Abandoned but Not Alone Read Online Free PDF Page B

and
Steve sat in the living room, awaiting the arrival of the women so they could
leave for Steve and Hope ’ s wedding
reception. With drinks in hand, the men sat in companionable silence, each
swirling the amber liquid of their single malt whiskey, light glistening off
the crystal glass. Glancing at his friend Jason broke the silence. “ So your last night as a single man – how does it feel? ”
    “ It feels good man, who would have
thought, you and me sitting in a house like this, with me getting married
tomorrow and to a supermodel no less. After the thing we ’ ve been through, to be given all
this...we ’ re really
blessed. ”
    “ Blessed, if you say so; but I have never
been given anything in my life, everything I have, I worked my butt off for, so
did you, man. ” Jason wasn ’ t a particularly religious man so he felt
unable to comment on that part of Steve ’ s statement. His belief was grounded in two things: his ability
to make things happen; even if some of the things he had done in the past may
not always have been, what many would consider sticking to the letter of the
law; and Steve, the only other human being in the world he considered a friend,
someone he would lay down his life for. When he had sunk to his lowest ebb, it
was Steve who had appeared as though out of nowhere and pulled him up kicking
and screaming, somehow managing to save him from himself.
    “ Come on man, you ’ ve got to believe in something other than yourself. We all need
something or someone to lean on from time to time. If we internalize everything
we end up making a lot of questionable decisions. ” Steve gave Jason a meaningful look meant to remind him of what
he had done in the past by way of retribution on the men who had crossed him.
He felt no remorse and knew that given the same set of circumstances he would
do exactly the same things again. With a shake of his head, Jason relegated the
dark thoughts back to the deepest compartments in the back of his mind.
    “ That ’ s why I have you my good man, you ’ re my moral compass, or who knows where I ’ d be. ”
    “ Whatever man, I ’ m not always gonna be here Jason; the risks you take sometimes – they worry me. ”
    “ When the hell did you turn into my auntie
Gurty? Worry about that woman upstairs that you intend to marry tomorrow and
all the little long legged babies you want her to pop out, and I ’ ll take care of me. ” A pained expression passed across Steve ’ s face so quickly, Jason was unsure if it
hadn ’ t been his
imagination.
    “ You did discuss having children, right? ”
    “ Get out of my business, man. ”
    Jason felt
foreboding settle over him, the fine hairs at the back of his neck rising up,
he had learned the hard way not to ignore the feeling. Something wasn ’ t right, Steve was holding something
back. “ Steve, have you or
have you not spoken to Hope about having kids? ”
    “ We talked. ”
    “ Well, what did she say? ”
    “ I told you already, get out of my
business …” Looking at
Steve, Jason was aware of the moment he changed his mind and decided to confide
in him. “ She said she may be
willing to have one, later on, when her career was over. ”
    “ But you always said you wanted a big
family, you did explain that to her didn ’ t you? Get mad at me if you want to but, I have to say this …”
    “ If you know it ’ s going to make me mad, then don ’ t say it Jason, you put it out there and you can ’ t take it back. ” Springing to his feet, his agitation clear by the swiftness of
his movements, Steve paced over to the bar and poured himself another drink,
throwing it back in one gulp.
    Turning
back, Steve squared his shoulders and from the tension rolling off his large
physique, Jason decided to keep his thoughts to himself. Steve was an adult,
and as such was more than able to make his own choices – right or wrong. However something had shifted between Steve and
Hope. This wasn ’ t the