can turn on the television, I see my phone light up. Picking it up thinking it’s Brannon, my mouth hangs open when I see it’s Ava.

  “Hi, Ava. Is everything okay?” I know I sound surprised, but I can’t help it. It’s been three weeks since I left, why is she calling?

  “Torrie, I’m sorry for calling, but I need to tell you a few things.” She hurries her words, so I brace for the worst.

  “Alright. I’m listening.” What else am I supposed to say?

  “I’m not sure where to start.” She sounds upset.

  “Is Andi okay? Brannon? Are you okay?” I sit up in bed now, my senses on high alert.

  “No, it’s nothing like that. Well, I mean, Andi misses you so much, and Brannon’s a wreck without you. But part of that’s my fault and the reason I’m calling,” she blurts out.

  “Alright. Let’s start there with Brannon.” I try to remain calm so she will talk to me.

  “I know he told you I took Andi on purpose to hurt you. Well, what he doesn’t want to tell you is I called your dad and told him you were seeing Brannon again.” Oh, shit. “He paid me one-hundred-thousand dollars to take Andi, to drive a wedge between you and Brannon. I wanted to, though, Torrie, it’s not all his fault.” My blood begins to boil, he’s at it again.

  “Okay. So, my father has known for several weeks Brannon and I were together.” I take a deep breath, trying to calm down. “What else?” I need everything, I’ll deal with Brannon on my own.

  “I would say, several months actually. Brannon and your dad had a huge argument at the opening today. Your dad said terrible things to Brannon in front of everyone.” She’s huffing like she’s ran a marathon.

  “My father will never change. Still manipulating me. All these fucking years and he’s still trying to destroy me.” I grind my teeth as my face flames.

  “There’s more.” She exhales. “Brannon put him in his place. You should be proud to have him at your side, Torrie. He proved he’s an amazing man and deserves you more than even your father does.”

  “I never doubted Brannon, Ava. I doubted me. Thank you for calling me. I hope you’re doing well.” My face is so red from anger, it’s hot to the touch, but I’m trying to keep calm with Ava.

  “I am. I…I’m seeing someone. Nothing serious, but he’s good to me,” Ava says.

  “That’s great, I’m happy for you. So, no more Brannon?” I can’t believe this, wow.

  “He loves you, Torrie. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes, you have to fight for it.” She sighs. “Bye, Torrie.”

  “Ava, call anytime. Goodbye.” What in the hell is going on? Do I live in an alternate universe? Hanging up, I call One like he’s on speed dial.

  I text Brannon one phrase, knowing it will be enough.

  I love you.

  My phone rings. “Hey.”

  “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked you first. He just made me so angry.” Brannon sounds as if he still is angry.

  “It’s okay. I blame him, too.” I try to reassure him I’m okay.

  “You know, if you’d marry me you could keep me in check. Having to say, ‘I’m sorry’ so much sucks.”

  Shaking my head, I laugh, “I don’t think it works like that, I believe most husbands stay in trouble.”

  “Well, shit,” he huffs. “I miss you. I love you, I’ll never get tired of telling you that, whether you marry me or not.” He’s killing me. I think he knows it.

  “Again, you’re not playing fair.”

  “I don’t plan to ever again. I love you, bye.” His goodbye takes me by surprise.

  “Are you hanging up?” I’m confused as to why he would hang up.

  “Yes. I’ll talk to you all you want when you come home to me,” he teases.

  “Oh, will you?” I prod him. “Good night, Brannon.”

  “Night, babe.” He ends the call.

  My heart is in my throat. How do I reason with my heart where Brannon is concerned? I’m scared, this has nothing to do with my father’s company. I told Lea I’m done with this life. So do I just pick up and leave? What if Brannon leaves me or asks me to? Or worse, I hurt Andi?

  One thing is for certain, it’s time I tell my father to stay the hell out of my life. As rage fills me, I grab my things and drive straight to my parent’s home. I know they flew back after the opening today, and I have no doubt my father doesn’t want to deal with me, but he’s going to.

  I take the steps two at a time, doing my best to take their door off its hinges when I bust through them. “Where are you?” I yell. “Where the fuck are you, goddamn it,” I scream this time.

  “Excuse me, what in the hell is wrong with you, Torrence? I will not tolerate these actions.,” my father chastises me as he steps out of his office.

  “Who do you think you are?” My words drip of disdain.

  “I know who I am. I also know what you’ve been up to,” he sneers at me.

  “Once again, you meddle where you have no business,” I spit at him. “Enjoy the opening today?”

  “Brannon O’Hurley was there.” I nod, trying not to get ahead of myself. “We know everything, Torrence. You’ve been seeing him again.” He acts as if I don’t already know this stuff. Opening my purse, I take out the check.

  “Yes, I have. I’ve also been fucking him again.” My anger grows with every word. “I also hear you’ve been fucking me over.”

  “You’re treading on thin ice. Who do you think you’re talking to?” He rounds on me as I follow him into his office. He can forget it, I won’t be backing down this time.

  “He returned this. You know, I find it disturbing you have so much money, you never noticed you had a million extra lying around. You didn’t tell me he never cashed it.” My hands shake as I hold the check out to him.

  “I have nothing to be ashamed of, I refuse to consider him innocent.” He glares at me.

  “I don’t give a flying fuck what you consider, I’m done with your shit, you condescending asshole,” I scream at him as my mother joins us. “Who do you think you are trying to
buy Ava? A hundred-thousand-dollars to break us up, are we broke, father, or am I not worth as much as I once was?”

  “That’s enough, young lady. I will not be talked to with such language. Furthermore, I’ll do what I very well please when it comes to you and my business.” He shouts at me.

  “Not anymore,” my mother says.

  “Excuse me, Greta?” My father turns on her.

  “I didn’t goddamn stutter, old man. You will leave Torrie alone or I’ll rein hell on you.” She scowls at him, her face burning bright red.

  “Do you know what you’re saying?” He glowers, his attention focused on her as I sit in silence and watch this battle unfold.

  “You better believe I know. I’ve sat quietly as you’ve dismantled our daughter far too long, and I will not stand for it another minute.” She glares at him. “I’ve allowed you to act like a damn fool because my father did exactly the same thing to me, but it stops today. I will not let you terrorize her another minute.”

  “Do you think you’ll stop me?” he counters.

  “No, but I will leave. I’ll take my money and leave you. I’ve had enough, damn it. No more. I refuse you and will not tolerate another thing from you. You have decimated her. Who the fuck does that to people they love? I’ve watched, hoping you would stop, see the damage you were doing to your only child, your little girl. You just keep going, goddamn it. Stop.

  “She’s our daughter, our flesh and blood. I’m not sure how long it took me to accept you as my husband. Sometimes I wonder if that’s why it took us so long to have a child, there was no love. So help me God, Winston, if you don’t stop this, I’ll leave you. Torrie’s been through enough, it’s over. They love each other.

  “For Christ sakes, she lost his child and came close to losing her own life because of what you’ve done. Is that what you want? To lose our daughter. Isn’t it enough we lost our grandson? Our blood. She came so close to death just to try and keep something of her love for Brannon, something you couldn’t take. But yet, the stress still took him. I’m done standing silently by and watching you try to destroy her. I love her too much.” My mother’s voice is nothing more than a whisper above her tears.

  “A child? Why wasn’t I told?” He scowls at us. “Did he know and leave her?”

  “No, he didn’t. Why didn’t you tell me he hadn’t cashed the check?” I ask.

  “No, I didn’t tell you and for good reason. You never told me you were carrying his child, either,” he hisses.

  “Like it matters now.” I slump into my chair, tears forming in my eyes.

  “Why didn’t you?” His face is distorted, he looks angry.

  “Why didn’t I? You hate Brannon, and you don’t like me; why would I tell you anything?” Jumping from my seat, I fist my hands.

  “It would have been the responsible thing to do,” he throws in my face.

  “Are you kidding me with this shit?” I’m appalled.

  “How dare you take that tone with me, young lady.” He stands to face me, his face growing red.

  “What?” I ask bewildered.

  “You will not speak to me like that. I did what I felt was best for you. I was only trying to help you.”

  Rage fills me, I can’t stop my tears long enough to form an articulate argument. Shaking, I unload on him.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are? Tell me, please? You’ve taken everything from me. The love of my life. Do you understand? I have never loved another person the way I love him. Not despite you, by God, but because of him. He gave me everything you wouldn’t and didn’t even know he was doing it. That’s the kind of man he is. If he never did another thing in life, he would still be a better man than you have ever been.

  “Do you understand what you’ve done to me? What you’ve cost me and how it’s changed the course of my life? I’m sure you think it’s for the best but I’ll be damned if losing Brannon’s son was for any good. He deserved a chance at life. Instead, he lays in a rotten hole in the county cemetery and not in my arms. You wanted to break me, well, you did. And I’ll be damned if I allow you to do it again.

  “Because you did the things you felt was right and just, I lost my child. My child, Father. A boy. I held his tiny body in my arms, alone. Brannon could have been there, but because of what you did, he wasn’t. Adan very well may have still been here, had you just let me be happy.

  “What did I ever do for you to hate me so much? Because I wasn’t a boy? How completely ludicrous. Too bad I didn’t end up like Adan, huh, Dad? All I’ve ever wanted was for you to love me. I didn’t need your damn company. I don’t even want it. I only tried because I thought it might make you proud of me. What’s worse? All of this had to happen for me to see that I belong by Brannon’s side. I deserve to have his love which he gives me so freely. I’ve spent too long being angry at the wrong damn person.” I’m so angry, I’m having a horrible finding the right words to combat him.

  “You should have told us,” my father says. All of that and he responds like this?

  “Why? You would’ve responded the same way. Just like you did, paying off Ava.” He glares at me. “Yes, I know. Once again, you aspired to keep us apart. Do you realize I came back here, not because of you, but for me? I thought I was going to kill another child.” I drop my head as I shake it.

  “Because you’re our child, Torrie.” I jerk my head up, staring at him. His face is pale, and I’m not sure what’s happening. Did he call me Torrie?

  “So, you’ve never acted like it.” I shrug. “I didn’t want to live at that time. I was denied Brannon and was unfit as a mother, I killed the child I was carrying. The one thing I just knew you could never take from me. A child made from my love for Brannon and his for me, one that has lasted all these years, even with us apart.” I’m exhausted by the time I finish.

  “Why would you put him in that terrible county cemetery? That’s no place for my grandson, for heaven’s sake, Torrence.” He smacks his lips in distaste.

  “I was afraid if you found out, you would destroy any evidence of him before Brannon got to see him.” I’m full on crying again as my mother wraps her arm around me.

  “I’m sorry, Torrie. You and your mother are right, I’ve been such a monster as a father. To deny my only child the love she wanted most.” I’m speechless, I can’t believe this is my father. “I think it’s time for a change. I also think it’s time you get the love you’ve always deserved but never had. Brannon is a better man than I will ever be. But if doing this one thing will help you begin to forgive me, I say do it. I want you happy.” I stare at him. This isn’t my father.

  “I hate to tell you but I was going back anyway. I love him, and I don’t want anything if it’s not with him,” I declare.

  “Do you want to go tonight? The plane is on standby.” My mother pulls me into a hug then releases me to my father.

  “If you can ever forgive me, we would love to have you visit or even come to visit.” My father’s face is wet. “I’ll need to apologize to Brannon, also.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” I nod. He steps closer to me, and I stand frozen as my father hugs me for the first time in my life.

  I wave when I see them, breaking into a full run. Hardy opens his arms, and I hug him. One smiles as I turn to him, hugging him tightly. “So, Joyce is ready?” I ask as we get into the SUV.

  “She is, are you?” One leans forward to ask.

  “I’ve never been more ready in my life. Where is he?” I want to make sure it’s all in place.

  “Waiting for me to get to the office, once you’re in place, I’m calling to tell him everything is okay and he can go home. He’s still learning, he has no clue if this happens or not in business.” One laughs making me giggle.

  “I can’t wait to see him. I’m not sure what he said to my father, but I love him for it. Now, if I can just not hurt Andi, I’ll be happy.” Praying is more like what I’m doing as we drive onto the farm.

  I open my door to find Joyce com
ing to meet me. “There’s my girl.” She hugs me so tight. “Thank you.”

  “For all the mess, I’ve caused?” I laugh nervously.

  “Hush, you know why. Now, go. Everything’s ready except for your part. One and Hardy will help with your luggage.” She swats me when I turn to the barn.

  I jump from the sound of tires on the dirt road, it’s him. I lay in wait, hoping he’s surprised. His truck door slams, then he yells. “Mom, what’s going on in the barn?” He pauses. “Why are there lights on in the barn? Where is she?”

  The door makes a squeaking sound when he pulls it open. He stands there, quietly. I watch as confusion, shock, bewilderment, amazement and love washes over his face. My heart pounds as a smile spreads across his face, and his eyes sparkle in the twinkling lights.

  “Torrie?” he asks sweetly.

  “Brannon,” I reply just as sweet.

  “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” His eyes are glassy.

  “Are you asking?” I hold up my hand, the box lays in my palm.

  He walks up the aisle created by the chairs which are filled with our family and friends. He doesn’t take his eyes off mine as he reaches me. I wait on him in a beaded full lace, fit and flare gown with illusion sleeves and champagne satin and jewel lace sash. My hair in a French twist with pieces framing my face.

  Andi stands to my side, dressed in a champagne lace dress with a burgundy satin flower and ribbon. Her hair has a matching burgundy bow as she carries a basket full of Black Eye Susans. Buckets of yellow and burgundy flowers sit around the barn on bales of straw with white twinkle lights draped from the rafters.

  He takes the little black box in his hand. “I didn’t think this day would ever come, so I’m gonna mess this up, baby.” He makes me giggle. Then, he pulls the vintage, one karat, cushion cut engagement ring from the box. “Oh, good Lord Dad, where do I start?” he says out loud.

  “Start with love,” I tell him as I gaze into his eyes.