Chapter 112
I walked to my car and slid my briefcase in the backseat. Within minutes, I pulled out into traffic and through winding roads until I pulled up to the front gate of my parents' mansion. I entered the code and the gates opened. A moment later, I pulled up in front and headed up the stone stairs.
"Logan! Where the hell have you been?" my mother asked, greeting me with her hands on her hips as I walked in, dressed in a red silk dress and matching high heels. As usual, not a hair was out of place. "I've been worried sick about you!"
"Oh really?" I asked in disbelief as I pushed past her, hurried up the stairs, and headed straight for my bedroom. I grabbed a suitcase from the closet and started throwing clothes into it.
"What the hell are you doing?" Mother asked as she walked in the door.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" I asked as I threw more clothes into the suitcase.
"Don't get smart with me," she said as she grabbed my arm.
I dropped the clothes I was holding into the suitcase, and then turned to face her. "Mother, answer me one question: why did you tell me that Alyssa was dead?"
She took a step back. "Because she is, darling," she said as she stepped forward and rubbed my arm, a look of concern on her face, despite the fact that she was lying.
"Oh really?" I asked as I shook my head in disbelief, shrugging away. "I'm going to ask you one more time: why did you lead me to believe that Alyssa was dead all this time?"
Her eyes grew wide. "Because she is "
"Stop lying, Mother!" I yelled, cutting her off.
"How dare you talk to me that way
"I should have said what I'm going to say long ago," I said, forcing a smile. "I'm leaving."
"Logan, no!" she said in disbelief. "Where will you go? What about the campaign?"
"Fuck the campaign!"
She slapped me across the face. "Don't you ever use that kind of language with me again!"
I forced a smile, unfazed. "Mother, I just came back from Nashville. I spoke to Alyssa! She's alive! You lied to me!"
Mother took a few steps back, her eyes wide.
I took a step toward her. "So, let me ask you one more time. Why did you tell me that she was dead all this time?" I laughed without humor. "Hell! You told everyone that I was dead, too! No wonder no one came to see me after the accident!"
"What are you talking about?" she asked as she took another step back.
"Yes; I know all about the 'funeral' you held," I said in disbelief. "I knew you would do anything to get your way, but really, Mother? Holding my funeral? How could you?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Stop it, Mother!" I said, standing my ground. "Frank Mallory attended it!"
She let out a deep breath and bit her lower lip as she sank into a club chair. "Logan, your father and I did what we thought was best for you "
"For you. Not for me!" I took a deep breath to calm down, and then looked back at her. "You've been running my life since I was a child. And when I finally broke free and went off on my own, you couldn't stand it! After the accident, you saw a way to get me back, to regain control over my life again, and you took it! I knew you would do just about anything to get your way, but to go to such lengths is unforgiveable." I took a step toward her. "I'm leaving, and I never want to see you again."
She rushed to me and grabbed my arm, but I shook her off. "Logan, you can't mean it! Let's talk about this! What about the campaign?"
"The campaign?!" I asked in disbelief. "Don't you even hear yourself, Mother? You're more worried about my campaign than you are me!"
"Oh, stop being so melodramatic!" she said, downplaying everything. "I did what I had to do to protect you!"
"You call that protecting me?" I asked in disbelief. "Mother, you ruined my life!"
She took a step toward me. "That girl was no good for you! A musician? Come on, Logan! You could be the President of the United States one day! Think about what you're doing!"
I smiled without humor as I bit my lower lip. "Mother, after she thought I was dead, she quit music and became a lawyer! In fact, she's one of the most prominent contract lawyers in Nashville now!"
"Well, that changes things. But her past "
"Mother, do you even hear yourself?" I asked as I ran my fingers through my hair. "After thinking that I was dead for ten years, do you think that she would even give me a second chance? And do you really think that you can pick a wife for me?" I shook my head in disbelief as tears came to my eyes. Then, I shut the suitcase and turned to her. "Mother, don't call me and don't you ever speak to me again. I never want to see you again."
I tried to walk past her, but she blocked my way. "I can't let you leave like this! Logan, I forbid it!"
"You forbid it?" I asked in disbelief. "Mother, I will no longer take orders from you. Now, get out of my way."
"Logan, I "
I pushed past her and hurried down the stairs as I heard my mother's high heels clicking on the floor behind me. "Logan, don't leave like this! Let's talk about this!"
I stopped with my hand on the doorknob. "Mother, the time for talking is about ten years too late." Then, I turned around to face her. "Goodbye, Mother."
"Logan, no!" she yelled as she followed me out the door.
I walked over to my car and threw my suitcase in the trunk. Then, I looked up at my mother, who was standing on the porch with tears streaming down her face. "I'll send for my things."
As I pulled out the iron gates, I knew it was for the last time.
