Chapter 874 Andre's Fickle Heart
When Randy peeped the letter, his face went ghostly white.
Randy hollered, "What the hell? How could this happen?"
Patricia jumped in, "What's up? Isn't this from Andrea?"
Randy shook his head. Yeah, it was Andrea's handwriting.
That's exactly why he couldn't wrap his head around it.
Seeing him shake his head, Patricia was clueless. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to sneak a peek at the letter.
Randy didn't bother hiding it, and his grip loosened, so the letter dropped a bit.
Patricia leaned in right away to read it.
Fannie and Maria crowded around too.
After reading the letter, Fannie got all fired up, her face turning beet red.
Fannie snapped, "What does she mean by this? Is she dumping Randy? Randy's been nothing but good to her, and she still went off with another guy."
Maria, a bit more chill, said, "Maybe she's got her reasons? Andrea's usually quiet, but she never seemed like that kind of person to me!"
Fannie scoffed, "She is that kind of person, flaky as hell. I just don't get it, what's wrong with Randy? How's he worse than the guy in her letter? She ditched Randy for him. So many girls want to marry Randy, and he doesn't even give them a second look."
People are funny like that. No matter what, they always think their own family is the best, flaws and all.
Patricia couldn't take it anymore and yanked Fannie back, "Enough, zip it! You're in your twenties, watch your mouth!"
Fannie, still fuming, wanted to say more, but Patricia shut her down with a look.
Following Patricia's gaze, she glanced at Randy. Seeing his pale face and red eyes, she clammed up, not wanting to upset him more.
Patricia patted Randy's shoulder, trying to comfort him, "Randy, Maria's right, maybe she's got her reasons. Don't lose it yet, wait till you find her and get the full story."
Randy wasn't sure if he bought it. He turned to Charles, who'd been quiet, and asked hoarsely, "Charles, did you just find the letter? Did you see Andrea? I need to find her and see if this is for real."
Charles's face was serious, his voice deep, "I didn't see her! She slipped it into my car window when I wasn't looking!"
Randy's fingers clutched the letter tight.
Randy asked, not believing it, "Why'd she bail all of a sudden? We've been together forever, I never knew she was seeing someone else."
Charles put a hand on Randy's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Randy, even though Fannie was harsh, she was right. A girl who's that flaky isn't worth your tears."
For once, he agreed with Fannie.
Fannie was so touched she almost cried.
Charles went on, "She wouldn't just up and leave; she must've thought it through! Maybe you missed the signs. Think hard, has she been acting weird lately?"
Hearing this, Randy racked his brain and suddenly remembered something.
Charles was right. Lately, Andrea had been acting off, like she had something on her mind.
But when he asked, she brushed it off.
She wasn't usually like this.
Normally, she was quiet, just sitting there. If he didn't start talking, she'd stay silent. But that was just her being her.
Only recently, especially the night before she vanished, she seemed distracted, and when they parted, she clung to him, not wanting to go back to her room.
He knew something was up, but couldn't get her to spill.
She just said she couldn't bear to leave him, like she knew she was about to bounce.
Thinking about it, Charles was right. Andrea didn't just up and leave. She'd been planning this for a while, and he was too blind to see it.
Charles saw the realization hit Randy and tightened his grip on his shoulder, "Randy, if she's chosen someone else, don't waste your tears on her! You're a catch. You'll find someone way better."
Randy's eyes were red, tears threatening to spill.
Randy said, "But I really liked her! She got me like no one else."
All these years, she was the only one he cared about.
Even though she didn't talk much, she understood him, like they had this unspoken connection. Whenever he was down, she knew how to lift his spirits.
When he was stuck in a rut, she'd take him out to clear his head and find new ideas.
He felt like he'd never find another woman who got him like she did.
A hint of sarcasm flashed in Charles's eyes.
Of course, she understood him—she'd been playing him from the start.
But Charles didn't say that out loud. Instead, he changed the subject, "There are plenty of women out there. You'll find someone who gets you even better."
Randy hung his head, saying nothing.
Even if there was someone better, it wouldn't be Andrea.
Charles, still worried, grabbed his wrist, "Let's get you to the hospital for a check-up."
Charles didn't trust Andrea's intentions.
Andrea had been around Randy for years, and who knew what she might've done to him.
It needed to be checked out and treated ASAP.
Randy was confused, "Why the hospital? I'm just sleep-deprived. A good night's rest and I'll be fine."
Charles looked at him seriously, "Trust me, you need a check-up!"
Randy, looking into Charles's eyes, felt a bit dazed.
He sensed Charles had more to say but wasn't spilling it. So, he didn't push and just followed Charles.
Patricia, Fannie, and Maria stood in a row, watching them walk away.
Fannie crossed her arms and tapped her chin, "Why do I feel like Randy isn't that sad?"
Patricia nodded, "I thought he'd be a wreck, not eating or drinking, drowning in booze! But he didn't even cry."
Fannie kept nodding, "Yeah! I remember Dad cried buckets for you back then! Randy's reaction doesn't seem like someone who deeply loves Andrea!"
Patricia speculated, "Maybe he's just holding it in so we don't worry? Planning to be sad on his own?"
Fannie, nodding like she had it all figured out, "Yeah, that makes sense."
Maria, who'd been quiet, finally spoke, "I think your first guess might be right!"
Fannie looked puzzled.
She talked so much every day, she didn't know which guess Maria meant.
Maria, showing wisdom beyond her years, said, "I think Randy might not love her that much! He just feels she understands him, and after being together for so long, it's become a habit."
Patricia frowned, "No way? I don't think he's that clueless about his feelings!"
Maria sighed, "Who knows! Anyway, have you told Elijah, Dad, and Declan that Andrea's been found? They've been searching non-stop too."
Patricia and Fannie looked dumbfounded.
They'd totally forgotten!
Maria rolled her eyes, "I knew it! I'll call Dad. Mom, you call Declan, and Fannie, you call Elijah."
"Oh, okay!" They replied.
With Maria's reminder, Patricia and Fannie quickly pulled out their phones to call back the search parties.
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