Love In Strange Places Read Free Page A

honestly want that, but I haven’t found her yet. I haven’t found the woman that makes me want to give up everything, like you did when you met mom.” He smiled, remembering the story his dad had told them.
    “When you do find her, make sure you don’t let her get away, because you’ll regret it like I did. Do you hear me?”
    “Yes, Dad.”
    “I should’ve fought for your mother, but I didn’t because my pride didn’t let me, but up to the day she died she was the love of my life.” A tear escaped his dad’s eyes, and he wiped it away. “And now I’ve been given a second chance. Maria makes me happy. She makes me a better man, but no one can replace your mother’s place in my heart.”
    He hugged Andrew one more time, and Maria called him for their last dance. Andrew stood there, thinking of what his father had just said. He didn’t know his dad still loved their mother, after everything she’d done to him.
    His parents met when they were young, and got married against his mother’s family’s wishes. Her parents thought his dad was beneath their family’s social status. He and Matt were born, but that wasn’t enough for his mother. She was used to a lifestyle that his dad couldn’t give her. His father worked many long hours, trying to make her happy, but she needed more. Then she met John Phillips and fell in love with his money and the life he offered her. The life she was used to. Their dad found out she was cheating and asked her to stop, but she didn’t. She divorced him and gave him custody of the boys. They went to see her occasionally, but soon everything changed. She stopped seeing them.
    More than two decades later they learned the reason she left was because she had lung cancer and didn’t want her sons to see her die, so she decided to die alone, but she went into remission and survived. Eventually, they both forgave her and were reconciled. Just a year and a half after that, she passed away from cancer.
    As he remembered his mother, he smiled watching his dad dance with his new bride, and then his eyes met with Sherry’s and her mouth curled up to a smile, and for some reason her smile caused his heart to race.
     

Chapter Two
     
    “Hello.” Irritated Sherry answered her work phone, maybe a little unprofessionally because it was after hours, and because no one should have known she was there.
    “That’s how you answer your work phone?”
    “Who is this?” She was a little annoyed, until she heard an unmistakable voice in the background, crying her lungs out.
    “I! Want! My daddy!” Makayla screamed. “Dad…dy!”
    “It’s Andrew.” He answered, his voice a little rattled.
    “Andrew!”
    “Your brother-in-law!” He sounded as irritated as she felt.
    “I know who you are. How did you get my work number?”
    “Does it really matter?”
    “Yes, it does.”
    She heard him take a deep breath. “I tried calling your cell, but you didn’t answer, and since I was told you’re a workaholic, I took a chance at calling you at work.” He sighed. “I need your help. Makayla has a ear infection and she won’t stop crying.”
    He still hadn’t answered her question, but she would leave that alone. “ Where are her parents?” She asked shutting down her computer.
    “They had a late meeting and I told them I would babysit.” The little girl cried even louder. “I regret it now.”
    “Take her to the hospital.” She said, grabbing her purse and keys.
    “Shannon already took her and gave her medication. I think I’m doing something wrong.” She could hear the despair in his voice.
    “So you want my help?” She said, smiling.
    “You know what Sherry, forget it. I should’ve known better.” He hung up on her.
    She stared at the phone, and threw it. “No, he didn’t.”
    She got up, turned off the lights, and locked her office door. “I can’t believe he hung up on me .” She said, walking toward the elevator.
    She exited the elevator to the parking lot, and got