Page 51 of Crossroads of Innocence
Thankful for the interruption from a conversation he didn’t want to have, Wade hugged his mama and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you on the other side. I love you.”
She rested a palm on his cheek. “I love you, too.”
He gave a small wave then stepped into the hall, allowing the medical staff the space they needed to do their job. Alarm spiked his blood pressure. Jude wasn’t anywhere to be found.
Okay. Calm down. She was with Laura. She probably just went somewhere with her sister.
He’d check the waiting room first, then head to her brother’s room to see if she’d stopped by to visit Brandon. With a plan made, he hurried toward the waiting area. The butterflies swarming his stomach urged him forward, his vision singularly focused on finding Jude. He rounded a corner and collided with a broad-shouldered man sporting a thick head of gray hair and slightly soft middle.
Jenson.
“Whoa there, Wade. Where are you off to in such a rush?” Jenson asked as he brushed his palms over his red sweater.
The shock of running into Jude’s dad halted his motion and sent a spike of adrenaline shooting through his veins. “Sorry, sir. Just looking for someone.”
Jenson snorted. “Let me guess. Jude’s got you chasing after her again? I thought she’d done enough of that when you two were kids. Never thought I’d see it now. Not after she took off on all of us like she did. Do yourself a favor and don’t get sucked into her drama again.”
Wade didn’t want to take the bait, but he couldn’t help himself. “Excuse me?”
“You know what I mean.” Jenson clucked his tongue. “That girl has always been a handful. Telling stories. Creating situations for dramatic flair. Always the victim. Always the misunderstood or mistreated one. Even when she ran away. It was all about attention.”
Wade ran his tongue over his top row of teeth, stopping himself from punching the smug asshole in the face. “We must know two very different people. The Jude I know is kind and compassionate. She doesn’t lie and she doesn’t scheme.”
Jenson smirked. “What kind of bull has she been feeding you this time? Clearly some sob story to make you forget about the way she left you behind. Had the whole town talking about how she broke your heart.”
“She hasn’t been feeding me anything, sir,” Wade said through gritted teeth. “Only lifted a little mystery off things I always should have known.”
Jenson’s smirk melted into a scowl. “What are you talking about?”
“I know who you are and what you’ve done. Done to your daughters and your son and your wife. The lies you’ve told and the damage you’ve caused. Jude left to save herself, to rid herself of your toxicity. I may have been angry for a very long time, but I applaud her ability to make such a brave choice at such a young age. And just know, no matter what Jude decides to do from here on out, you’ll never get to her like you used to. Never control her or torture her or make her doubt her worth.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jenson lifted his nose as if disgusted by Wade’s proclamation.
“Yes, I do, but people like you never admit their faults. Never acknowledge the pain you’ve caused others. But that’s your own cross to bear. Not mine and certainly not Jude’s. Now excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be.”
Without another look, he rushed off to find Jude, leaving Jenson Metcalf fuming behind him.
21
Jude squeezed her sister’s hand as they approached their brother’s room, but this time, it was to steady her nerves and not offer Laura support. The last time she’d seen Matthew, he’d been broken and battered and still asleep from surgery. She’d never forget that image.
Never forgive herself for being the reason he was in that bed to begin with. Maybe Matthew wouldn’t want to see her. Maybe she’d ruined all hope of ever returning to any kind of normal life with her siblings.
Laura tugged her forward with a shy smile. “He’ll be so happy to see you.”
Blowing out a steadying breath, she crossed the threshold and tried to quiet the doubt swimming in her head.
“Well, look who the cat dragged in.” Grinning, Matthew straightened in his bed. He threw a playing card from the cluster in his hand on the tray that hovered over the bed, the wheeled stand nestled in front of Brandon.
Brandon rose and hugged her tight before turning his affections on Laura.
“Surprised to see you two together,” Matthew said, cutting to the heart of the matter like he always did.
“We ran into each other in the hall,” Laura said, crossing to his side and planting a kiss on his cheek.
“And you didn’t kill her?” Matthew teased.
Heat crept up the back of Jude’s neck. Words escaped her, and she stared, her mouth slightly open, at her bruise-covered brother.
