No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Holding the phone, I hesitated for a solid two seconds, wondering what Conrad wanted from me this time.

Fanny nudged her chin at me, signaling to pick it up.

"Felicia," came Conrad's voice from the other end, calling out to me.

"What's up?" My tone was as distant and cool as ever.

Even though things had ended badly with Ernest, there was no going back with Conrad. So every time he reached out or came close, I instinctively raised my defenses. "I'm back," he said, his words carrying a weight as if he had returned from a great ordeal.

"Yeah, I know," Dustin had already filled me in.

There was a pause on Conrad's end, "Can we meet? If you don't want to see me alone, you can come over to the house. My folks would really love to see you."

I could almost see Herschel and Jacqueline greeting me at the airport, their concern for me was undeniable.

"There's something I need to tell you," Conrad broke the silence, "It's about Jefferson, and... it involves Ernest too."

breath hitched. I was done with Ernest. Whatever involved him, how could it possibly

fleeting. I found myself agreeing, "Okay, I'll come

I'll tell my mom. She's been saying she wants to make you some pot roast when you come over," Conrad's voice brightened with anticipation. Hanging up,

said it's important, also involves

just using Ernest as bait. You're done with Ernest, right?" Fanny

on purpose;

about Ernest. It's about the Herschel and Jacqueline. Jacqueline said she'd make pot

clearly not buying

you more than a third of their estate, let

revisit my doubts, but Herschel and Jacqueline had explained everything. They were so open about it, dwelling on it any further was

that rare universal donor blood type. The odds are slimmer than winning the lottery,"

they knew about our

was partly because of

ever need a transfusion and Conrad hesitates even for a second, I swear I'll knock some

like our great plains road trip is off the table