Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
And if that happened, I’d make my mother regret the day she crossed me.
14
ZORA
My father was released two days after his admission. He’s still quite weak and listless but that’s our countries magnificent health care system. The hospital accountants probably saw that his Medicare would only cover so much and wanted to space for people with better medical insurance.
I wish I could add him to mine. It was pretty decent but I wasn’t sure how long it would last if I didn’t return to work soon. I don’t see how I can go back when my dad is in this condition. Dr. Becker would probably grant me a leave of absence while I got things straightened out but I’m sure even he had his limits.
He might consider keeping me on if most of my clients agree to do their sessions by video call. I understand that I could probably lose some people because not everyone has access to wifi or the privacy to do a session in that manner.
In those cases, I had recommendations for other therapists they might be comfortable with. But right now my priority was getting things in order with my father.
I spent the last couple days getting power of attorney over my father’s finances and medical decisions. Though my father was a little reluctant to turn everything over to me, he realized I wouldn’t back down. I’m sure he didn’t want me to take on the added burden of dealing with this mess, but I think he’s secretly relieved.
I want him to focus on his recovery so it was a burden I didn’t mind bearing.
After getting everything notarized, my first line of order was collecting as many documents as I could that could give me a clearer picture of the trouble my father was in. The foreclosure was bad enough but once I went through his bank statements, it was worse than I thought.
He’d gone through his considerable savings over the last few years. He’d cashed out the couple IRAs he had there were a couple past due loans from credit unions. When all was said and done, the debt was in the hundreds of thousands. How had it gotten so bad. How could Langston bleed our father dry to the point where he would soon be on the streets? I simply can’t wrap my head around how this could happen.
Growing up, we weren’t rich and we never had designer labels but Langston and I never went without. My father took care of us the best that he could but seeing what a shambles his portfolio is, makes me sick to my stomach.
I hate that my brother has managed to swindle our father to this point. If it is up to me, Langston could rot in prison. But I know Dad wouldn’t want that.
I would do whatever I needed to do to make sure my father is taken care of and one of those things was going to the bank to meet with the loan officer in charge of my father’s mortgage. I’d hoped to work out some kind of payment arrangement but the only way for me to save the house was to pay the full amount of the loan as they had started the eviction process.
The loan officer practically laughed in my face when I suggested taking out a loan to cover it because I didn’t have the collateral for them to justify lending me such a vast sum.
The bad news continued to pile on. After a talk with the Oncologist, it was determined that my father would need surgery after all followed by radiation and chemotherapy. It would be months before he was well enough to take care of himself.
I only had one card left to play and it was the one I didn’t think I’d ever have to consider.
I don’t know what game Jackson was playing but what option did I have? If he could genuinely help me I’d have to swallow my pride. Not because what happened to us has kept me up at night leaving my body craving for more. No, I’m sure he’s not the reason, I woke up last night covered in sweat and my pussy aching. I refuse to acknowledge he has that kind of power over me.
I have to be insane to even consider this. But what choice do I have. If he can really help me like he claims he will, then I will risk it if it saves my father.
But one thing I don’t understand is the why.
He claims he wants me to be his and that statement scares me. Does he want to use me? Was all the times he tormented me in high school not enough. I just don’t understand. No one made me feel as worthless and unattractive as he did so what happened the night of graduation and his actions now make no sense.