Kellogg, Laurie - [(Return to Redemption 6] - Don't Break My Heart by Laurie Kellogg

Author:Laurie Kellogg [Kellogg, Laurie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LK Books
Published: 2014-02-22T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

While Trisha checked out after breakfast, Justin carried Haley’s suitcase to the chartered bus bound for Redemption and hugged her good-bye. After she climbed aboard, he slapped his brother lightly on the back. “Hey, thanks for looking after her today.”

“No problem. If your truck’s still in the library’s parking lot when we get back,” Nick told him, “I’ll take her home with me.”

“Thanks. I’m hoping to be late.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “That’ll mean I talked Trisha into letting me buy her lunch before dropping me off.”

Jamal walked past and waved to him, “Bye, Mr. Riverá.”

Justin nodded to the boy as he leapt onto the bus. “Where’s he going? He didn’t ride up here with us.”

“He talked his chaperone, Cal, into letting him take your seat. Cal’s gonna pick him up at the library on the way back to Trenton.”

“Great.” He released a sarcastic snort.

“You don’t like him? He’s seems like a good kid.”

“I do. I guess I’m just freaked out by the idea of Haley dating anyone.”

Nick chuckled. “Join the club, Dad.”

Justin glanced around to make sure none of the bus’s windows were open or any passengers were still arriving. Despite being alone with his brother, he lowered his voice. “I think I’m also worried about her fitting in with Jamal’s family and friends.”

“You mean the black side of his family and their friends.”

“Yeah.”

“He fits in all right with Haley’s friends and family,” Nick pointed out. “Dani and Ryan both really like him, and Sammy and I think he seems responsible.”

“Our family is a little more open-minded than a lot of people. I know what it’s like to be rejected by bigots.”

“What do you mean you were rejected by bigots? I have the same ethnic roots, mi hermano. Granted, I’ve run across a few less enlightened people in my life, but I’ve never felt persecuted for my heritage.”

“That’s because girls’ parents hated you simply because you had a bad rep.”

“You never dated anyone in high school besides Sammy, so whose parents.... ” Nick did a double take. “You don’t mean Trisha’s family?”

“Her father didn’t want his little girl mixed up with a Chicano. It’s why she bailed on our relationship. She was pregnant, and Daddy wanted her to have an abortion.”

He would’ve married her back then if she’d told him about their baby. He would never know if she would’ve stayed had her father been amenable to her keeping their child.

Nick’s eyebrows shot up. “Your baby, I assume.”

Justin swallowed hard. “Yeah. She lost it a few weeks after she left college.”

“I’m sorry.” His brother squeezed his shoulder. “Really.”

“I never knew about it until two days ago.”

Nick jabbed his thumb into his chest. “Hey, I know what it’s like to lose a baby. Whether you were aware of it before or not, it can’t help but hurt a little now that you do know.”

“It does. It also made me regret a decision I made when Marc got sick.”

“What decision?”

Justin stalled, rubbing the back of his neck. Hell, who else

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