Free When You Fall... by Ruthie Robinson

next to her, and motioned for Carter to sit, too.
    “No, he’s gone. At least that’s what the new neighbor said. This guy that purchased the old Sandler spread. Seems Jack made our home his own,” she said, taking a seat at the table next to her father.
    “I know about the new neighbor, but not the property’s manager absence or the fact that he was living here. Living on the premises was not a part of his contract.”
    “Well he was living here, and he hasn’t been here since a week ago Monday. Our new neighbor has been looking after the house and the horse. I’ve taken over the horse’s care,” she said.
    “A horse, you say?” he asked.
    “Yes, he was left alone in our barn,” Carter said.
    Her father stood, unbuttoning his suit coat, letting it slide from his arms before he folded it in half, laying it neatly across the back of a chair, before regaining his seat.
    “We’ll come back to that in a moment,” he said, leaning forward on the table, glancing at Gloria before starting. “What would ever make you think breaking up a wedding was a good idea, Carter?” he asked, getting right to the heart of the matter. Her dad didn’t mince words. He had this shortest-distance-between-two-points , straight-line approach to tackling every problem. And she was back to being 15 again.
    “I thought you wanted me to get married,” she said, laughing, hoping to diffuse whatever this was.
    “This isn’t some joke, Carter. This isn’t another one of your jokes. There are consequences to what you do. How many times have I told you that?”
    “More times than you can count,” she said, softly. His eyes jumped to hers and there was anger brimming within them. How often had she seen that look on his face? It was usually after one of her teenage infractions.
    “To tell you we are disappointed would be an understatement. We are hurt, disappointed, angry and embarrassed.”
    “I know.”
    “What did you think? You could just waltz in and waltz out with a husband—somebody else’s husband? The women in this family are better than your antics at that young man’s wedding. He didn’t deserve to have his wedding day ruined by you. Our family does not do things like that. Ever,” he said, loud and controlled, venting the full force of his anger into the room. He took a deep breath and looked out the back window. He was quiet for a second. “I have taught you better than this, Carter,” he said, eyes glued to some place outside the window. “Gloria, how often have I spoken to the girls regarding the attributes necessary to secure husbands of quality?” he said.
    “Often, Carl,” Gloria responded.
    It was quiet.
    “Carter, haven’t I?” he asked.
    “Yes sir, you have,” she said.
    “What happened to following my advice?”
    She shrugged, tired all of a sudden. “I don’t know, Dad.”
    “Is that all you have to say for yourself?”
    “Yes.”
    He shook his head, as if trying to clear it. It was another familiar mannerism in his dealing with this daughter. “How could this behavior ever make us proud? It has embarrassed us, is what it’s done. And you’ve lost your job, too, running here with your tail between your legs to hide.” He stood up.
    “Why must everything be so hard for you?” he asked, looking down at her. “I spoke to Mr. Johnson. Of course he called me after he fired you. Wanted to make sure I understood his reasoning, given his firm’s relationship with my business. I told him I understood, and told him I’ve never spared my girls the consequences of their actions. You know that.”
    She remained quiet, hurt again that he hadn’t stood up for her. Yes, she knew that, they all did. Her dad was big on living with one’s consequences.
    “What can we do for you now, Carter? Are you going crazy? Do you need to seek professional help? I’m not sold on the idea, but I’ve reached a point with you where I’m considering it very strongly. Gloria thinks it may be what you need,” he