The Last Chance

Chapter 5 - A Father's Betrayal

* Author's note: Thanks so much for giving me advice for the prologue, but sadly, I don't get much advice for these later chapters. Plus, the later chapters explain the prologue, so I don't know what to do if no one reads these later chapters. Well, if anyone wants to comment, thanks!

This chapter is dedicated to Vanni_V_97 for enjoying and voting on my story!

~fr3e2dre4m

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Jeff’s Point of View

I paced back and forth in front of the phone, hoping, praying that she would call back. I had searched the whole damn telephone book for her number. All I asked for was a chance. Anything.

Dinner, a movie, being able to see her face again. I was asking for a lot, I know, but how could I help myself? When Lindsey left, I became my father for a month, drowning my pain out by turning to alcohol.

Every day, every hour, every minute, I drank away the day, pleading with the lord to take me away. I can’t even remember how much money I spent on all that whiskey. So much, so much money wasted on liquor.

I had nearly lost my position as CEO, and for a time, my employees were rather wary towards me, feigning their trust and loyalty.

It took a year for them to realize that I was not my father, nor would I ever be him. He never got over mom, ever. After she died, he kept a room full of framed pictures of her, and diamonds and gold to shower her beauty with wealth.

Even today, mentioning her name haunted him. Katherine. My mother, my beautiful, kind, loving mother who changed my father’s haunted heart. Her death changed everything. Before, our house used to be furnished with bright flowers, and my father laughed every day.

Now? All the flowers died with my mother, and so did my father. I don’t call him dad anymore. I used to when he would call for me and ruffle my hair before picking me up and swinging me in a circle.

He used to come home every day, and he always brought me a treat, or a present when he came home from his business trips. Now all he brings back is whiskey, and occasionally, a paycheck.

When I was younger, he would beat me with his cane, blaming my sister and me for the loss of our mother. That time at the hospital, he told them my sister had “accidentally” fallen down the stairs.

She was in a coma for 9 months. The longest months of my life. I’d already lost my baby brother, how much more could I take?

From then on, I had hardened my heart. Lindsey noticed, I could tell. She visited more often, and told me she loved me over and over again.

What did I do to deserve a woman as sweet as Lindsey? All I’d done was drive her away by becoming a workaholic.

“What, did you think a youthful, beautiful 19 year old woman would just wait around?”

No, no one would wait for me. I was a monster. What had I become? Oh, I miss Lindsey so much. Bring her back to me, please.

My father had changed me. When my mom was around, I had been happy, and kind to everyone. Now no one but Joe and Lindsey understand my pain.

He had told me he would always love me, forever and ever, and as a little 6 year old boy, I believed the strong business man my father was. My mother loved him so much; she spoke of him like she would speak of gold.

She would be so disappointed in the man he had become. Abusing his children, drinking until he was silly. He even tried hanging himself before the neighbors saw and had him sent to a psychiatrist for a while.

Back when I still lived with him, he would throw knives at the wall, leaving holes in its beautiful beige surface. He lovingly dubbed it “My Heart”. We never ever went near that wall. My dog’s tail got chopped off when he stood in front of that wall.

He left the house that night and never came back.

“Brring, brrrring.”

I shook myself out of my memories and hesitantly answered the phone.

“Hello?”

“It’s me, Lindsey. Look Jeff, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call anymore. What we had was over the day you told that news reporter your business was more important than, ok?”

“Wait, you heard that? Look Lindsey, I had to say it, otherwise I would lose my job,” I sighed.

“Does it sound like I care? I thought I’d be more important than your job. Just don’t call me again ok?” She growled through the phone

“No, I’ll keep calling. You’ve always been more important than my job, but I couldn’t lose it. Do you know what that would mean? I’d have to go back to my… father.”

“Jeff, I didn’t mean it like that…” She whispered.

“It’s ok; just know that I’m going to keep calling. No matter what. I love you Lindsey, my angel.”

“That’s just it Jeff, there’s uh something I have to show you…” I could hear her voice become meek and quiet.

“So show me.”

“Can you meet me at Mimi’s Place tomorrow, at say, 12:00?” She asked softly.

“Sure. See you then,” I replied.

“Bye,” she whispered before hanging up.

I sank to the floor in relief. She was going to give me a chance. Maybe she was barely opening up, but I could hear it in her voice.

The way it had trembled through the phone, or how her angry tone had wavered to her usual angelic voice. She knew in her heart that I still loved her. And I think she knows she still loves me. Or at least sort of loves me.

One chance is all I need, to fix this mistake, to change her opinion about me. I want her to know that everything I said was to protect her. From my abusive father, from the pain of losing my mom. We could start over, have a new life, kids, a baby. Anything. I'll give her anything. That I can promise her. 

Tomorrow is going to be interesting, very interesting indeed.

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* Just so you know, this is the chapter before Lindsey and Jeff meet! Yes, I'm leaving you guys on a cliffy xD