Destined To Collide

The Collision Expands - Chapter 44 - The Boys

"But she's with Chris now," I say, "she should still be with Derrick."

"Donny, I don't a shit about what you think she should or shouldn't be doing," Linnie says, "the point, that whoever she's with is in the same pickle as me. I'm just glad that they broke up so at least Derrick doesn't get hurt by her more than she already had." Then she stops and pants to catch her breath. "Now, do you have anything to say for yourself?" She asks me as soon as she gets her wind back. I really don't know what to say to her.

"I don't have anything to for myself," I say, "I've given up the right to defend myself because what I did was indefensible. I lost the right to be with you. I'm sorry; that's really all I can say." She looks like she's calmed down a little bit. She pinches the bridge of her nose, closes her eyes and walks away for a few seconds. Then she comes back looking even more pissed off, if that's even possible.

"You son of a bitch!" She yells. "I hate it when you do this. You're a sweetheart even when you're not trying to and I hate it but I'm not biting this time." She's clearly about to continue when she gets a call on her phone. She looks at the caller ID and says, "I have to take this, but we're just about done here." She walks away to have her conversation.

Right after Linnie walks away, I get approached by Spencer and a couple of the cops.

"Sir," one of the cops say, "stand up out of the car please." I slowly do as he says. "Now turn around please." I do so and the cop proceeds to uncuff me and all the cops start to leave. I'm really confused. 

"I got Nathan to drop the charges, Donald," Spencer says, "I told him and the police that you have your special needs brother, Chester, to look after so you're to return to New Jersey do just that. He's in danger after all." Spencer really has changed, huh?

Then Linnie approaches Spencer and I can only assume she's asking him what he just told me. Now, she walks back to me."

"Ok, look," she says, looking calmer, "that was Derrick. He and Ashley are already in Portland. Derrick told me that my mom's cancer came back."

"That's terrible!" I say empathetically. Now that I'm free from the cuffs I go to hug her and to my surprise she doesn't pull away but she doesn't return my hug either

"Look, I don't have a lot of time," Linnie says, "Derrick booked me a flight first thing tomorrow morning to go out west and I'm staying with Spencer tonight, I still have clothes at his place," That last part does concern me but I've lost the right to protest anything, "now that I see you're not going to jail permanently, I'll tell you that I won't call of our engagement. Yet. I need some real space, this time, and I need to go be with my mother. I still love you but I really need to think about what to do about us next. And no,' she says, "it's not just because I'm carrying your child that I'm not just calling this off right now, so you don't need to worry about that."

I let out a sigh of relief but then she holds up a finger signaling for me to hold my horses, "I'm staying in Portland until she's in remission once more and I don't even want to think about a scenario where she doesn't. So during that time, I'm going to be speaking with my art agent about the Louvre offer and then I'll have to decide to go there or stay here with you. I'll tell you that if I do decide to go to France, we will be done, but I will contact you with my decision. But until then, don't call me or text me and definitely don't try to follow me to Portland. You need to go to Chester's house and stay with him and make sure he's safe, as well as your sister, Carmen, and of course, Naldo."

Linnie concludes with tears in her eyes and gives me a kiss on the cheek, gets into Spencer's car and drive off. Leaving me to find my own way back to New Jersey. I really don't deserve her rethinking our breakup but I really don't want this to be the end of us...