Chapter 25

Jared
Dropping Laynie off was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I planned on being between her legs by now, which is why I had Anna sleep somewhere else tonight. We had been planning this for a few weeks now. I never planned on leaving Laynie forever, but I knew we both needed time. Anna kept me up to date on everything that went on with her. Seeing Jackie seemed to be the best thing to happen to her. I can see her personality is stronger. She seems more sure of herself.I couldn't be prouder of her for finding her way.
I get back in my car, after a lustful kiss goodnight in her doorway and making sure she locked the door. I pull my phone out and shoot her a text. I already miss her and I need to tell her so. I'm sure she can still see my headlights through the window because her texts read, you haven't even left yet. I pull out and head to a hotel calling Anna on the way.She answers right away with heavy breathing.
"W-what?!" she screams while panting. I don't even want to guess what she is doing. Anna is like my little sister so in my mind she is at the gym working out, yep, I'm sticking to that.
"Laynie thought it would be a good idea to wait, so if you want, you can head home." I say quickly wanting to get off the phone. I hear her giggle and a voice says something in the background. I hang up as fast as I can and try to hold in my vomit while driving.
When I took Laynie home she told me that she thinks we should wait until our wedding to be physical. I agreed with her, I knew if we waited, it would hold a lot more meaning.
A lot has transpired since I had my father put away. I went to counseling. This darkness I have in me must have transpired from somewhere and I needed to find out. I'm still currently seeing Collin and he couldn't be happier with my progress. He thinks it may have been a repressed memory of my father abusing my mother. It feels good to talk to someone about it and not be judged.
My father's company was liquidated and turned over to the FBI and since it had to do with the investigation I couldn't technically sell it. It was fine with me. All the money I made for him was turned over to Laynie's account for the restaurant. It seemed like the right thing to do to me.
Stephanson was right, I got a slap on the wrist for my part in everything. I am currently on probation and can't leave the country. I kind of had to beg and plead to come to Minneapolis, but as long as I'm checking in with my probation officer it was okay. My father is still under investigation but from what Stephanson was telling me, everything looks good. He didn't exactly break down and admit to everything but they think they could put him away for a while. They are banking on the man that had been cut out of a deal. The same man that told me about dad's behavior with mom.
The main guy that broke into our house that night, Gregg, was right. I remember coming back from my father's office pissed. I needed someone to vent out on and he and him brothers were coming up to me to talk to me about the cite. I felt terrible. Collin recommended I right another wrong.
I went to the county jail and spoke with Gregg. At first, he wanted nothing to do with me, but after a few times he finally would speak with me. I promised him something that till this day I was keeping. His wife and his children would never be on the streets. I paid of their house and got his wife Sandra, a job at a local preschool.
I decided to stick with contracting because it is where my passion lies. I started my own company with a help from the bank and I am just waiting on a bid. It's been a hell of a few months. After tying everything together, I was finally ready to bring Laynie home. I sold our old home and bought a new one. Anna told me someone bought her salon and is in the process of moving over to New York. Alan is still currently in Minneapolis but has hinted at joining us out here. I think he just wants to be near Anna.
Now the only thing that remains is marrying the woman of my dreams and living happily ever after. It's time to bury the guilt.