Finding Home Read Online Free Page B

murmured, wondering who could be calling this late at night.
    “Hey, sweetheart,” her Aunt Carmen’s voice was just as warm and vibrant over the phone as it was in person. “How are you doing?”
    If anyone knew how much Andy had dreaded coming back to small town hell, it was Carmen, who had left the same town behind long ago.
    “Well, no blood was drawn, nothing got broken, and all my hair is still on my head,” Andy told her, “So I’d say not too bad.”
    “Oh, chica,” Carmen whispered. “How are you doing really?”
    “I’m fine, Aunt Carmen. Really it wasn’t so bad,” Andy informed her. “I wish you could have seen the look on Mom’s face when she took in my changed appearance. And I thought Bryan’s eyes were going to bug out of his head,” Andy laughed in memory.
    “And how is Joey?” Carmen asked after her brother.
    “Dad is…” Andy stopped to search for a word. “I’m not sure. We didn’t get much of a chance to talk tonight. He’s thinner, older. And he looks so tired.”
    “You let me know as soon as you know anything, Andy,” Carmen warned Andy. “If I need to come back there then I’ll do it.”
    “I didn’t think that you would ever come back here,” Andy stated knowing all too well the animosity that her Aunt felt for the small town. No one spoke about Carmen, it was like her aunt never even lived here before, which was highly unusual in small town America. Nothing was ever forgotten or not mentioned in small towns, especially ones that thrived on gossip like this one. Andy had asked many times what had sent her aunt running as far as she could but no one ever told her anything.
    “I’ll do what I have to if Joey needs me,” Carmen whispered but Andy could easily hear the dread in her voice. “I have news for you as well.”
    “And what is that?” Andy sighed, wondering what news her aunt felt the need to share with her.
    “Your Mr. Mitchell showed up looking for you,” Carmen told her.
    “Jordan showed up?” Andy exclaimed with surprise.
    “Yes, he was adamant that he see you,” Carmen told her.
    “Well, I’d say that he is just a little too late for that at this point, like maybe a year too late,” Andy answered sharply.
    “But Andy, you said that you loved him,” Carmen spoke quickly. “You said that you needed him and wanted him back. You moped for months after he left.”
    “Well, of course I did,” Andy responded. “I was hurt. No, I was devastated. But as time went along with no word from him I just got mad.”
    “Uh-oh,” Carmen murmured.
    “What?” Andy asked. “Uh-oh what? What did you do, Aunt Carmen?”
    “Well, you have to understand that I thought you wanted to see Mr. Mitchell. I thought that you were still pining for him and would love to hear from him,” Carmen was rushing, which was a clear sign that she had done something that Andy wouldn’t like. Still, Andy had to roll her eyes at her aunt’s use of the word pining. Did anyone really say that anymore?
    “Just tell me what you did, Aunt Carmen,” Andy said.
    “I told him…” Carmen started and stopped taking an audible gulp of courage.
    “You didn’t,” Andy exclaimed, realising what Carmen wasn’t saying. “Please tell me that you didn’t tell him where I was! Where to find me!”
    “Oh, Andy,” Carmen sounded so upset. “I thought that I was doing what you would want me to.”
    “How long ago did you see him?” Andy asked.
    “He was here this morning,” Carmen spoke. “It seems that he had been looking for you for a few days and with me moving a few months ago it took him some time to track me down.”
    “Well, maybe he won’t be able to find me,” Andy said and closed her eyes when her aunt gave another sigh.
    “I gave him directions,” Carmen admitted.
    “Shit!” Andy exclaimed.
    “Well, I thought that I was helping you be with your true love and all,” Carmen snapped, which shocked Andy. “How was I to know that you were over him and just