The Long Way Home by Tara Brown Page B

he held me.
    He carried me to the bed and kissed my forehead, "I'll
be right back."
    I grabbed him, holding him to me, "No. My father is here
too. Stay. They'll press charges if you hurt him." I knew he was capable
of killing Phil.
    He climbed onto the bed with me.
    "Did he hurt you?"
    I shook my head, "No."
    He lifted my face, obviously there
was a mark. He was up and off the bed and flying out the door. It slammed shut
before I could stop him.
    I lay there, contemplating leaving the room and witnessing
him murdering Phil, but I decided against it. I knew, seeing my bruises and the
way I would kowtow to my father, would only enrage him more.
    I waited for a long time, frozen and afraid of the outcome of
my actions. France was an innocent bystander but he would lose the most.
    Finally, the door opened and he came sauntering in. His wooly
face was flushed. He looked at me, "Your dad is here." My father
walked in behind him. When he saw the state of me, he stopped. I wiped my eyes
and sat upright, perfectly. He looked at my cheek and sighed, "Phil?"
    I nodded.
    He nodded and straightened his suit, "Mike, do you mind
if I have a moment?"
    Mike gave me a look. I nodded and he walked out of the room.
I caught a glimpse of Phil in the hallway. I didn’t even want to imagine how
that was going to go.
    My father looked around the huge room, settling on the
couches on the other side. He held his hand out towards them, "Shall
we?" I got up, straightening my dress and hair and followed him over
there. We sat opposite one another. He cleared his throat, "I have spoken with Phil on this matter of infidelity. He is seeking some
guidance from his family's doctor. You have to see how awkward this is for us
all, you two having troubles right now. With it being so close to the wedding
and all."
    I felt the look creep across my face, "He had sex with a
young girl in our house in a cape and he hit me."
    He nodded, "People make mistakes, Jacqueline. I have
made my fair share and your mother doesn’t rub my face in them."
    I nodded, "I know. I know about the affairs you have had
on Mom. I know you have hit her. I have seen you do it. You think I want that
for my life? Even worse, is that the life you want for me?"
    His eyes filled with anger, "The life we have given you
has been taxing. Yes, there have been moments that weren’t perfect, but we
sacrificed a lot for you and your sister. We have had highs and lows like all
marriages. One day, you will grow up and make the same kind of choices for your
children so, they too, can school with the best. Marry the best. Live amongst
the best."
    I shook my head, feeling the tears dripping down my cheeks as
empty pain was taking all my strength and will away, "Daddy, I never cared
where I went to school. I was never one of them, not really. I can't marry
Phil. You can't make me." It was a weak attempt at defiance. Even I heard
the pathetic tone in my voice.
    His voice never changed from soft and controlled when he
nodded, "I can. I'm friends with some people who
can make sure Mike doesn’t play anymore. It's very political, that hockey. Or
even worse, what would happen if they found a bunch of drugs in his locker or
house or a dead whore? I can make that happen. I can also make sure that you
have nothing. No money and no connections. I will cut you off completely and
none of your family or friends will ever speak to you again."
    My stomach dropped. The list of possibilities was endless. Dead whores, no money, no jobs. Was love worth the loss of
everything else? Was my self-respect worth Mike losing everything?
    He nodded at the empty look on my face, "The jet will be
waiting for you for one hour." He knew my answer. He got up and placed a
small bottle on the table and left the room. He didn’t care about me at all. He
would ruin Mike; I would ruin Mike. I would drag him down with me. He had
worked so hard to get to where he was. My stomach ached as I came face to face
with the brutal truth. I crawled