Page 108 of Changing Lanes

“Yes. I’ll talk to you all you want when you come home to me,” he teases.

“Oh, will you?” I prod him. “Good night, Brannon.”

“Night, babe.” He ends the call.

My heart is in my throat. How do I reason with my heart where Brannon is concerned? I’m scared, this has nothing to do with my father’s company. I told Lea I’m done with this life. So do I just pick up and leave? What if Brannon leaves me or asks me to? Or worse, I hurt Andi?

One thing is for certain, it’s time I tell my father to stay the hell out of my life. As rage fills me, I grab my things and drive straight to my parent’s home. I know they flew back after the opening today, and I have no doubt my father doesn’t want to deal with me, but he’s going to.

I take the steps two at a time, doing my best to take their door off its hinges when I bust through them. “Where are you?” I yell. “Where the fuck are you, goddamn it,” I scream this time.

“Excuse me, what in the hell is wrong with you, Torrence? I will not tolerate these actions.,” my father chastises me as he steps out of his office.

“Who do you think you are?” My words drip of disdain.

“I know who I am. I also know what you’ve been up to,” he sneers at me.

“Once again, you meddle where you have no business,” I spit at him. “Enjoy the opening today?”

“Brannon O’Hurley was there.” I nod, trying not to get ahead of myself. “We know everything, Torrence. You’ve been seeing him again.” He acts as if I don’t already know this stuff. Opening my purse, I take out the check.

“Yes, I have. I’ve also been fucking him again.” My anger grows with every word. “I also hear you’ve been fucking me over.”

“You’re treading on thin ice. Who do you think you’re talking to?” He rounds on me as I follow him into his office. He can forget it, I won’t be backing down this time.

“He returned this. You know, I find it disturbing you have so much money, you never noticed you had a million extra lying around. You didn’t tell me he never cashed it.” My hands shake as I hold the check out to him.

“I have nothing to be ashamed of, I refuse to consider him innocent.” He glares at me.

“I don’t give a flying fuck what you consider, I’m done with your shit, you condescending asshole,” I scream at him as my mother joins us. “Who do you think you are trying to buy Ava? A hundred-thousand-dollars to break us up, are we broke, father, or am I not worth as much as I once was?”

“That’s enough, young lady. I will not be talked to with such language. Furthermore, I’ll do what I very well please when it comes to you and my business.” He shouts at me.

“Not anymore,” my mother says.

“Excuse me, Greta?” My father turns on her.

“I didn’t goddamn stutter, old man. You will leave Torrie alone or I’ll rein hell on you.” She scowls at him, her face burning bright red.

“Do you know what you’re saying?” He glowers, his attention focused on her as I sit in silence and watch this battle unfold.

“You better believe I know. I’ve sat quietly as you’ve dismantled our daughter far too long, and I will not stand for it another minute.” She glares at him. “I’ve allowed you to act like a damn fool because my father did exactly the same thing to me, but it stops today. I will not let you terrorize her another minute.”

“Do you think you’ll stop me?” he counters.

“No, but I will leave. I’ll take my money and leave you. I’ve had enough, damn it. No more. I refuse you and will not tolerate another thing from you. You have decimated her. Who the fuck does that to people they love? I’ve watched, hoping you would stop, see the damage you were doing to your only child, your little girl. You just keep going, goddamn it. Stop.

“She’s our daughter, our flesh and blood. I’m not sure how long it took me to accept you as my husband. Sometimes I wonder if that’s why it took us so long to have a child, there was no love. So help me God, Winston, if you don’t stop this, I’ll leave you. Torrie’s been through enough, it’s over. They love each other.

“For Christ sakes, she lost his child and came close to losing her own life because of what you’ve done. Is that what you want? To lose our daughter. Isn’t it enough we lost our grandson? Our blood. She came so close to death just to try and keep something of her love for Brannon, something you couldn’t take. But yet, the stress still took him. I’m done standing silently by and watching you try to destroy her. I love her too much.” My mother’s voice is nothing more than a whisper above her tears.

“A child? Why wasn’t I told?” He scowls at us. “Did he know and leave her?”

“No, he didn’t. Why didn’t you tell me he hadn’t cashed the check?” I ask.

“No, I didn’t tell you and for good reason. You never told me you were carrying his child, either,” he hisses.

“Like it matters now.” I slump into my chair, tears forming in my eyes.