Past & Present Collide Read Online Free PDF Page B

dated from the time she was sixteen. That was until Derek came into her life. He had always like Derek.
    They had been on their own since she was sixteen and he was twenty-one. He had convinced child services to let him have custody of her when their parents died in a horrible car accident, and he had won the fight. He had been her rock for a long time and they were the best of friends. She was independent now and John respected that. John’s job often kept him busy and sometimes as of late they didn’t get a chance to talk for a few months. Smiling at the phone, she knew she wanted to and needed to talk to her brother.
    After the fourth ring he picked up, “Hey John.” She said.
    “Hey yourself little sis, I went by your apartment and you weren’t there I got worried since it is a S aturday and Derek’s not home.” John always got straight to the point.
    “Yes, Derek bought a house before leaving. He sent me the key a couple months ago. I sort of moved in per his request.” She said explaining, feeling embarrassed she hadn’t had least called.
    “You moved into a house a few months ago and didn’t call me?” He was pretty upset, and she didn’t blame him she just had to explain.
    “Sorry John, I have had a lot on my mind, so I just forgot.” Flushing red now beyond embarrassed she had forgotten to call him about something so important.
    “Having doubts still aren’t you?” John anger subsiding as he put his big brother concerned hat on.
    Kylie just nodded she knew he couldn’t hear the nod of her head, but it was all she could manage at the time.
    “I can’t hear you nodding Kylie.” John chuckled, and tears started rolling from Kylie’s eyes.
    “I know John I just can’t explain it. ” Her voice was breaking, stopping the small chuckle from John in his tracks.
    John sighed, “Oh baby sister, you’ll figure it out. Just remember what is most important your love for each other. Love you Kylie.” His older brother compassion and wisdom was shining through.
    “I know John.” She said nodding again and with that the phone call with her older brother ended. He knew she needed time and he wasn’t going to push. He would support any choice she made.
    She went back to her thoughts swinging herself on the only place she calm, the porch swing.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 12

    September was fading away. She only had two more weeks before Derek would be arriving home and another week after that before their wedding. She was no closer to an answer though, and she was beginning to think setting him free and leaving would be her only option.
    It didn’t help that a week and a half had gone by since she had received a letter from Derek, she assumed since she hadn’t been able to give him any news of progress he was giving up and that only made things worse in her head. Deep down she told herself if he would just fight for her it would all become clear, but she knew that wasn’t the case Derek was trying to give her what she needed and in return she broke his heart and was still breaking it.
    She was searching through the kitchen needing some good old co mfort food when her phone rang. Stretching so her eyes could see the number she saw it was Derek and proceeded to lunge for the phone answering it on the third ring.
    “Derek!” she screamed breathless, shocked, and most of all happy.
    “Hello to you as well Kylie.” He tried to keep his voice composed but to Kylie he sounded so distant and she knew she had waited too long she had lost him.
    “Derek….” She began but he cut her off.
    “No, Kylie don’t say it. I just wanted you to know I love you, always.”
    He fought back tears and so did she, and then the phone went dead.
    “Derek, Derek!” She yelled but he was gone.
    She slid down to the floor dropping the phone as her hands covered her face. “Derek, no please no, Derek” she sobbed again and again
    “What did he say?” A familiar voice rang through her till it reached her ears.