Page 148 of The Promise Of You

I hope tonight’s event doesn’t last too long.

At five thirty, the hosts of the private dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Ward, arrive early, as planned, to be there and welcome their guests.

And Justin’s composure behind the bar falls. He pales and freezes, as if he’s seeing a ghost.

Then Mrs. Ward says, “Justin! Justin King! Oh, honey, look who’s here.” And she rounds the bar to hug Justin, her husband following with a small smile.

Justin’s arms hang by his side as his panicked gaze is lost somewhere far. Then he awkwardly brings his hands to Mrs. Ward’s back.

What the…?

forty-four

Justin

Ifind myself being hugged by the woman who must hate me the most.

Audrey’s mother.

What is she doing here? And more importantly, why is she hugging me? She should be trying to pull my eyes out.

What was her name?

Anita. Anita and Clyde Ward, Audrey’s parents. Whom I met only once, in a lawyer’s conference room, where they and I received compensation for the accident.

They deserved it. Hell, there’s nothing that could ever compensate for their loss.

Me? I was a fraud. I didn’t deserve anything, other than their contempt, or hatred, or whatever horrible feelings they were in their right to nurture about me.

We didn’t talk that day, and that was fine by me. I was in a dazed state, weak and probably medicated, so I could get through the motions. There were moments when I just had to take meds.

Like the day I was facing the parents of the girl I’d offered to drive home.

And the man who ran us over.

And I was getting money for this mess. Money that everyone had advised I was entitled to.

I felt dirty that day, and for all the following days. And to this day.

I also remember, distinctly, that Kevin Murphy looked relieved.

Relieved!

And his brother-in-law, Sullivan, who had deep pockets, was paying on his behalf, and letting it be known? He looked annoyed. Like he couldn’t be bothered.

I hated those two instantly.

“Finally, we get to see you and hold you and say thank you,” Mrs. Ward says as she releases me, takes a step back, and sizes me up, top to bottom, her hands on my forearms. “What a fine man you’ve become.” She says it with admiration. No animosity. Not even sadness. “Doesn’t he look good?” she asks her husband.

Clyde takes my hand and shakes it for several long seconds. “So glad to see you’re doing good, son. Sorry we didn’t reach out sooner.” His eyes are wet with emotion, but not the sad kind.

They’re happy. They’re genuinely moved and happy to see me.

Do they have me confused with someone else?

I shuffle from one foot to the other. I need to fix this misunderstanding, and it might turn out ugly. Chloe might lose her bartender for tonight. Shit. I should’ve known the private event had to do with the ten-year anniversary. But then again, I’d never thought they’d have it here, at Murphy’s restaurant, of all places. “You—you know who I am?”

Anita Ward’s lower lip trembles sightly. “We never thanked you properly.”

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