26. Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Six
A ntonio
I woke up to my phone’s incessant ringing. The clock on the wall read ten-forty.
“Hello?” I groaned into the speaker without checking the caller ID.
“Hi, Antonio, good morning.”
The sleep in my eyes faded as I recognized the voice. “What do you want?”
“I just want to talk. I believe I owe you and your father an apology.”
My eyes widened at the statement. I glanced at my phone screen to confirm I was speaking to my birth mother, Eve.
“Hello, Antonio, are you there?”
“Is this some new trick you want to try out? Because I’ll tell you right now, I’m in no mood for your shenanigans.”
“No games. I’ll be leaving Asheville this time for good. But I couldn't leave without seeing you first… without attempting to make things right.”
“Make things right? You think anything you do could begin to fix all the things you've broken?” I asked, remembering Kendra.
“No, but it’ll prevent further damage.” She sounded sincere—a rare tone from my mother.
“Son, I think you should come home for a bit. Let’s hear her out.” My father’s voice came through the phone after I didn’t respond.
I hesitated and then replied, “I’ll be there soon.”
I quickly freshened up and headed out. I stopped briefly by Kendra’s door, knowing I’d see her later that night when she returned from work.
I drove hastily through the streets, my mind racing with my mother’s confession. Eve’s apology had caught me off guard, and for the first time, I saw her in a different light. The weight of her words settled within me, making me realize I’d misjudged Kendra.
Kendra had been innocent all along.
My gut twisted with guilt and urgency. I needed to see her, apologize, and make things right. I missed her… so much.
I dialed Kendra’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. I tried again. Same result.
“Damn it!” I slammed my hand on the steering wheel.
I couldn’t make my car go any faster without breaking traffic regulations. I was already at the maximum speed limit.
I arrived at the broadcasting station in record time, my heart racing. I parked and jumped out, rushing over to the entrance.
“Hi, I’m here to see Kendra,” I said, breathless.
The receptionist looked up, startled, and handed me a visitor’s form.
I hastily filled it out and handed it back.
She scanned the sheet, then nodded. “You’re looking for Miss Kendra Ryan? She works in the investigative journalism department, third floor.”
I sprinted toward the elevators, my impatience growing. The doors opened, and I stepped out into a bustling office space. A tall, lanky man with a friendly smile approached me.
“Hi, can I help you?”
“Kendra Ryan,” I said, slightly out of breath. “Does she work here?”
The man nodded. “Yeah, she’s one of our journalists. I’m Peter, her colleague.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Is she here? I need to see her.”
Peter’s expression turned sympathetic. “Sorry, man. Kendra’s not going to be at work for a while.”
My brain reeled. “What do you mean she’s not going to be at work?”
Peter shrugged. “She came in this morning just to get some paperwork done with HR. I don’t know the details, but we’ve got a temporary replacement filling in for her. HR didn’t give us much information.”
A temporary replacement? Kendra was leaving? My mind spun with questions.
“Do you know why?”
“Not sure, but nothing has really been the same since that story about your company got released.”
“Do you know when she’ll be back?” I asked, trying to keep my composure.
Peter shook his head. “Sorry, no idea. You might want to try HR or her personal contacts.”
I pulled out my phone and dialed Tina’s number, my fingers shaking.
“Please pick up, Tina,” I whispered.
Tina answered on the second ring. “Hey, Antonio! What’s up?”
“Tina, I need to see you. Now,” I begged, my voice low.
“What’s going on?” Tina asked, concern evident in her tone.
“I’m in the journalism department of your station. Kendra’s not here, and one of her colleagues said she’s not coming back to work.”
Tina’s pause was palpable. “Come to the media room, Antonio. I’ll meet you there.”
I ended the call and turned to Peter. “Where’s the media room?”
Peter pointed down the hall. “Take the stairs to the second floor, turn left, and it’s the last door on your right. You can’t miss it.”
I thanked Peter and rushed toward the stairs, my heart heavy with uncertainty.
As I descended, my mind replayed the conversation with Peter. A temporary replacement? Was Kendra leaving?
I pushed open the door to the media room, and Tina looked up from her seat, her expression somber.
“Antonio, what’s going on?” she asked as I approached.
I took a deep breath, trying to process the chaos inside me. “Tell me everything, Tina. What’s happening with Kendra?”
Tina’s eyes locked onto mine, and I knew my world was about to shatter.
“She’s gone, Antonio. She left for Alaska this morning.”
My world stopped. Alaska?
“What do you mean she’s gone?” I demanded, panic rising in my chest.
“She only packed a box and said she’d be back after some weeks, but I’m not so sure about that. She looked like she wasn’t coming back… I mean, what’s there to come back to?”
I staggered into the chair in front of me. “What about her job? Me?”
“You shut her out and frustrated every attempt she made to reach you. And she could always get another job over there. This one made her lose you. She couldn’t bear the pain.”
I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. What had I done?
Tina held out an envelope. “Here. She left this for you. I was supposed to ensure it gets to you.”
I took the envelope, my hands shaking. I opened it and pulled out the contents: a handwritten letter, several documents, and what appeared to be an agreement.
My heart raced as I unfolded the letter and began to read:
Dear Antonio,
I’m writing this with a heavy heart, knowing I’ve hurt you deeply. There are no excuses, no justifications, and I understand if you can never forgive me.
But I have to ask for your forgiveness one more time. I apologize for investigating your mother without your knowledge and confronting her.
This was the only thing I could do to keep her from harming you again. That’s why I’ve included some documents in this envelope. Eve has agreed to leave your family alone. If she breaks this agreement, the other documents can serve as proof to get rid of her. You can use them to ensure she never bothers your family again.
I know this won’t erase the pain I’ve caused, but I hope it brings some peace.
Goodbye, Antonio. I hope you find the closure you deserve. And most importantly, I hope you find true love—the kind that heals and uplifts.
Yours always,
Kendra.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I finished reading. Kendra’s words cut deep.
I looked up at Tina, my voice barely above a whisper. “When did Kendra get these?”
Tina’s expression was somber. “Kendra began gathering those after she left your house. She wanted to protect your family.” She took a deep breath and continued. “She wrote half of the story that got published but didn’t want to complete it. So, rather than finish it, she tried to get something to hold over your mother. Something that could get her off your back and ensure Kendra didn’t lose her job. But before the documents came in, that busybody Anne went through Kendra’s system, completed the story, and sent it out.”
A mix of emotions swirled inside me—gratitude, regret, and longing.
“Thank you, Tina,” I said, my voice cracking.
Tina nodded, her eyes sympathetic. “Kendra cared deeply for you, Antonio.”
I looked down at the letter again, Kendra’s words echoing in my mind:
“True love—the kind that heals and uplifts.”
Had I let that love slip away?
***
Three days after receiving Kendra’s letter, I stepped off the plane in Anchorage, Alaska. The crisp air filled my lungs, starkly different from the cold in Asheville. I tugged at the scarf around my neck to make it tighter.
Tom, Kendra’s brother, waited for me at the arrivals gate, his expression serious.
“Antonio,” he said, extending a firm hand.
I shook it, feeling a hint of trepidation. “Tom, thanks for agreeing to have me.”
We walked to his car in silence, the tension between us palpable. Once we were on the road, Tom spoke up.
“Listen, Antonio, I know what happened between you and Kendra. She told me everything.”
I nodded, expecting this. “I’m not here to hurt her, Tom. I swear.”
Tom’s eyes narrowed. “You’d better not be. Kendra’s been through a lot already, and I won’t let anyone mess with her again.”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “I’m here to apologize and make things right.”
He turned his gaze to the road ahead. “You’d better mean it.”
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude toward Tom. "I understand, Tom. And I appreciate your protection of Kendra."
The rest of the drive passed in silence, my thoughts consumed by the upcoming meeting with Kendra.
As we turned onto Tom's street, my heart skipped a beat. I was about to face the woman I loved, and my future hung in the balance.
As Tom turned off the ignition, I saw Kendra come out after the kids, a bright smile on her face. I'd missed that smile… but it faltered as soon as I stepped out of the car and her eyes landed on me.
She looked between her brother and me.
“Antonio?”