Chapter 25

Kim

"How does it feel to be a free woman, Miss Connweller?" Jared asked me as we left the doctor's office and headed home. I smiled and rolled down the window, enjoying the rare sun while it lasted.

"Wonderful," I said simply. I had finally ditched the crutches, and it was the perfect way to begin summer vacation. With Jared to help pass the time, the school year was soon replaced by summer vacation, and we were content to spend its entirety together.

My cell phone rang from its place in my purse, and I answered it without bothering to glance down at caller ID.

"Hello?" I answered distractedly as a breeze came in through the window and Jared's thumb traced patterns on the back of my hand.

"Kimberly." The cold voice on the other end of the phone caused me to go rigid.

"Dad?"

"Yes. Janice and I are hosting a party on Saturday evening, and I expect you to be there. You may bring Jason if you must, but none of your teenage nonsense will be tolerated. This is a family affair and it is very important to my firm. Arrive by five thirty and dress nicely." The other end of the phone went dead and I blinked a few times before realizing that Jared's truck had come to a stop in front of my house.

"You're not going," Jared's voice was matter of fact, and I knew he had heard the whole call. I raised my eyebrows and wrenched open the passenger side door before he could get to it.

"I'm not?"

"No, you're not. You can't keep letting him treat you like this."

"He's my father, Jare."

"And that makes it okay for him to push you around and treat you like you don't matter?" His voice rose slightly in anger, and mine followed suit.

"He can't tell me what to do, but it's perfectly okay if you do? That's so hypocritical! You don't get to tell me what I will and will not do! I can do whatever I very well please, and I don't need your blessing!"

"Kim-"

"No!" I interrupted him. "I'm not your dog. I'm not going to just do as you say! I haven't seen my father in months, and I am sure as hell not going to miss out on him actually wanting me to come! This is important to him, so it's important to me. Go home, Jared." I marched up the porch steps and stormed through the front door, slamming and locking it for the first time in years. It was after I had shut myself in my room and curled up on my bed that I realized that I had probably overreacted. Jared had only been worried about me; Jared was always worried about me. He was the first person in my life that I could truly depend upon, and I had put that in jeopardy. I rolled onto my feet with a sigh, padding over to turn the heat up once again. I missed my walking space heater.

"You're so mopey," Leah said from her spot on the couch, staring at the television and flipping through the channels one by one. "It's bringing me down. It's been two days, so just call him already." Leah had a point, even if I didn't want to admit it. I was miserable.

"I can't. I have to leave soon. Are you sure you don't mind me borrowing your car?" I asked uncertainly, staring intently as I attempted to add French tips to my nails.

"Of course I'm sure," Leah replied before she snatched the bottle of nail polish and painted perfect white tips to each of my nails.

"Thanks," I said absentmindedly as I went to the window and peeked past the curtain, feeling disappointed with the absence of Jared's truck in the driveway. "I guess I should be going," I turned away from the window and slipped on a pair of stilettos-my least favorite shoes.

"You look great," she said with a smile.

"I don't feel great," I said with a huff, flopping onto the couch, crushing the perfect sating bow that Leah had tied, and sending my carefully curled hair into disarray. "It feels like someone came along and punched a hole in my chest."

"I think I can fix that." A deep voice said from the doorway; that beautiful voice that I loved so much. Slowly I lifted my gaze from the floor to Jared, and when our eyes I felt myself smile a smile that I thought would split my face.

"Hey, by the way, I called Jared. Bye." Clicking off the television, Leah slipped past us, out the door, and into the woods. Suddenly feeling light, I floated over to where Jared was standing, and made myself at home in those warm arms that I had missed so much.

"I'm sorry," he said pleadingly, but I just smiled and kissed him happily.