Page 24 of Wanted

“Lionel, I think I should go home,” I tell him.

“That’s fine, I’ll have someone take care of your transportation.”

Why did he agree to it so quickly?

Oh, wait a second…

“I want to go home. To Carrollton,” I explain. “I think it’s time to go back and move out of the house you made me rent. It’s an unnecessary expense, and my mother will be happy to have me at her home.”

Lionel looks at me with his mouth wide open.

“You don’t have to do that,” he refutes. “You can go to Kentucky, that’s fine. But I was talking about going home, to… to my house here in the city.”

This time it’s me who is speechless, my jaw almost hits the floor.

“Stella, we have a lot to mend. And for your safety, I’d rather you stay here where I can take care of you.”

“If you had told me the truth from the beginning, perhaps I would feel more inclined to cooperate. Now all I want is to go back to the place I’ve always known.”

His mouth draws into a thin line.

“You’re free to do whatever you want,” he concedes. “But consider it a favor.”

Hearing those words, my eyebrows rise again.

“A big one,” I say in a voice full of sarcasm. “Look, if what you fear is I want to take away half of everything you have, forget it. I’m fine. I’m not rich, but I’ve never stolen anything from anyone. You can call one of your lawyers and have him write up an agreement.”

He looks at me again, studying me.

“We will talk about it later,” he says. “My mother has made her position clear on that.”

I snort. I knew it!

“I’m not surprised.”

“Luckily, my money is mine, not hers. So whether she likes it or not, she’s going to have to step aside and let me live my life.”

You just scored a point, Kral. You aren’t a total mama’s boy.

“Family matters. My mother and I are very close, but she doesn’t rule my life.”

“Draft those papers anyway, Lionel,” I insist, looking him in the eyes. “I think the best thing is for me to return to Kentucky. You know the town is pretty quiet and everyone knows each other. I’ll be perfectly safe there. You have no reason to worry…”

Mrs. Kral may not be his biological mother, but they do share a trait, neither of them likes to be challenged. The expression painted on Lionel’s face makes that quite clear.

“Jackson told me the press already knows about you,” he argues, that is a sensitive point. “Do you think they will leave you alone? They are like piranhas looking for juicy news. They aren’t going to give up.”

I have to admit that he has a fair point there. I don’t want to see anyone’s life, much less my mother’s, turned upside down because I had poor judgment when choosing a husband. Mom would go completely nuts.

“The doctor came to see me this morning,” he says in a lighter tone, it’s good news. “I’ll be here until they remove the sutures. They want to continue giving me IV antibiotics. I want you to stay here with me.” Then he pauses for a long time. “Baby, please stay.”

“Lionel, I…”

“Stella, we need time. Stay and let’s figure this out together.”

I close my eyes for a moment, thinking of all the possibilities. Making a mental list of all the pros and cons, if I leave I’ll always be thinking about the what-ifs.

What else would I lose? Time, but I could study anywhere.

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