Free Forever Rain (Rain Will Fall Trilogy #1) by Cindy Lou Moldovan Page A

practical voice of reason, said.
    “Yes, so true. I have a lot of back-up and reinforcements if I need to ward off Mr. Dawson. Thank you both. Aunt Suzette, I’m sorry you were the bearer of bad news, but I love you for being concerned about me, even though I’m an adult.” Brave words when I actually wanted to burst into tears.
    “No matter how old you are, you will always be my baby girl,” she said, smiling at me. Those words of love and comfort washed over me, calming down my racing heartbeat. God, I can’t wait to get home now. What will I tell Robert? He doesn’t even know about Jordan. There was never a reason for him to know. Jordan was always a world away from Houston.
    At some point we would discuss intimacy and I would let him know that there was once a guy…a jerk, in my life. I planned to tell him there had only ever been one guy with whom I was intimate with. Not that that was so important or that Robert needed to know any details of my past personal life but I wanted to be open and honest with him. Fuck! I didn’t care at this point. I just wanted to be home and think, think… Why?
    With great luck, and to my relief, I was the first one to be dropped off. We said our goodbyes, as the girls and Aunt Suzette help carry gifts from the limo into my town house. Although I’d told everyone to just bring themselves to the party, no gifts needed…I got many in the mail and those who did not mail gifts, took them to the party.
    I went through the motions of settling back into the routine of a normal Sunday evening but my mind was not on the week ahead—it was on Jordan and his decision to move to Houston. More disturbingly are my thoughts of my response to his lovemaking, against a fence, in my sister’s front yard, on the lawn, my begging and pleading… God! What a mess! I was mad at myself for betraying Robert. He loves me. He trusts me and I blatantly betrayed that trust.
    Later in the evening, Andre texted me and reported that he took back the administrative duties from the two nurses that were covering calls for the weekend and all was well. Some minor issues with a couple of nurses canceling their shifts but other nurses were happy to pick up the shifts and make extra money. I thanked him and got on the treadmill.
    Three miles later, I decided to keep my little sexual escapade to myself and not worry about what Jordan would do with his company and his move to Houston. I planned to stay clear away from him.
    My head hit the pillow and again sleep eluded me. I decided to be brave, but to do so…I must face the demons hiding in my attic. I got back out of bed and headed to my garage, pulled down the lever to the attic and clambered up the ladder. Flipping on the light switch, my eyes adjusted to the intrusive brightness and narrowed on the brown trunk that was a few feet away from me.
    Gingerly, I reached for the handle of the trunk and pulled it closer. Taking a deep breath, I wrestled with the enormous box and pulled it slowly behind me. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t burned the contents. My conscience had not let me. As much emotional pain as he caused me, I had every right. But something, though I wasn’t sure what, prevented me from destroying all the gifts he had sent me over the past years.
    I managed to pull the trunk into my living room. In the peace and quiet of my sanctuary where I was able to think clearly…I slowly opened the lid. With a deep breath, I pulled out the first item on the top. It is the last gift Jordan has sent me one year ago.
    Don’t cry, I whispered, but my soft foolish heart would not listen. Tears gathered in my eyes as I opened the elegantly wrapped gift. My breath caught in my throat as I saw what that foolish man had sent me for my 29th birthday.
    It is an 8x10 painting of me. How did he get this photo…I may never know, but will certainly try to find out since this picture of me was taken last summer. I was looking at the large structure of Hoover Dam, smiling