Redemption by H.L.B. Adams (i have read the book .TXT) 📖

and bloody laying on the ground.

“Why, Brandon, just tell me why you would say that to her?” Jason asked laying there looking up at the sky. “She was kissing on guy in the evening and out with another that night, what the hell am I supposed to think,” Brandon answered.

“Not what you thought? Damn Brandon, you know her better than that. Rick kissed her as a joke. They both just happened to be eating at Lynn’s and were sitting there talking and laughing. Tongues were already wagging just for that reason, and you know how Rick is, if they’re going to talk why don’t we give them something to talk about. Ann’s never been interested in Rick that way and you know it. Ann was just happy that the kiss would give them something other than the whole you, her, and Mac situation to talk about. And I had to twist her arm to get her to go out and just have fun. Dammit she hasn’t been out like that since she graduated, and I had twist her arm that time. She deserves to have a life. I’m going to tell you this once and only once so get it thru your thick skull there is nothing going on between me and Ann. She is like a sister to me.”

“It looked really bad though Jason. You have to admit that. She shouldn’t be doing stuff like that. She’s a mom.”

“Yeah, she’s a mom who hasn’t been on a date in six years. She’s a mom who has dedicated her entire life to her daughter. She’s a mom who never takes the time to do anything for herself. Dammit Brandon, she’s deserves a little fun. She hasn’t dated anyone since you. She spends all her time with Mackenzie, and if Mackenzie’s at a friend’s house for a little while Ann cleans house and grades papers and works on lesson plans. She doesn’t have a life outside of Mackenzie and school.”

“Umm…I…”

“Whatever Brandon, I thought it was a good thing you were back. Mackenzie really does deserve to have her father, but if this is how you are now then I don’t know. Keep this in mind if you hurt Ann you hurt Mackenzie,” Jason said and got up.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her. It just pissed me off that she would do that,” Brandon said getting up and facing him. “By the way since when can she throw a punch like that?” Jason laughed. “Yeah, I heard she clocked you good. Something else you should remember, it takes a lot to piss her off, but when you do you are in for one hell of a fight.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. So, I guess I should apologize to her,” Brandon said sounding very uncomfortable.

“Duh idiot,” Jason said and turned around to walk off.

“Jason,” Brandon said and Jason turned back. “Yeah?” he asked. “Where is she at? Home or your house?”

“I don’t know. I left her at my house, but she could have gone on home by now.”

“Would you call her and find out?”

“How about I let you go look for her yourself,” Jason said and started to walk off.

“Fair enough. One more question.”

“What?”

“Mackenzie doesn’t know anything about this, does she?”

“Of course not, Ann would never let her hear anything like this. Ann most likely took her over to her friend Sarah’s house,” Jason said and this time he left.

Brandon went inside and cleaned up some and then headed to Jason’s. He figured Ann was still there, and he was right. When he got to the front door he heard Ann yelling at Jason about the fight. He thought about waiting until she had finished yelling, but decided to give Jason a break. Even though Jason had tried to “kill” him, he had done him a favor by setting him straight. So Brandon manned up and knocked on the door.

A few seconds later Jason answered the door. “Thank you lord,” Jason said when he opened the door. “She’s in the living room, and all yours.” With that Jason walked out and Brandon walked in.

Brandon took a deep breath as he entered the living room. He had always hated apologizing, and this apology wasn’t going to be easy. “Ann,” he said quietly. Ann turned around and looked at him. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I came to apologize,” Brandon said having trouble getting the words out.

“Well, apologize.”

‘Damn, she’s not going to make this easy is she,’ Brandon thought. “I’m sorry Ann. I shouldn’t have assumed that the gossip was true. I should have known better.”

“And?” she asked with no signs of giving in.

“And… I shouldn’t have called you a slut and whore.”

“And?”

“And…I shouldn’t have threatened to take Mackenzie away.”

“And?”

“And… umm,” Brandon said trying to figure out what else he needed to apologize for, and then it hit him. “I have no right to tell you what you can and can’t do. I’m sorry I tried. I was wrong,” he said the last bit sounding like it fatally wounded him to say it.

“Fine,” Ann said, “Don’t do it again. Now if you will excuse me I need to go pick up my daughter. It’s getting late and we both have school tomorrow.” With that she walked past him and out of the house.

A few minutes late Jason walked into the living room and found Brandon sitting on the couch. “Went that well huh?” Jason asked from behind him.

“Yeah, I had to sit down for a second. I don’t think she forgives me, but on the upside I don’t think she hates me,” Brandon said as Jason walked around and sat down across from him in an arm chair.

“She forgave you, but she’s not goin’ to let you know that anytime soon.”

“What makes you think she forgave me?”

“Because she can’t stay mad at you. She’s never been able too. No matter what you do,” Jason said shaking his head. “It has always pissed me off that you treat her like crap sometimes and she would just let it go. You’d think you leaving her here to raise a kid on her own would make her mad, but nope she always stood up for you no matter what.”

“Really, why would she do that?” Brandon asked confused.

“You still don’t see it,” Jason said shaking his head. “You’re still as blind as you were at sixteen. She’s in love with you. That hasn’t changed, no matter how much I have wished it would over the years. I’ve tried to talk her into dating so many times, and her answer was always that she wasn’t ready yet. I finally gave up.”

“She doesn’t love me,” Brandon said certain Jason was wrong. “She told me she was over it, over me. That she had been for years, and you know she doesn’t lie.”

“No she doesn’t lie to anyone but herself. She’s been lying to herself about that for years. It was her way of coping. I think she’s been lying to herself for so long that she almost believes it. But think what you want,” Jason said. “Now leave, I have to get up early in the morning.”

“Yeah, right,” Brandon said, and got up and left.

As Brandon drove home he kept hearing Jason’s words “she’s still in love with you.” ‘No, he’s wrong,’ Brandon thought, ‘That’s one thing I’m sure of.’

 

Chapter Six

  It had been about a month since the big confrontation, and everything seemed to be going fine. There had been some talk about Brandon and Jason’s bruise and cuts, but other than that everything was going fine.

  It was Friday and Mackenzie was supposed to be going to Brandon’s to spend the weekend. Ann still wasn’t used to it. She was at a loss for what to do when Mackenzie wasn’t at home. The bell rang and Ann led her class out of the school to the teachers on transportation duty, and went back to her room. Mackenzie came running in five minutes later. “Mommy can I stay at Sarah’s tonight? She’s having a slumber party, and she invited me. Please,” Mackenzie begged.

“You’re supposed to go to your dad’s tonight, Mac,” Ann said.

“But I want to go to Sarah’s,” Mackenzie whined.

“Well, call your dad and ask him,” Ann said getting her phone out of her purse and dialing Brandon’s number. “Hey Brandon, Mackenzie wants to ask you something,” Ann said when he answered the phone. Ann handed the phone to Mackenzie. “Hey dad, Sarah’s having a slumber party tonight can I go,” Mackenzie said so fast Ann wondered if Brandon would be able to understand her. “I can. Thanks dad. Bye I love you,” Mackenzie said and handed the phone back to her mom. “He said I can go. Gotta go Sarah’s mom’s waiting on me,” Mackenzie said heading out the door. “Don’t forget to get your clothes out of the truck,” Ann yelled as Mackenzie ran out of the room.

 “Hello, hello,” Ann heard and looked down at the phone. “Hey, sorry didn’t know you were still on the line.”

“That’s okay. So do you always feel depressed when your kid blows you off to hang out with friends?” Brandon asked.

“Yeah, but you could have told her no. Seeing as it was such short notice.”

“Nah, she sounded so excited. I couldn’t disappoint her.”

“Yeah, I know the feeling.”

“So, what are you doing tonight?”

“Umm, nothing.”

“Well, since our daughter blew both of us off you want hang out, for old times’ sake.”

“Umm, I don’t know. Maybe.”

 “Maybe what?” Jason asked walking into the room. “Oh, Brandon wants to hang out tonight. Mac blew both of us off,” Ann told him. “Who’s that?” Brandon asked.

“Oh, Jason just walked in,” she said to Brandon. “You want to come? The three musketeers together again,” Ann asked Jason.

“Nope I’ve got a date,” he said grinning.

“Wow, you finally asked her out. Good,” Ann said smiling back at him. “I told you to just ask her. See I was right.”

“Who?” Brandon asked.

“Jasmine Betts,” she told him.

“Yeah, for some reason she thought we were together,” Jason said shaking his head.

“I don’t see why so many people think that,” she said.

“See why people think what?” Brandon asked. “Okay hate being able to hear only half the conversation.”

“Sorry, Jasmine thought that there was something going on between me and Jason. That’s the reason she was acting like she only liked him as a friend,” Ann explained.

“Well, I let you talk to Jason. Call me later and let me know if you want to hang out,” Brandon said.

“Okay, I will. Bye,” Ann said and hung up.

 “So, are you going?” Jason asked her when she set the phone down on her desk. “I don’t know. I don’t think it’s such a great idea, me and Brandon alone together,” Ann said.

“What are you afraid of? That you’ll kill him or have sex with him?” Jason asked with a grin.

“Neither,” Ann said turning away from him.

“Look at me, and tell me the truth. What are you afraid of?” Jason said in his stern big brother voice. Ann turned around and looked at him. He knew that look. He had seen that look six years ago when she came to tell him Brandon had left. “Oh, sweetie,” Jason said hugging her. “He’s not suggesting y’all have a hot affair. He’s not looking to