one to beat around the bush.
“I knew I should have jumped in and helped Jason and the other Hightowers pull Andrew’s thug posse off of Terrill. Terrill is a good guy. I knew it had to be something more behind this.” Louis had a gleam of mischief in his eyes as he stood up, paced the room and shook his head.
Maritza sucked her teeth because she knew her most irritating brother was trying to find a way to irritate her even more. He was just never going to get over the fact that she had been born and knocked him out of his baby of the family position.
“Papi asked you a question, sis.” Manuel Jr. sat with his arms folded in front of him right next to their parents. He was the typical oldest child. Manuel Jr. had a butter-pecan complexion and he and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson could probably pass for twins.
“And after you answer Papi’s question you can let me know why you never told me that scumbag Herbert Jackson was back in town and if he had anything to do with messing things up between you and Terrill.” Victor was giving her his intense cop stare as if he were trying to read her mind or figure out the past and what she refused to tell him.
Maritza let out a loud scream before glaring at her brother. Everyone in the loft stopped their side conversations and chattering and all eyes were on her again.
Just want she needed…
Not!
Her jaw clenched and she took a deep breath. She glared at Victor one more time so that he understood that if he mentioned one more thing or tried to question her again about what had gone down between her and Herbert Jackson, he would no longer have a sister. Victor had promised to stop questioning her about it, but he always found a way to bring it back up. This time she was holding him to his promise. The last thing she needed was for her other brothers and her father to hear what that scumbag did to her. And none of the Hightowers could know because she never ever wanted Terrill to find out!
Terrill…
She felt a sharp pain through her chest that felt worse than anything she had ever experienced.
A tear trailed down her face and she wiped it away.
What had she done to her Terrill?
Her love…
She turned to her father. “I love him, Papi. But it’s too late for us now. I messed up and I just have to live with it.” She turned to Victor. “I don’t want to talk about Herbert Jackson. Ever! I’ve told you this over and over, Victor. Please, Victor, you are my brother and I love you. I just want to leave it in the past.”
Victor’s face went through a range of emotions and he shook his head. “I’m sorry, sis. I can’t leave it alone anymore. I never could. You know that. I need to know what that scumbag did to you and if he has anything to do with this. And if I can’t find out from you then I will find out from Terrill.” Victor started walking toward the door.
Maritza looked after him in shock with her mouth open. Her mouth fell open even more when Louis and Manuel got up and followed Victor. But when her father got up and followed her brothers, a helpless squeak came out.
They can’t! She wanted to scream. Terrill can’t find out!
She thought about running after them and begging them not to go and almost did when she felt her mother’s hand on her shoulder.
“It’s time for everything to come out in the open, baby girl. You can’t keep holding on to secrets and carrying shame for things that you shouldn’t be ashamed of.” Sharon Morales wrapped her arms around Maritza.
Maritza leaned into her mother. She only needed to hear the soothing sound of her mother’s voice to know that her mother already knew about what Herbert did to her. She’d always thought that Victor knew and just wanted to have her confirm it. He couldn’t keep anything from their mother.
He always was a mama’s boy! Maritza had to laugh to keep from crying at that point.
And if Mom knows then for damn sure Papi knows. Because Mom and Papi don’t keep anything from each
“I knew I should have jumped in and helped Jason and the other Hightowers pull Andrew’s thug posse off of Terrill. Terrill is a good guy. I knew it had to be something more behind this.” Louis had a gleam of mischief in his eyes as he stood up, paced the room and shook his head.
Maritza sucked her teeth because she knew her most irritating brother was trying to find a way to irritate her even more. He was just never going to get over the fact that she had been born and knocked him out of his baby of the family position.
“Papi asked you a question, sis.” Manuel Jr. sat with his arms folded in front of him right next to their parents. He was the typical oldest child. Manuel Jr. had a butter-pecan complexion and he and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson could probably pass for twins.
“And after you answer Papi’s question you can let me know why you never told me that scumbag Herbert Jackson was back in town and if he had anything to do with messing things up between you and Terrill.” Victor was giving her his intense cop stare as if he were trying to read her mind or figure out the past and what she refused to tell him.
Maritza let out a loud scream before glaring at her brother. Everyone in the loft stopped their side conversations and chattering and all eyes were on her again.
Just want she needed…
Not!
Her jaw clenched and she took a deep breath. She glared at Victor one more time so that he understood that if he mentioned one more thing or tried to question her again about what had gone down between her and Herbert Jackson, he would no longer have a sister. Victor had promised to stop questioning her about it, but he always found a way to bring it back up. This time she was holding him to his promise. The last thing she needed was for her other brothers and her father to hear what that scumbag did to her. And none of the Hightowers could know because she never ever wanted Terrill to find out!
Terrill…
She felt a sharp pain through her chest that felt worse than anything she had ever experienced.
A tear trailed down her face and she wiped it away.
What had she done to her Terrill?
Her love…
She turned to her father. “I love him, Papi. But it’s too late for us now. I messed up and I just have to live with it.” She turned to Victor. “I don’t want to talk about Herbert Jackson. Ever! I’ve told you this over and over, Victor. Please, Victor, you are my brother and I love you. I just want to leave it in the past.”
Victor’s face went through a range of emotions and he shook his head. “I’m sorry, sis. I can’t leave it alone anymore. I never could. You know that. I need to know what that scumbag did to you and if he has anything to do with this. And if I can’t find out from you then I will find out from Terrill.” Victor started walking toward the door.
Maritza looked after him in shock with her mouth open. Her mouth fell open even more when Louis and Manuel got up and followed Victor. But when her father got up and followed her brothers, a helpless squeak came out.
They can’t! She wanted to scream. Terrill can’t find out!
She thought about running after them and begging them not to go and almost did when she felt her mother’s hand on her shoulder.
“It’s time for everything to come out in the open, baby girl. You can’t keep holding on to secrets and carrying shame for things that you shouldn’t be ashamed of.” Sharon Morales wrapped her arms around Maritza.
Maritza leaned into her mother. She only needed to hear the soothing sound of her mother’s voice to know that her mother already knew about what Herbert did to her. She’d always thought that Victor knew and just wanted to have her confirm it. He couldn’t keep anything from their mother.
He always was a mama’s boy! Maritza had to laugh to keep from crying at that point.
And if Mom knows then for damn sure Papi knows. Because Mom and Papi don’t keep anything from each
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