Changing Tunes (25 page)

“I know, now be safe.” He hugs me quickly, and I run out to my car and get in. I now have three hours to think about exactly what I’m going to say to the Warden.

This is it, I realize. I’m finally taking control, and I couldn’t be more terrified to face him.

The three-hour drive didn’t help me plan out what I’m going to say. If anything, my nerves went up several notches. It’s now late in the afternoon, so I may as well drive straight to my father’s house, knowing he should be home within a couple of hours. It’s funny; I don’t even picture this as my home anymore. If I think about it, I haven’t really in years, not since mom left; it wasn’t a home anymore, just a place to sleep.

I finally pull into the gated community and put my code in. I wind my way around until I reach the driveway. I pull in and stare up at the monstrosity I used to call a home. Hard to believe I really lived here. I was just here a few months ago, but now it feels like a lifetime. I grab my things, walk up to the front door and open it. My phone buzzes as I close the door behind me.

I trek up the stairs to my old room and slide the talk on my phone, an action I’m sure will lead to a pissed off Mac.

“Hey, Mac.”

“What the hell, Ash? Why didn’t you wait for me? I would have come with you! Zeke is going nuts!”

I begin the arduous task of explaining everything. When I’m done she’s says, “Wow.”

“I know.”

“So you are going to have the conversation with your dad before Forrester can?”

“Basically. But you know we had to have a come to Jesus talk at some point. Something needs to give, and I can’t keep going like this. I was hoping it could’ve waited a little while longer and be under different circumstances.” After another moment I say, “You know it’s not going to be pretty.”

“I’m so sorry, Ash. I can’t believe Forrester stooped so low. He’s a creepazoid!”

“Trust me, I agree. The way he made me feel when he was ogling my body parts—ugh, it made me feel dirty.” I shudder in remembrance. “So… What did Zeke say? Is he severely pissed?”

“Honestly, he hates the idea you went home on your own, with no back up. You know he would’ve gone with you, but I also know that would have made it worse. You need this to be one-on-one with your dad.”

“So, he’s not mad?”

Mac laughs, “No, I didn’t say that. He’s frustrated. He loves you and he spoke to Austin.”

I groan, drop down on my old bed and lay down. “Shit, I’m sure that didn’t go well.”

“Ya think? No, he was pissed you spoke to Austin and didn’t bother calling him.”

“It wasn’t on purpose. Austin just happened to bump into me when I was leaving.”

Literally.

“I think he got a little jealous over that fact. Not the bumping part just you actually talked to Austin.”

“I didn’t do it to hurt him, I just knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I love that he wants to protect me, but sometimes you have to do things on your own.”

She’s quiet for a moment before asking, “Have you thought about what you’re going to say to your dad?”

“No, my head hurts just thinking about. I know what I’ll say when I see him. I hope, anyway.”

“Ash, I have no doubt when the time comes, you’ll be able to tell him everything that’s weighing heavily on your mind.”

“Thanks for your faith in me. Because I’m doubting myself big time, right now.”

“Are you going to call Zeke beforehand?”

I thought about it, I really did, but I can’t. “No, it’ll be a distraction I can’t handle right now. He’s already upset. I’ll call afterwards. I don’t know if I’ll make it home tonight or tomorrow. I’ll let you know.”

We talk for a few more minutes before I sign off and lay down to nap prior to the Warden coming home. I know after he gets home and we have our talk, things will never be the same again.

Pissed doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling. Mac called me, but I’d already run into Austin on my way to Ashley’s. Knowing he knew where she went, and I didn’t, made me feel something I’d never felt before. Jealousy. I’ve felt hurt before, but the jealousy was a new feeling.

After speaking to Mac, who promised to let me know when she spoke to Ash, I went back to my place and just waited. When Mac finally called and told me she’d spoken to her and what had transpired with Forrester, I was even more pissed. The first thing I did, was punch the wall, which was pretty stupid. Not only did I hurt my hand, but I now have a hole to repair, too.

I sat on my bed debating what I could do about Forrester. I couldn’t lose my scholarship. I had my daughter to think about, not to mention I don’t want to disappoint my parents, so I did the only thing I knew I had the power to do. I called Nick.

I wake up to a booming voice with no trace of kindness.

“Ashley, get down here now!”

I wipe the sleep out of my eyes, run my fingers through my hair, and make my way to my impending doom.

I walk down the staircase and go into his study, the place where he conducts business. Which is exactly what I am, business.

He doesn’t lift his head when I walk in. He waits until I am firmly planted in the leather seat, right smack dab in front of his desk. He lifts his head for just a moment before continuing whatever he’s doing.

“So, to what do I owe this visit? Especially when you have classes?” he demands.

I gather all the courage I can muster, continuing to remind myself I have everything taken care of. What can he do to me? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

“I had a situation at school you need to be aware of.”

Not looking at me he says, “What could possibly have happened that you had to come home? You didn’t cause another issue with a boy did you?”

My heart races as my blood begins to boil. “What happened last May was not my fault, and neither was this. And it isn’t a boy I’m dealing with this time.” I bite.

He finally looks at me, giving me the attention I deserve by. It obviously took my tone of voice to get his attention. “Well then, what is it?”

I take a deep breath, for courage, as well to mask my embarrassment. “Professor Forrester has been propositioning me. He wants me to take his assistant’s position.”

Father laughs snidely, “That’s not a bad idea.”

“No father, it’s actually a very bad idea. He wants me to have sex with him, and I refused.”

I immediately feel the bark of his bite. “That’s ludicrous! How could you make up such accusations? He’s a respected professor.”

I continuously shake my head.

“I’m not, I wouldn’t do that!” I protest.

He’s angry, and not even giving me the benefit of the doubt.

My hands are clenched tight into a fist. I feel tears begin to form, but I hold them back with all of my might.

“I told him I would not take the assistant position, and I would not have sex with him!” I remember my plan to get it all out and put it all on the table, feeling a bit braver.

You owe him nothing. This is about you, and you alone.

“I’m going to the school board about him propositioning me, with or without your blessing.”

He’s pissed and his face is turning a shade of red I haven’t seen in quite some time. “Don’t do anything, Ashley, that you can’t take back. You do this, and you’re done. I won’t have you embarrassing me further.”

I stand up, and doing so makes me feel less small and talked down to.

“I’m doing what is right. Cut me off, I don’t care! I will pay for my own college, and take classes I want to take. I’ve already got scholarships and grants waiting for me. This is my life anyway, although you’ve never allowed me any level of control. Well, I’m taking my control back. I’m done doing whatever you say, never asking me what I want! It’s never been about me.”

He bellows out, “You do that. You see how hard it is to pay for everything on your own. I won’t be here to bail you out!”

I’m too mad to respond, and now that I’ve started, I can’t seem to stop. So I don’t. “What about mom? Did you make her leave, too? Ever since she left, I’ve felt like she abandoned me. Why would you make a mother leave her child?”

I can see it in his face, I guessed correctly, Zeke guessed it right. She never left me willingly; he made her leave. I don’t need his confirmation. I’m sickened; for so long, I thought she would willingly leave me. I finally let the tears fall. There’s certainly no use in hiding them anymore.

All of a sudden he booms and I swear his voice shakes the walls, “Everything I did was for this family!”

That’s a laugh.

“It was never for this
family,
as you like to call it. It was never a family. This was about your precious reputation; oh my God, what would people think if you had to share joint custody?” The last parts screams sarcasm and I just don’t care.

“Last time, Ashley, you go to the school board, and you’re cut off, done. This is your last chance.”

My lip quivering, I whisper, “Then good-bye.” I turn and begin walking out and he hollers, “Leave your car keys. Try getting back to school now.”