All Roads Lead Home by Mary Wasowski Page B

later on. If you need a lift, I can send one of the ranch hands to come and get you.”
    “I think I remember the way home, daddy, but thank you.”
    I couldn’t help miss the sadness in his eyes when I mentioned our home.
    My father loaded up his truck with my bags, and mama blew me a kiss. I waved as they drove a safe distance before I turned back to Wendy, who for once wasn’t saying much.
    “I’ll just grab my bag, and I can drive you over.”
    “Not yet, Wendy. Not before you tell me what is really going on here.”
    “I don’t know what you mean, Tumbleweed, I’ve told you the truth.”
    “Somehow Wendy, I think you left out some parts to the story. Okay, have it your way for now, but make no mistake, I will not play whatever game you three have concocted. I will see Jagger, I will visit with my family, and then I will be on the next plane back to New York.”
    “Are you done?”
    “Actually I’m just getting warmed up. Something is not right here. Let’s begin with Jamie’s letter and the alleged others you still have.”
    “Boy, you are a lawyer, aren’t you? Why can’t you step out of your head right now and look beyond what you think you know? I have done nothing wrong here. When have I ever played games? You’re here because this is where you need to be. Put your claws away and stop trying to be so tough. Your parents love you, and so do I. You have someone who I know you still love and who loves you back. That man is in need of help right now. So Tenley, this is not a game. This is real life, your life. Open your eyes. Open that closed heart of yours and let’s go see Jagger.”
    Closed heart? If you only knew my friend, how wrong you are. My heart has been split wide open since the day I left here and watched my beloved brother get lowered down into the cold earth.

 
     
    WE DROVE THE short distance from Wendy’s home to St. John’s Medical Center. My stomach felt uneasy as we got closer. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Jagger was somewhere in this hospital and in a coma.
    “Aren’t you coming in?” I asked Wendy.
    “Not this time. I think you need to do this on your own.” She handed me a piece of paper with his room number on it. “I don’t have too much to do today. I’ll be around if you need me.”
    I’ve always needed you, Wendy. That’s not my problem.
    I walked in through the main entrance and greeted the grey haired woman behind the desk. She said hello with her polite pleasantries, and I almost lost my voice returning the gesture. My throat dried up, my stomach hurt, and my brain was screaming at me to turn around and to run. I was scared, but found my voice and handed her the paper. She directed me to take the escalator up one floor and take the west wing elevators. I would find Jagger there in the intensive care unit.
    As the elevator rose, so did my beating heart. What am I doing here? How can I even think of walking through those doors? And just like that, the doors opened, and I was slammed right back into my past. Face to face with no other than Shane Rhodes. I’ve never wanted to run more than I do right now.
    “Either I need to get my eyes checked, or hell has truly frozen over. The prodigal daughter returns,” he said.
    Just as handsome as ever. All 6’2 of rugged, muscular manliness of him. He was sporting a five o’clock shadow on his tanned skin. His blue eyes scanned me up and down, as I fought not to bite my bottom lip. He’s just so fucking hot, but he’s angry and not doing anything to hide it from me.
    “Hi, Shane.”
    “Hi, Shane? Hi, Shane? No! You say ‘hi’ when a short time has passed, not as long as a half of a decade. What the hell are you doing here, Ten?”
    “Don’t call me that, please.”
    “Why? Did I hit a nerve? Only Jagger has a claim to that? How about Tumbleweed? Oh, that’s right. Only Jamie could ever call you by that name. I guess I’m out of nicknames. How about I just call you liar? Sounds