Regrets and Heartaches

By: J.P.G.
(© 2010-2014 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 37

Joey couldn’t stop thinking about the day he just had. From start to end, it was one of his worse days since he has been back in El Paso. It didn’t start out right, with the conversation he had with Alex in the morning, all the way to what happened to him when he walked into the ROTC building as he tried to do his job. He was at breaking point living in Jacob’s shadow.

He has come to terms on screwing up the good thing he and Jacob previously had. Once he came to terms with what he had done months after he left Jacob, he apologized to all those that were hurt by his actions. However, there are still those few that won’t let it be. Alex is one, and it seems no matter how hard he worked in ROTC, he will always be playing second fiddle to his former boyfriend. He’s had enough. He’s ready to explode if one more person walked up to him and puts him down or places him in Jacob’s shadow.

Caleb knew there was something up with Joey as they drove home after school. He tried to carry on a conversation with his boyfriend, but Joey would just nod his head or give one-worded answers to the questions he asked. At one point, he threw into the conversation that he was going to jump off Transmountain and when Joey said it’s cool it confirmed he wasn’t listening.

So when they got to the hotel and were walking into the hotel it wasn’t a big surprise to Caleb that when he and Joey saw Jacob getting off the elevator, Joey went running over to him. Caleb tried to keep his cool and see where Joey was at, but just like his boyfriend, he was tired of living in the shadow of Jacob as well. When he heard the news that Jacob, and his group were moving out it was hard to hide how joyful he was on hearing the news. He knew he didn’t hide it well and that Joey saw how happy he was, but was thankful he was never pressed on his happiness.

Joey didn’t realize that he offended his boyfriend when he went running to Jacob when he saw him getting off the elevator or on their ride home. The only thing he was thinking about at that moment was getting everything that was on his chest off. The sole person he can do that with is the man who has been causing him all the heartache these last couples of days and weeks. He was ready to make it clear that he was no longer going to be the whipping boy for everything that went wrong between them in their relationship and afterwards. As well, he wanted to make it evident he wasn’t going to lie down and be second to him in Brigade Staff next year.

“Hey Jacob, can I talk with you for a minute?” Joey said out of breath, spooking Jacob. “It’ll only be for a few minutes I swear.” Jacob nodded his head. “Cool let’s talk in private…” Joey looked around to see where they could talk. “Well I don’t know really where we can talk in private except one of our rooms. Every other place is open for anyone to wander in on us.”

“Well what about the office you let me use here in the hotel. That is private and whenever I’m using it no one walks in on me.” Jacob spoke in a soft voice. He had no idea why Joey was anxious, but didn’t fear him as a threat. “”We can lock the door if you feel it necessary.”

Joey agreed and led Jacob to the office. Once they were both in, Joey shut the door, but didn’t lock it. He felt there was no need. “Jacob there’s been a lot going on since you, and I broke up. I know the breakup was my fault, and that is something I have to live with for the rest of my life, but I have apologized for the way I handled the break up to you and everyone else until my face turned blue! I don’t feel I have to keep apologizing for that, I….”

“Hold on there, Joey, for just a minute!” Jacob held up his hands. “I don’t know what’s happening that has you all riled up like this, but you need to please take a breath.” Jacob smiled as he walked over to Joey and placed his hand on Joey’s shoulder. “I never once asked you to apologize for what happened between us or asked you to apologize to anyone else for that matter. In my opinion, what happened between us when we were together is just between us. If anyone is sticking their two cents in on our past, they need to shut the fuck up because it’s not their business.

With that cleared up, I want to make another thing clear right here and now. We were both to blame for the split. Yes, you walked out, but we were having problem's way before your mother, and uncle put their nose into our business. We had broken-up several times before and were fighting a lot before that Thanksgiving Day. All your mother and uncle did was hasten the end of our relationship. So stop thinking you need to apologize for what happened in our relationship. We forgave each other and that’s the end of it.”

Much of what Jacob said made sense to Joey. The only thing he didn’t agree with was the part that his mother and uncle quickened the ending of their relationship. Yes, they were having problems, but they were working through those problems. Yes, they had broken up a couple of times, but when they got back together, their relationship was a lot stronger. In other words, he didn’t agree his mother and uncle sped up the end of their relationship. However, he was going to let that go for now because there were a lot of other things he needed to get off his chest.

“Still Jacob as I have told you before I was wrong on how I handled the ending of our relationship. It killed me leaving you the way I did and I will never forgive myself for it. Even though you have forgiven me, I can’t myself. However, as you said all what happened between us is just that between us. I’m tired of people putting me down and making me feel like shit for the past.”

“You tell me here and now who those people are, and I will go right now to them and put them in their spot!” For the first time in their conversation, Jacob was yelling out of anger. He wasn’t angry with Joey, but at those that had him feeling like shit. No matter what has happened between them, he still loves Joey and nothing will ever change that. “They have no right to do that shit to you Joey. I don’t even have the right to do that, and I know at times I do and for that, I’m sorry. You deserve a lot better than to be put down.”

“I agree and that’s why I’m bringing it up to your attention, but I also don’t want to rag on the ones doing it.” Jacob looked at Joey as if he was out of his mind. He wants to fix this for Joey, but can’t if Joey doesn’t tell him who are the ones that keep bringing up the past to him. “I have already spoken with them and made it clear that they were talking out of turn, and I was no longer going to be the punching bag of what went wrong with us in the past.”

Jacob didn’t like that Joey brought this issue up to him and then refused to give names. However, he decided to let it be since Joey made it clear he set those in question straight. His ability now not to be afraid to speak his mind is one of the things Jacob has seen that changed in Joey since he moved back to El Paso. That’s something he always wanted Joey to do and is glad he’s not holding back. Doing it so he’s no longer getting ran over by those that think they can do that to him.

“That is one of many things I want to talk with you today.” Jacob had a serious look upon his face as he nodded his head for Joey to continue. “I know what you and Al did on giving me this hotel for my center, but it’s been a couple of months now since we moved in here. I still don’t know what is going on with the paperwork and when officially the building transfers over.”

“My grandfather handed that over to me, and I put the paper work in the day after we all talked about transferring the building over to you. I don’t know why it’s taking so long to get it done, but I’ll call up Oscar and have him check on it while we’re in California. I should have an answer hopefully in a couple of days if not when we get back to El Paso on that.”

“Okay I will leave it to you to figure out what is happening there on that.” Joey took a deep breath thinking to himself on how he was approaching the topic of the building. He felt bad because he didn’t explain why he was asking about it the title switch. “Jake the only reason I’m gunning for the title to the building is so I can do the things I want to do with it. Right now, we are on hold on getting any more of our rooms filled because I can’t show ownership of the building. Now that you guys have moved out, I have another empty floor that needs to get filled.”

“To be completely honest with you, I didn’t know that was the hold up on why the other floors of this hotel weren’t getting filled. I always thought it was because you were still putting all your ducks in the hole on what you wanted to do for others in the shelter. You should have come to me earlier, and I would have got on top of the title situation. Or at least I would have done what I could to help you start filling your rooms up.”

“That’s just it Jake! I don’t want to keep having to go to you for help on everything I’m trying to do. I’m trying to be my own person, and if I keep going to you on everything, I won’t be able to be what I’m trying to become. Plus, those that keep putting me in your shadow will have another reason to do that. I will never be able to get out of your shadow, and I’m tired of living there.”

Jacob really felt bad for Joey. He not only heard the hurt Joey was feeling in his voice, but it was written all over his face. He never meant to put him or anyone for that matter in his shadow, but somehow it happened. Now hearing Joey, he can’t help but think about Dewayne and if Dewayne was feeling the same way, but he’s not got pushed over the edge as Joey has.

“From getting this building from you and your grandfather, what happened in our relationship all the way to where we stand in JRTOC, I keep finding myself in your shadow.” Jacob tried to jump in, but Joey spoke right over him. “Enough is enough man! Seriously, I’m tired of it and not speaking my mind on it.” Joey started to pace around the room. “Well no more Jake. I’m no longer staying silent when someone comes along and tries to slap me down.”

“I never knew…” For the second time, Joey shut Jacob down. “Let me get everything off my chest before you jump in please!” Jacob nodded. “I was called into Colonel Pigeon’s office today where I was once again put in my place by not only Pigeon, but Colonel May as well. They both pretty much told me you had Brigade Commander, and if I’m lucky, I will get XO or one of the two other lower positions in Brigade. Well let me tell you here and now I’m not going to roll over. I’m going to fight you for Brigade, and hopefully the best man gets the position.

Everything else that has been going on I pretty much have let it out, but don’t kid yourself it won’t stop here if someone walks up and tries to belittle me. As I said several times already, the days of me being put in your shadow are over. I’m my own man, and I’ve proven that since I’ve been back. It’s time our mutual friends and family get used to that.”

Jacob didn’t speak right away. He stood there looking at Joey waiting to see if he was done. Once he was sure that Joey had spoken his mind, he did so himself. “First before I even get to all the things you have brought up here let me say I never knew about the things that were happening to you. You stayed quiet about it and of course, the ones doing the things to you haven’t walked up to me and told me about whatever insult, they had done to you. Still, they are our friends and believed they were talking on my behalf and for that, I’m sincerely sorry.

The meeting you had with Colonel Pigeon and May, I had no idea it happened. If they told me that they were going to bring you in and do what they did, I would have tried to stop them, but the key word, there is try. Everyone who has ever met these two guys know that once they decide on a course of action, there is no changing their minds. They are the ones running the program, and we’re learning from them.

However, you had better do what you just said you’re going to do when we go up for Brigade staff next year. I truly want the best person to get each position on Brigade Staff, not those that kiss ass or in my case give money to the program. I would be proud and happy for you if you got Brigade Commander, and I lose out and I know you would feel the same for me.”

The pacing Joey was doing was getting on Jacob’s nerves. He finally grabbed him when Joey had made his way back to him and sat him down in the couch. Once he was sure Joey wasn’t going to get up again, he joined him on the couch. For a few minutes, there was nothing but silence between the two of them, but when Jacob broke the silence, he made sure he was making eye contact with Joey. The topic he was about to speak on next he wanted to make sure Joey not only heard it in his voice, but also saw how sincere he was in his eyes.

“You and I were together since the first week of our freshman year and broke up almost halfway through our junior year. We had our ups and downs in those years, but I truly believe our good times outnumbered the bad times. We loved, and I believe still love each other today. Simply put, we came into each other’s lives when we needed each other the most. Nothing will change that or take away from that. The memories we built while together we will always remember. I’m not saying this to bring up the past or make us feel bad for where we are today. I’m bringing this up to remind both of us that we were each other’s first love, and that is very special.

Yes, things have changed and both of us have moved on with our lives. We both have new boyfriends whom we really love and would do anything. We also have become our own man through heartache and the shit. So no one has the right to ever put you in my shadow or anyone else’s for that matter. You have been your own man casting a very long shadow since the very first day I met you. Don’t you dare let anyone tell you otherwise!"

Jacob took a deep breath as he gathered his thoughts. “As I listened to you telling me what you have been through, I couldn’t help but look at the situation. I came to the realization that it’s all my fault. None of our mutual friends would have done any of that stuff unless somehow they felt I was okay with them doing it.” Jacob chuckled. “Look at me thinking I’m all that.

I’m no more important or better than anyone else is out there. Yes, I’ve had some lucky breaks these last few years that have gotten me where I’m at today, but my success doesn’t make me more important than Chase, Marco, Alex, you or anyone else. Somehow, I have betrayed that, and I need to correct it. I have tried to get full of myself, and I thought I had been successful, up until now, but after hearing you, I realized I was wrong on that.

Joey I’m sincerely sorry for everything you’ve been through since you’ve been back. The things I can help correct I will. The other things I can’t will be up to you to fix and there is no doubt in my mind that you can. You are indeed your own person in no one else's shadow. It’s time people start treating you like that.”

As Jacob got to his feet, he leaned in and kissed Joey on the cheek. “You’ve been through enough hell already. It’s time for your life to be a little easier for a while, and I hope by those and me that came with me moving out helps out there. No one deserves one tenth of what you have already been through, more so all of it. I really hope now that you and I have spoken, and you following through on not letting anyone put you down you get to live the life you deserve.”

Jacob could see he hit an emotional nerve with Joey as he made his way to the door. He had tears rolling down his face, speechless and couldn’t feel the floor underneath him, but other than that he was fine. Before stepping out, Jacob took one more look back to make sure his friend was okay and when Joey finally looked up and made eye contact he knew his dear friend was fine.

As Jacob made his way to the elevator, he saw Caleb sitting in the lobby. There was confusion and hurt on his face, and Jacob thought he was to blame for that. He went back and forth on whether or not to go to him and try to see if he could do anything, but after a few minutes of going back and forth, he decided to leave it to Joey handle since Caleb was Joey’s boyfriend.

Just as the elevator doors were shutting, Caleb looked up and saw Jacob. He jumped onto his feet and made his way to the office where Joey had taken his ex-boyfriend. When he reached the door, he stood there for a few seconds to put himself together. Once he felt he was ready, he walked in to find his boyfriend sitting in the couch with his hands covering his face.

Meanwhile outside another situation was about to come to a head with Bobby and Alex. Bobby didn’t want to have anything more to do with his former gang, and they made it clear when he was locked up, they didn’t want anything to do with him. However, that all changed earlier in the day when they approached him to do them the deed. A deed he didn’t want to do mainly because he wanted to take advantage of the second chance he was given of freedom. Now he sees it all being taken away from him by his past decisions.

As he approached Alex, he had no idea how he was going to carry out the request that was made of him. The only thing he was certain of was the friendship that he, and Alex have developed since they both left the gang gives him away in order to do what was asked of him to do. Still he didn’t want to, but at the same time, he didn’t want to end up on the hit list for not following out the request.

While Bobby was debating with himself how he was going to kill Alex, Alex could sense something wasn’t right. Ever since Carlos had spoken with him about the gang approaching him about their request, he has been on the alert. After that conversation, there was no doubt in Alex’s mind that if they had no problem approaching his closest friend in his life and asking him to take him out, anyone around him was a threat.

Therefore, when Bobby was walking up behind him, Alex knew he was there. Not to show his cards that he knew he kept going, but was preparing himself for the worst. He reached to the side of his wheelchair where he put a nightstick and started to pull it out. When Bobby was just a couple of feet away from Alex, Alex did something that stunned them both.

He quickly turned his chair, and by doing so, it flew from beneath him causing him to fall onto the ground. In Alex’s mind, what he just did made complete sense. He figured two things were going to happen with the move he had just made. First if the person that was walking up to him was going to do him harm he would miss because he would be aiming high, and he was going low. Second, his security, or any security around, would have seen it and would come running out to see what caused him to fall onto the ground so fast.

Bobby was so stunned he jumped back a couple of feet before running to Alex’s aid, but Alex was having none of it. He started to swing his nightstick at Bobby causing him to jump take several feet back. When he regrouped and calmed down, Bobby tried to explain to Alex, he wasn’t there to hurt him and wanted to help him up, but Alex wasn’t letting him near. Finally, after several attempts at trying to help, Bobby gave up and stood back as Alex scrambled for his seat.

Several security officers came running out of the building to see what was going on. Two of them went to help Alex up from the ground while the others grabbed Bobby and threw him against the wall. They were not going to wait for any explanations on why one of the probationers was in a conflict with another person living the hotel. They first wanted to secure him, more so for their safety than anything else.

While the security sorted through what was going on in front of the hotel, a few miles away Beth and Dominic were stepping back into their run-down hotel room. They spent their first day in freedom away from prying eyes, or at least they tried. Whenever they ventured out too far away from their hotel, someone recognized them and made sure they knew.

The worst was when they went out for breakfast, and a couple who had been keeping up with their case spotted them and voiced their opinion. No matter what Beth and Dominic did to try to get away from the couple, they couldn’t. The conversation should be clear, the one way conversation was getting so loud everyone in the small restaurant turned to see what was going on.

At first, the couple just looked at the two of them when they walked in. The looking turned to pointing, then pointing and whispering, and finally, they voiced their thoughts for everyone to hear. The minute Beth saw them staring she wanted to get out of there. She feared for her life, but Dominic refused to let anyone scare him off from where he wanted to be. He kept Beth at his side promising her that she was safe, but he rethought that when he saw several other’s jumping in.

“How could you guys show your face around here?” One guy yelled as he stood up from his table and made his way over to the couple that recognized Beth and Dominic. “Yeah how could you live with yourself after pulling the stunts that you pulled? If you were tried in front of a jury, you would have both been found guilty and buried under the jail. Not allowed out to raise havoc on your kids once again.” Another young lady behind the counter jumped as she joined the others.

Beth and Dominic slowly backed up towards the door, trying their best not to make the bad situation they were in worse. Both wanted to defend themselves, but they quickly came to the realization that there was nothing could change what was thought of them. All those that joined in with the couple that recognized them found them lower than scum.

How they got out of that situation without having to defend themselves or worse getting beat on, they don’t know. The moment they reached the door into the restaurant, they made a run for it and were successful in getting away. At that moment as they looked back, they decided they needed to wear disguises from that point on whenever they walked out of their hotel room. That is why when they walked in with their dinner, they were pulling off wigs, glasses, hats and, in Dominic’s case, a fake mustache they picked up a costume store. “This fucking sucks!” Dominic yelled as he tossed the hat with the wig in it on the chair next to the bed. “I have never in my life looked this foolish. Why can’t those damn idiots out there just leave us alone and let us live in peace?”

Beth shrugged her shoulder as she pulled their burgers from the bag. “Right now there is really nothing we can do about what others think of us. They think we got away with what we did, and if we’re honest with ourselves, we did. So all we can do now is give it time and hopefully the people to this city will forget about us, or turn their attention to others that break the law and are on the news like we were when all this first blew up.”

Dominic didn’t agree with Beth, but knew she was right. “Well, all I got to say to those pricks out, there is that they will come to realize what we were trying to do was right when one of these little fags move in next to them. Trust me when they have to deal with one like my nephew day in and day out they‘ll change their tune very quickly and regret what they did to us today.”

Beth looked up at Dominic and gave him a look that he took as if she thought he was out of his mind, which she did. There was no way in her mind that those that confronted them today and others like them were going to change their way of thinking just because someone like her son moved in next door to them. She feels still the majority of the people don’t approve of the lifestyle her son has decided to live, but that wasn’t why they were angry with them. They were angry with them on the steps they took to not only fix her son, but also at the same time take his money.

“Come on what’s that look for!” Dominic shouted as he sat down to eat his hamburger. “I know, deep down inside of you that you agree with me. You might not want to come out and say it, but you agree with me. If those ass holes that confronted us today have to deal with someone like Joey in their everyday lives they would be on our side. Not out there yelling slur words and chasing us out into the streets like criminals who we certainly aren’t.”

“Dominic we have to understand what happened this morning is going to keep happening for weeks, months, hell maybe even years. They went on with what they read and saw on television, and because we never went to court our side at no time got out.” Beth looked down at her hamburger and started to pick at the sides. “To tell you the truth I don’t think if our side got out it would have changed what they thought of us. We actually were wrong in so many areas. I don’t….”

“You don’t what Beth?” Dominic wasn’t about to sit there and listen to the only one he thought was with him to start to agree with those that treated them like criminals, crap. “What happened to us this morning was erroneous. What we have to do in order to get around is wrong. Living in this run- down piece of shit hotel is wrong. I can go on and on, but you see where I’m coming from, don’t you?” Beth reluctantly shook her head.

“We didn’t do anything wrong dealing with my nephew. My brother, god rest his Soul, wanted more for his only son. He wanted him to marry and have kids. He wanted his only son to better him in every way possible. Instead, Joey is out there disgracing the family name. Disgracing everything we stand for, believe in and most of all himself. The only thing we can hope for is when he realizes what he is doing is wrong, a bad dream it’s not too late to come back.”

“After all that he went through before what we did, and he still hasn’t changed there is no way he is going to change. The son my late husband wanted isn’t going to be, and it’s high time we all get used to that. We either are going to have to accept the man Joey is or stay away from him and let him live his life the way he wants. I’d rather be in it, so I choose to accept him for who he is.”

That didn’t make Dominic happy at all. He slammed his soda on the table so hard that the cup exploded. With soda going everywhere, both him and Beth jumped up at the same time and quickly moved away from the table. Beth looked over at Dominic only to see a look that she hated and feared looking back at her. A look that she thought died with her husband.

“You can’t damn well expect me to believe that you’re willing to accept Joey for who he is. There is no way I heard you right!” Dominic yelled. “If I did my brother is turning over in his grave right now. He needs you to do what he can’t and that is set Joey on the right track. Right now, he is going down the wrong one, and he needs guidance from those he has his best interest in mind. Not those that are just around him to see how much they can get from him before he’s out of money.”

Beth couldn’t believe what her brother in law had just said. They were the ones doing exactly the same thing, which she didn’t want to, but went along with it. Not making excuses for her past actions, but she realized the reason she did what she did on trying to get her son's money was because she was in love with Dominic. Now here he is trying to get her to agree with him that everyone else in her son’s life is using him for his money.

“Dominic you really don’t know what you are talking about.” Dominic was stunned that Beth not only didn’t stay quiet like she normally does when he goes off on a rant, but is actually standing up for herself and by the looks of it her son. “We were the ones doing what you are blaming those around Joey on doing. There isn’t a doubt in my mind you’re wrong.”

“What makes you say that Beth.” Dominic lowered his voice, but he was making his way towards Beth. “After they closed off the camp, Joey put a lot of those fags up in his old house in Alamogordo. In fact, he went further by buying the house next door so there was enough room for every one of those walking sins to have a place to sleep. He bought them clothes, got them to and from school and anything else they asked for he got them.

To make matters worse he didn’t stop there. When he decided to come back here to El Paso, he paid for all those..., those..., those... lower than scum kids to move here. He bought a hotel to turn it into a place of sin. He paid for everything for each of them. So don’t stand there telling me they aren’t taking advantage of him because you know damn well they are. We need to save him before he is wiped out and left with nothing.”

“I know my son is a lot smarter than you are making him out to be. He wouldn’t fall for crap like you’re talking about.” Beth tried to step away from Dominic, but he kept walking towards her until she walked right into the wall. “He is doing what he feels needs to be done for those that are in that hotel. I’m proud of him because that is how your late brother, my late husband, and I taught him and his sister. I’m ashamed of trying what I did and wish I…”

Before Beth could react, Dominic’s right hand was in the air in a fist and made contact with the lower part of her jaw. The hit was hard, but that wasn’t what threw her on her butt. It was that she didn’t expect it. At no time in all the time, she has known her brother in law that she ever knew him to be a man who beats on women. Now she sees he is no different from the man she buried. The man she struggled for years to get away from because of the abuse, and eventually did when she put him into the ground less than a year ago. That day she swore to herself that she will never again allow anyone, man or woman, raise a hand to her.

“Wish what you fucking bitch, wish what?” Dominic screamed as he started to hit Beth repeatedly. She managed to get her hands up to protect her face, but the strength of Dominic’s hits she had no idea, how long she would be able to keep them there. “You don’t talk back to me. You don’t dare stand there and make me out to be worse than your faggot son. What we did was right, and if we were allowed to finish straightening out your son, we all would be living under one roof, a happy family with him dating girls his own age.”

Dominic glared down at Beth as he stopped his hand in midair. “Fuck I don’t care if he dated girls older than him, or even a couple years younger than him. As long as he was dating girls like he should be doing.” Dominic stepped back from Beth to the bed and sat down. “I don’t understand why you made me do this thing to you. Why didn’t you just go along with what I had to say? Why do you have to provoke me the way you just did?”

Beth stayed against the wall with her hands covering her face trembling. She could barely hear what Dominic was saying due to the hits she took to the side of her head and ear, but she knew he was talking. She could hear his voice, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. He sounded like the Charlie Brown Cartoons from when her kids were young. Blah, Blah, Blah!

When she finally got the nerve to peek out she saw him sitting on the bed looking towards the wall talking. He had tears rolling down his face, making her feel bad for him. Then the pain radiating up and down her body brought her back. She couldn’t believe that she was feeling sorry for the guy that just beat her. He left her bloody, torn clothes and more than likely broken bones.

Blood started to dry, making Beth feel even worse than she already was feeling. She knew she needed to move from where she was and soon if she stood a chance of cleaning herself up before any infections set in. However, she feared the moment she showed life Dominic would start hitting her again like her late husband did whenever he beat on her.

Knowing that she really had no choice than to take her shot to get to the bathroom, Beth jumped to her feet and ran past Dominic when he lay down on the bed. By the time he reacted, she was already closing the door to the bathroom and locking it. He ran after her and when he found the door locked, he started demanding that she unlock the door and let him in.

Back at the hotel Alex was helped up and back into his wheelchair. The guards that slammed Bobby against the wall checked him for weapons before ordering him to turn around and take a seat on the sidewalk. Once he sat down, all the guards turned their attention to Alex to make sure he was okay and to get his take on what was going on between him and Bobby.

“Look I don’t know if Bobby was out to hurt me or not, but after what I found out in the last day or so I couldn’t take any chances with anyone walking up behind me. More so those that I think might feel a need for pay back.” Alex looked directly at Bobby. “There were some things I ordered to have done to Bobby while I led the gang we both were in. They were horrible things and if I was in his shoes I would want some payback for those things I had done.” All at once the guards looked at Bobby to get his reaction to what Alex was saying. “I’m not sure if our former lives have come back to haunt us both, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it has.”

Before another word could be spoken, Mr. Jackson walked out, followed by Sally. When they reached Alex, Bobby and the guards, Sally demanded to be briefed on what was going on. The guards told her what they knew at that point, but that didn’t make her happy at all. At that point Mr. Jackson stepped in and asked everyone to step back and settle down.

“It does no one any good to get all angry here or jump to conclusions on what happened without hearing all the facts.” Mr. Jackson spoke in a calm voice. “Miss. Hughes you have to give my guys a chance to get the complete story before demanding a briefing. And you guys…” Mr. Jackson looked at his guards. “If it was possible to move this away from the front of the building to the guard’s rooms you should have done that. We don’t want people gawking as they pass by.”

Everyone looked at the road that went directly passed the front of the hotel all at once. Several cars had stopped and the occupants in them got out. They were standing there by their cars looking on as if they had bought tickets for a movie. The only thing missing was their boxes of popcorn, candy bars, hotdogs, and big cups of coke.

“Let’s move this inside to my office.” Sally said in a suggestive voice as she turned her attention back to those around her. “That way those idiots standing out there on the road can leave and don’t get their asses ran over.” Her tone relieved some of the tension of the situation they were in away. It got everyone to settle down just a little, which made the whole thing handle just a little better for both her and Mr. Jackson.

A couple of the guards pulled Bobby to his feet while the others helped Alex. No one said a word as they made their way into the building and over to Sally’s office. Just as they turned the corner that led to her office they ran right into Harold. Bobby couldn’t believe his luck. Not only his actions got guards involved, but also Sally and now his judge involved.

“What’s going on here?” Harold asked as he looked back and forth from Bobby and Alex. “Please don’t tell me there’s a problem with one of the young men I put in this program with another young man living here in this hotel.” Harold looked directly at Alex. “More so between these two who have history that doesn’t hold too well for either of them.”

“Judge Evans I haven’t gotten the complete story on what happened yet.” Sally quickly responded as she tried to walk Harold away from the group. “Why don’t you let me get to the bottom of this? Since at this point I really don’t know what occurred between these two.” Harold looked at Sally as if she was out of her mind. “Please sir let me do my job here. I promise you if I find the probationer did wrong I will revoke him and send him to county tonight.”

“No I think I will sit in on this and hear for myself what happened between those two.” Harold looked over at Bobby and Alex. “I put this program together and it’s my reputation on the line if this project blows up. So since I really don’t have anywhere to go right now I want to be there and hear for myself that way I can sign revocation papers on the young man if needed.”

Sally knew she had no chance on changing Harold’s mind so she gave in. Together they rejoined the group to make their way to her office. No one said a word or looked at each other. They kept looking forwards thinking of the worst. Alex and Bobby were the worst in the group. Both of them let their imaginations got away from them. Bobby knew for sure his time at the halfway house was over. Alex not so much. He thought he was in trouble, but not to the point of losing his freedom.

“Okay why don’t you Bobby take a seat right there.” Sally pointed to the chair in front of her desk closes to wall. “And why don’t we move this chair out of the way so we can put you Mr. Garcia right here.” Sally started to push the chair furthest away from Bobby to the side. “For the rest of you take a seat in the remainder of the chairs and if you don’t get one just stand up against the wall over there.” Sally pointed to the wall to the left of her desk.

“With all due respect Miss. Hughes I don’t like the way I’m being treated here.” Alex spoke as he tried to get the guards to stop pushing his chair. “I’m being treated like a criminal when I didn’t do a thing wrong. I wasn’t asked if I was okay on coming here or if I had the time. Instead you ordered the guards here to push me into your office without my permission. If anyone here is breaking the law it’s you ma’am by forcing me in here when you aren’t the law.”

“Mr. Garcia you are just a young kid that has a troubled past. I can’t let you go without getting to the bottom of what was going on between you and one of the probationers assigned to the program which I help run.” Sally glared at Alex, but it didn’t scare him at all. “So if you want this to go quickly just sit there and let us do what we need to do to figure this all out.”

“No ma’am I won’t. I won’t sit here being talked down to like you’re doing.” Alex had enough and he wasn’t holding back. “You are holding me against my will. No scratch that. You took me against my will, which, if I’m not mistaken can be mistaken as kidnapping. Now you’re holding me here when I have made it clear I don’t want to be here.”

“Please Mr. Garcia…” Judge Harold tried to jump in, but Alex wasn’t having it. “No sir I’m sorry, but I will not please no one or nothing. I respect you and everyone in this room for who they are, but I’m not getting the same respect back. Instead I’m getting my past thrown at me, which you Miss. Hughes have no right doing. So unless you are going to actually call the police on me for doing nothing I’m going to leave.”

“If you leave here without us getting to the bottom of what happened between you Mr. Garcia and Mr. De Polo here we will have no other choose than to drop the whole thing.” Sally yelled in hopes to persuade Alex, but it got the opposite reaction. “Okay Mr. Garcia I’m sorry for not asking you if it was okay with you to come to my office. I just wanted to move everything away from the public view so we could handle it in private.”

Alex turned his wheelchair around just as he reached the door. “You should have explained that from the beginning instead of treating me like a criminal when I didn’t deserve that.” Alex looked over at Bobby. “In fact, I don’t even think Bobby here deserves being treated like that since I reacted before knowing why he was behind me.” Alex turned his attention to Sally. “Anyway, none of that matters anymore. The damage has been done and I don’t want to deal with this.”

“Mr. Garcia don’t you want to know why Mr. De Polo was behind you?” Harold jumped in before Sally was able to respond. “The little I remember of Mr. De Polo’s case you two do have history together. When I say that, I mean you two not only belonged to the same gang at the same time, but you ordered him to be harmed. All that went away when the Governor pardoned you, but it doesn’t mean that Mr. De Polo here doesn’t still hold malice towards you.”

With a big grin on his face he, Alex turned to look at Bobby. “Bobby these guys are right there is a past between us and it’s not a good one, but both of us have been given a second chance to make something of ourselves instead of the gang life we once led. Are you still angry with me for our past and if so were you out to hurt or kill me out there in the parking lot?”

Bobby couldn’t believe Alex actually asked him those questions. If he told the truth there wasn’t a doubt that he was going to be led out of that office in handcuffs. However, it looks like Alex is giving him a way out. All he has to do is lie there and somewhere down the road he could tell Alex the truth on why he was sneaking up behind him.

“Yes there is a past between me and Alex and that past isn’t a good one. At first after what had happened to me in county I wanted payback, but I don’t want payback now.” The guards knew Bobby was lying through his teeth. Harold and Sally well they were thinking the same thing the guards were thinking, but they had to give Bobby the benefit of the doubt. “I know it’s hard to believe after the kind of background Alex and I have, but it’s the truth. I no longer want payback for what happened to me in the past because that was how I chose to live.

Now all that matters to me is making this whole thing work. I have been given a second chance at a regular life if I don’t screw up here and trust me I don’t plan to do that. So no I don’t want any kind of payback Alex or want you dead. You did what you had to do…” Bobby trailed off as he chuckled to himself. “To be truthful here I still don’t know to this day who gave the order. All I know is it was carried out by those I trusted, not Alex. Those are the ones I’m still angry with.”

“Are you angry enough still to go after them?” Sally jumped in to try to get back control of the conversation, but Alex wasn’t going to let her. He didn’t let Bobby answer. “Ma’am I’m no lawyer but I don’t think you have the right to ask that since he hasn’t tried to get revenge on anyone. I believe him when he said he wasn’t out to harm me and I say let’s leave it at that.”

“Mr. Garcia we just can’t leave it at that.” Harold stared Alex down. He wasn’t happy that a young kid was walking all over him and the staff of the center. To add insult to injury in his mind getting back talk from a kid that should be locked up right now. “Mr. De Polo was somewhere he didn’t belong and he needs to answer for that. If the staff feels the answer he gives sounds fishy in any way they can punish him from giving him more community hours to asking for his revocation.”

“And if any member of this staff does that I will hire a team of lawyers to defend him. I don’t care what it costs. I will make sure he doesn’t get punished for doing nothing.” Alex stood his ground, or should be said didn’t flinch since he was in a wheelchair. “Even though he’s on probation, he still has some rights that can’t be taken away from him. Rights that to me it looks like you are trying you best to stomp all over and I can’t ignore that.”

“Alex, Judge Evans, and Miss. Hughes please let me explain why I was out there instead of coming into the building like I should have.” Bobby jumped in to try and settled things down in the room. He knows Alex thinks he is helping him, but he is actually making things worse. “I promise after I tell you guys why I was walking up to you Alex it will clear things right up and hopefully put all this to rest so where we all can go back to what we were doing.”

No one said another word. They all looked at Bobby and waited on him to spill the beans. “When I saw Alex exiting out of the hotel I thought he was struggling on getting to wherever he was going. So I was heading over to him to offer my help, but before I could say a word Alex reacted as he did. At first, I thought he was going crazy, but after hearing the guards talk about the threats Alex has been getting I understand why he did what he did. If I was sitting in that seat and was getting the threats he was getting, I would have reacted the same way.”

Neither Harold nor Sally wanted just to let it go. They felt it in their bones they were getting the wool pulled over their eyes by Bobby. There wasn’t a doubt in their minds that Bobby was out there up to no good, but without proof they couldn’t do a thing about it. On top of that they didn’t want any more problems with Alex. He has already gotten on their nerves and if they didn’t end this soon they were going to go where they know they shouldn’t.

“Mr. De Polo without any proof of what I’m sure you were out there about to do I have no other choice than to drop this matter.” Sally hated the taste of the words as they were coming out. “But I’ll be keeping a close eye on your from this point forward. If I see you doing anything wrong, don’t care how small it is, I will take you down. I won’t allow you to ruin what could be a good program for so many others kids your age that truly want to turn their lives around.”

Sally turned her attention to Alex. “And you Mr. Garcia I really hope you know what you are doing. If this young man…” Sally pointed to Bobby. “Was out there to hurt you and because you stood up for him here I or my staff might not be able to protect you in future. I really don’t know what was about to happen out there, but I’m sure it wasn’t anything good. So if I were you I would do one of two things here. Either you grow eyes on the back of your head or you find another place to live if you don’t want to get hurt, or worse killed.”

Alex didn’t want to fight with Sally or anyone in that room for that matter. He has to know each and every one of them since he moved into the hotel with Jacob and the guys. They are down to earth good people that only want good for those that are in the program with Bobby. Now he feels bad that on his last day he went toe to toe with those he respected.

“I understand ma’am and thank you for your concern.” Alex was very respectful as he responded to Sally’s concerns. “As you know this is the last evening we are going to be here. We have moved all of our stuff out already and will not be spending another night here. So hopefully that will help bring this whole thing to an end and we all can just move on.”

Sally shook her head as she looked over at Harold. He had nothing to add to what Sally had already said, so she let everyone go. She held Bobby back until she got the all clear that Alex and Harold had made it onto their elevators and where on their way up to their floors. Once she got that confirmation, she let Bobby go with a stern warning to behave himself or else.

On the other side of the building Joey and Caleb were still in the office where we last saw them. Neither of them said a word to the other yet since Caleb walked in, even though they both had things on their minds that they wanted to tell the other. The only problem was neither had any idea how to open the conversation to talk about what was on their mind. The only thing they were certain of is that they needed talk about it.

Caleb though was fed up with how Joey changed whenever Jacob was around. It was like he didn't exist when Jacob walked into the room. Today was a prime example of it. When they walked into the building and saw Jacob coming off the elevator, his boyfriend forgot all about him and went to his ex.

''I know what you are thinking and I don't blame you?" Joey mumbled not making eye contact with Caleb. "You have nothing to worry about. A lot was covered between Jacob and me today about our past that keeps coming back to bite both of us on our asses. All that will no longer play a part in our lives." Joey looked up for the first time and made eye contact with Caleb.

"I'm sorry for these last couple of days, really I am! I love you and no one else. I know at times it doesn't seem like I do or I don't show it, but I truly do. You are the only one I have eyes for and I pray we hopefully grow old together. But I know that is now in your hands since I have made a mess of things."

Caleb was lost for words. He not only was stunned on what Joey had just said, but he didn't expect it at all. He suspected him to once again as he’s done many times in the past to make up excuses on why he did what he did, but he didn't. In fact, he went the other direction acknowledging he has done wrong in their relationship.

"Just like you, I want to grow old together. “ I know that sounds weird coming from two teenage kids like us, but it's the truth. I love you Joey and there's nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I mean nothing.'' Caleb tried to hide what he was feeling, but it not only showed in his face but was also heard in his voice.

Joey was feeling the same way. He couldn't believe what he has put Caleb through. A guy who has stood by his side no matter what has gone on in his life since they met each other. Even before they became an item, he was there when he didn’t need to be. Now here he is paying him back the way he has the last several weeks. That is just wrong and he will do whatever it takes to fix it.

"Things are going to be a lot different from now on!" Joey wrapped his arm around Caleb and pulled him closer. "We are going to live our lives without any more outside influences. No more ghost from my past will ever come between us again. My life is going to be about you, my sister, and those that have stood by me and helped me out of all the stuff I have been through since leaving El Paso with any mom and uncle."

"The promise's you‘re making you won’t be able to keep?" Joey looked at Caleb as if he was out of his mind. There was no way he would have given his word unless he intended on keeping it. ''That came out all wrong. What I meant to say is some of the promises you made you won't be able to keep through no fault of your own. You shouldn't blame yourself when that happens and we will get through it like we have gotten through all the ones we’ve faced already.''

Joey shook his head as he squeezed Caleb’s hand. “There is so much going on in our lives we’re going to run into problems. That’s why I understood where you’re coming from Caleb. Still I’m trying my best to get rid of as many of the problems I have brought into our relationship. The ones I know that have you all unsettled, but you haven’t said a word about. The ones that I can fix now.

But that doesn’t mean that something from my past isn’t going to pop back up again. Hell my mother and uncle are now out there and are more than likely coming up with a plan on getting what they want. Plus we are back here in El Paso where a lot of shit went wrong in my life. I’m not fooling myself, but I’m trying to fix what I can.”

Caleb understood where Joey was coming from and didn’t spend a lot of time on each subject he brought up. He just wanted to let his boyfriend know the things that have been bothering him and leave it at that. Plus he knows he has faults of his own that he has to correct. Mainly his friends from back home he has been keeping on a string. Neither they nor Joey knows where he stands concerning everything that is going on in that part of his life.

Bobby was being escorted to the dining room. He wasn’t allowed to eat with the other probationers because Sally wanted to see if she could crack him by keeping him away from the others on his floor. When she saw it didn’t bother him at all, she ordered the guards to let him finish eating and take him up to his room. It wasn’t that she was giving up, far from it.

While she sat there watching the young man eating, she read up on him. His file, like most of the kids on his floor was thick. Most of the things she read she couldn’t believe one kid did and went through. After she finished her feelings towards him was different. She understood why he couldn’t say a word to her even if he was out doing no good. If he had, he would have more than likely been killed once he returned to prison.

So once the guards returned Bobby to his room she called them back. Hating it, she decided to let what happened earlier in the afternoon go. Coming to the conclusion that if he was going to hurt Alex then he missed his opportunity and will probably not get another one now that Alex has moved out. He won’t even be able to get to Alex at school since he hasn’t be released to go back by his doctors. She has no other choice than to believe when he does finally sees Alex again that he would have plenty of time to think about what he truly wants in life. A life like he said he wanted when they talked or the life he had before arriving at the center.

Bobby didn’t budge from where he sat when the guards returned him to his room. When sat down on the bed he just stared at the wall leading to his bathroom. After an hour of sitting there in silence, he got up and went to the door. Slowly he opened it to see if there were guards outside his room, but there were none to be seen. Everything looked as it normally did at that time of the night. Looking up and down the hallways to be sure he was right, Bobby decided to take his chances and make his way to Garratt’s room.

When he got to his friends room he didn’t see any kind of lights coming from underneath the door. He leaned in to try to hear Garratt walking around, watching T.V. or hearing some kind of life in there, but he heard nothing. Finally after standing there for a couple of minutes, he gave up and made his way back to his room. Once he closed his door, he didn’t open it again for the rest of the night. He stayed in his room watching T.V. until he heard the guards over the intercom saying it was lights out. Not wanting to get into any more trouble, he turned off his T.V. and lights before crawling into bed and calling it a night. Ending one of his worse days since he has been at the hotel.

Back at the hotel Dominic stopped banging on the bathroom door and slid down the wall. It was getting late and he knew he had to get Beth out of the bathroom. He sat there on the floor begging her to come out of the bathroom and talk with him, but he wasn't getting a response. As the minutes passed, he started to beg her to forgive him. He asked her to understand where he was coming from, what got him so angry, but the more he talked the more he buried himself.

While Dominic was on the other side of the door trying to get Beth to listen to him, she was on the other side crawling into the bathtub. Shaking she sat under the shower head with her head between her legs, She tried to not cry, but as the blood from her open wounds rolled down her face she couldn't hold it in any more. She started to sob loudly and Dominic was able to hear her on the other side of the door.

Please Beth open the door so I can make sure you’re okay, please honey!'' Dominic whispered as he pressed his head against the door. "I know you don't trust me right now, but please let me try and help you. Please honey forgive me and open the door. I’ll never lay a hand on you again. I allowed my anger get the best of me and that will never happen again."

Beth wanted to believe him, but she wasn't about to open the door to another abusive relationship, not after getting out one less than a year ago. She pulled herself up and turned on the water. As the water warmed up, she stripped down and got back under the showerhead. Every time she moved it hurt, but she ignored the pain and cleaned what she could and jumped back out as quickly as she could. Shivering, she dried herself off and put back on the clothes she had on when Dominic started beating her.

Standing in front of the mirror, she looked at herself and couldn't believe what she was seeing. She couldn't believe how badly the person looking back at her needed help. The person in the mirror had so many bruises and cuts all over her you could barely recognize her. All she wanted to do is tell that woman looking back at her to get out of that relationship. Get as far away from the one that did that to her and never, ever look back.

Joey and Caleb spent most of what was left of their evening talking about everything they were holding back. When they talked themselves out, they covered all the topics that had them on edge. So when they finally did emerge from the office, they had big smiles on their faces and were holding hands. They found the others in the restaurant chatting away about what they were going to do first when they got to Disneyland, so they joined them. When they approached the table, their glow grabbed everyone’s attention.

The rest of the evening they spent packing once they left the guys. By the time they had everything packed for they Disney trip it was already after nine. For the second time that evening they went looking for the guys and found them this time in the room where they put the pool table. For the next couple of hours they spent it around the pool table playing and joking around. Before they knew it was fifteen to twelve, almost time to head out to the airport. So they decided to just stay with the guys and play pool and talk the rest of the night until it was time for them to head out.

Just like Jacob, Alex, and those in their groups, none of the boys in Joey’s group was able to close their eyes. They felt sleepy and knew they should try to get some sleep, but each time one of them tried to snag a couple hours, they just tossed and turned. Instead of trying to force what obviously was not coming, they decided to wait until they got to Disneyland.

The sleeping wasn’t the only similarities to the others the night before their trip. Once they got to the airport Saturday morning, boarded their plane and made it to their seats they were out until they arrived in Dallas. Since the layover was close to a couple of hours in Dallas, they decided to tour one of the biggest airports in Texas. Some of them bought little things to take home, but mostly they just looked around. When they rejoined the others and took their seats on their final plane they were out once again and didn’t stir until they landed at LAX in California.

To be continued...

WRITER’S CORNER:

{Welcome back one and all to a filled chapter of ‘Regrets and Heartaches”. There is a little house cleaning I have to do before I get to my summation. As I wrote out my last chapter of ‘Beneath the Mask’, chapter sixty six there was a plot line I wrote about in there that belonged in this story. By the time I noticed the mistake the chapter had been written and was about to be posted. None of my readers noticed it, so I was thankful. But if you did notice it and didn’t say anything, thank you. The plot line will go back to this story where it belongs.

Now let’s get to the summation of this chapter. I will try and get through the summation as quickly as I can. The chapter picked up as the boys returned to school the Friday afternoon before they left for Spring Break. There were a lot of things going on between Joey and all the others in the hotel that made Joey out looking like a really bad guy. I tried to clear it up in that segment and make him his own man like he is. I just hope I did it right and was able to clear it to those readers that have been sending me emails about these items.

To those readers that have been writing me that I have been writing Joey out as a prick and Jacob as a snob I never meant to do that. I guess if it came out like that in my writing I still have anger in me on how things ended when I thought I had none. Joey is a kind person and I’m sorry if I wrote him out differently. Even though I haven’t seen him in years and we both went on with our lives finding new true loves, I still consider him a friend and wish him all the best.

Now as far as writing Jacob out as a snob trust me I’m not one. I thought I kept him from looking like that, but it seems I have failed. As I do my rewrite of the Jacob story I will correct that once I see it because I never wanted Jacob to be anything more than the person he was when the story started. Down to earth from humble beginning with not a penny to rub together.

Now let me get off my soap box and get back to the chapter. Joey and Jacob covered a lot in their meeting. Jacob tried to assure Joey that he never meant to do what Joey felt he was doing. He will do what he can to fix things that Joey felt he was wronged. However, there are things that are even out of Jacob’s control like how fast the state transfers titles over. Keep in mind this story is being written in nineteen ninety two when computers weren’t like they are today. Now you can pretty much do everything over the internet, but back then you still had to go into a local office and fill out forms. Once you did that it took weeks, if not months for things to actually get completed.

Joey also talked with Caleb after he and Jacob were done. Poor Joey had a very busy day of talking to so many people. Let’s not forget he talked with Alex before school and then the meeting he had in the ROTC building. Joey has had one very busy day of talking. With that said, it looks like once again Joey and Caleb have cleared the air, but it looked like that several times before. I only hope this time they did and they actually move on.

Beth and Dominic are back in this chapter. In my last chapter I left them off by accident and I made me a note to get them in this chapter. What can I say about that plot except you guys shouldn’t have been surprised on how I went with it. These guys are going to have a hard time if they decide to stay anywhere near El Paso and Alamogordo. If they really want a life they need to move as far away from these two cities as they can.

Now what can I say about the fight between Beth and Dominic, or should I say the beating. It looks like anger issues run in Dominic’s family. First it was his brother who was hurting his family, and now here he is picking up right where his brother left off at. I really hope Beth doesn’t cave in and forgive Dominic. She needs to get the hell out of there.

Bobby, poor old Bobby! Those that have read the last installment of ‘Beneath the Mask’ you kind knew he got out that before the plot was completely written out. It looks like Alex helped his old friend out. I only hope Bobby finds a way to get away from his old gang and doesn’t end up being forced to do something he doesn’t want to do. Who knows that might come true since Alex’s grandfather made it clear there wasn’t a green light on his grandson.

I went back and forth on all the plots in this story I feel I’m leaving something out. If I have I know Trevor will cover it in his corner. If he doesn’t. Please leave me a comment on the site or send me an email on what I had forgotten. I will answer them as soon as I possibly can. Oh one more thing I plan to go back to college in the fall, but right now I don’t see that interfering with my writing. And finally like ‘Beneath the Mask’, this saga has finally caught up to ‘Jacob Finding His Way’. As I said in my last writer’s corner in ‘Beneath’ the four stories are now going to go along side by side for the next week dealing with so many different plots.

There is so much going on in this saga. I can keep writing, but I won’t. You guys are going to need to tune in to the next chapter to see what is going on. More plots are going to open and old ones will be closed. This story, like my others, will keep you on your toes. Do not miss what is coming up in the chapters to come.

I don’t want to say too much more and spoil the future chapters to come, so I won’t. I warn you though! Do not skip a chapter, or you will be lost. There is a so much to answer in the chapters to come. Keep reading the future chapters, and enjoy! Please email me and let me know how I am doing at jacobmillertex@aol.com, Thanks!} I have a home page for you to see what the characters look like or what the places look like. If you want to walk in their shoes, please go to: http://jacobmillertex.com/}

EDITOR’S CORNER:

If you wanted action and suspense in a chapter well you got it here. Beth and Dominic to me dominated the chapter and the sooner Beth gets away from this lout the better. I can’t stand guys who beat up on women they are the lowest of the low and should be locked up and the key shoved up their ass.

Beth I hope does escape his clutches now that she realizes her mistakes by listening to him and being led astray. Who knows in the future she just might be reunited with her family but then you never know with my author. If I suggest too much he’ll go the other way.

I was touched by the exchange of words between Jacob and Joey and the personal love he still has for this guy shone through. I hope the word from the elder Garcia gets down the line to Bobby and also to some extent Carlos that Alex isn’t to be touched. Firstly, I would hate anything to happen to Alex after all he has gone through and secondly I don’t want Bobby and Carlos to come to harm either.

If anything did happen to Alex, Bobby would be the number one suspect anyway after what happened in this chapter.

I hope that everyone has a great time in Disneyland with not too many dramas. But again you never know with Jacob.

Please don’t forget if you have time to write him and let him know what you think and you can see from his writer’s corner he does read and take to heart what you say to him.

Hugs Trevor.

Posted: 07/25/14