A Vulnerable Broken Mind Read Free Page A

at Pasquale’s and I would like to welcome you. Now that you’re here, I can honestly tell you that you have great taste in food.” He grinned and both John and Amber laughed
                  “Our menus are right there at the end of the table.” He indicated to the menus sitting near the window. “I’ll let you browse through those for a little bit and I’ll be right back.” He said  jovially and walked off.
                  They had decided just to order a small cheese pizza, to split between them. Once they had ordered and were waiting for their food, John and Amber struck up a conversation. “What are you looking forward to doing most once we’re there?” John asked Amber.
                  “I’ve always wanted to walk through Cinderella’s Castle.” Amber smiled. “I’ve wanted to do that since I was a little girl.”
                  John smiled back. “Well, you’ll soon be able to do just that.”
                  “What about you?” Amber asked.
                  “I’m jumping on the biggest rollercoaster I can find once we get there,” John answered and Amber laughed.
                  “I think you’ll be able to live that fantasy too,” she said as she continued to laugh.
                  Lunch could not have been any better. The man made them feel at home and the food was very good. It was one of those small, perfect experiences that you love to talk about when you go on vacation and wouldn’t change a thing about. Joe Brown had made the experience very memorable. While they might have been visitors, he made them feel at home.
    It was soon time for John and Amber to hit the road once again. They wished Brown a fond farewell and left.
                  They were both smiling as they got back onto the road. The stop at Pasquale’s was a great experience for the both of them. An even happier thought flooded them both as they realized where they were headed.
                  “Are you sure you’re up to driving all the way there?” Amber asked rather seriously. “We could stop at another hotel for the night.”
                  “No,” John replied. “If we don’t make these reservations, I highly doubt we’ll be able to get another room. If we pace things out perfectly, we can be there very early tomorrow morning.”
                  “Are you sure?” Amber asked, feeling very concerned about John.
                  “I’m very sure, sweetie,” John said and quickly leaned over to give Amber a kiss. The kiss helped bring the smile back to her face.
                  As the hours grew later and the sky darker, Amber had fallen asleep, leaving John in silence. He didn’t want to turn on the stereo in the car and wake her up. He hoped that the signs, lights from the other cars and the thoughts in his head were enough to keep him awake.
    Another hour passed and he began to see signs for hotels and gas stations. He looked over at one of the signs and wasn’t drawn to the destinations listed on the sign but to what appeared to be a figure standing underneath it. His headlights briefly shined on what appeared to be a little girl standing beneath the sign.
                  It took a couple seconds for John to process what he had seen and then he immediately looked back. The bright lights from the cars behind him prevented him from seeing the sign again. Curious, he pulled over to the side of the road. The sudden stopping of the car woke Amber. She slowly stirred and then opened her eyes.
                  “What’s wrong?” She asked groggily.
                  As she asked, John unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door. “I’ll be right back, I just need to check something,” he said.
                  “What are you doing? What’s going on?” She asked in a more worried