Page 8 of His Witness To Protect

CHAPTER NINE

They drove the rest of the miles to Mack’s house in silence, Mack glancing over at Brie every few minutes, trying togauge her mood. She seemed to be pointedly ignoring him, staring determinedly out the window. He thought it best to keep quiet until she was ready to talk.

Hunger forgotten, he continued cursing himself for suggesting they stop at the diner in the first place. He hated that he’d put her through that humiliating experience.

He was still trying to think of something to say when she spoke up suddenly.

“Thank you,” she said.

He wasn’t sure he’d heard her properly. “I’m sorry, what?”

She repeated herself. “Thank you. I’m not sure I could have found the strength to walk out of there on my own without crying or fainting if you hadn’t been there.” She sighed, “I guess it was time I came back. I couldn’t have spent the rest of my life running away from Destiny Falls. This is my home.”

Mack continued to glance at her admiringly this time. He had to admit she had a quiet strength that he couldn’t ignore. He was relieved she seemed to be handling things well and drove the rest of the way to his father’s in silence.

Mack Senior was sitting on an old rocking chair in front of amodest house. The home exuded an unmistakable aura of maleness.

Again, Mack held Brie’s hand as he led her to his father and introduced her to him.

The old man welcomed her, remembering her from whenshe’d lived in Destiny Falls. He offered her a seat, and they engaged in polite conversation about her life in Chicago and how things had changed in Destiny Falls since she’d left.

After a while, Mack left to get his father a glass of water. While he was gone, his father turned to Brie.

“There’s my Mack. He’s never been able to stay in one place for too long.”

Confused, Brie smiled politely. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

Mack Senior coughed gently and laid a hand on Brie’s arm, “You know how these young men are… Never able to settle, never able to stick to one thing at a time.” He paused. “You’re a smart young lady. I’m sure it’ll make sense to you.”

He leaned back just as Mack returned and continued chatting about the weather as though he’d said nothing extraordinary.

Confused, Brie took the glass of water Mack offered her and remained silent while he continued conversing with his father.

She was trying to think of a way to tell Mack she wanted to leave without seeming rude when a matte-black Toyota drove into the compound. Interested, they all watched while the car parked and the driver got out.

Mack gasped and shot to his feet while his father chuckled. It turned out to be a long-legged blonde in dark sunglasses, and she walked toward them, smiling broadly.

“Joanna,” Mack said. “What are you doing here?”

“What?” Joanna replied in a high-pitched, birdlike voice. “Is there a rule that says exes can’t be friends? Or don’t you want me to meet your new friend?” She said the last bit while staring intently at Brie.

Brie colored visibly and got up, already fed up with the day. She held out a hand to Joanna, ready to introduce herself when Joanna let out a mocking cackle. It was a sound intended to hurt, and it seemed to hit its mark as Brie visibly hesitated.

“What happened to you, Mack?” Joanna continued. “You used to be fun. I never pegged you as the type to go for the fat, nerdy ones. But then again, I guess a man needs to play around once in a while.”

Brie gasped just as Mack grabbed Joanna’s arm and all but shoved her back to her car. Visibly angry, he ordered her to leave and not come back.

When he turned back, Brie was already marching off down the road, struggling to hold back her tears. He went after her and got in front of her, trying to hold her arm.

She wrenched her arm away from him and continued walking away, brushing angry tears away from her eyes.

“Brie, I’m sorry. I had no idea she was going to be here.”

“I don’t care!” Brie shouted. “I’m sick of it. I’m sick of everything. I’m sick of everyone telling me I’m not good enough. I’m going home.”

Mack started to apologize, trying to convince her to wait while he tried to explain that Joanna had just been a fling from the past and she’d never meant all that much to him.

Reluctantly, Brie agreed to get in the car with him, still struggling to fight her tears.

---