Page 10 of Wrath's Nightingale
I laughed and went with the joke to hide my instant reaction. “I can see my dad bursting through my old bedroom door.‘What are you doing to my daughter?’”
My imitation of my father’s voice has us both in tears. It takes me a few minutes to stop laughing.
“Did you have to stay with your mom until you turned eighteen?”
“No, thank God. My dad meant Lisa when I was six and by nine, they not only had custody of me. Felicity signed away her parental rights. She landed in jail for felony possession six months before.”
“Damn, baby. I’m sorry. That’s tough.”
“It would have been a lot rougher without Lisa. To this day, I swear she’s an angel sent from God to save me and my dad.”
“Do you have any siblings?”
“I have three brothers. One older, he hates my guts. I’m not fond of him as a human being. My two younger brothers are following in my dad’s footsteps. My uncle, Donnie, is running the furniture business since dad is technically retired. Both brothers work there learning the business and refining their craft.”
“A family of craftsmen. I thought those days were long gone.”
“Thankfully, Little Nashville is a popular tourist attraction.”
“Do you talk to your older brother?”
I shake my head. “I won't talk to Aaron if I can help it. He’s toxic.”
“I’m sorry, baby. I can’t say that I know what that’s like. I get along well with my brothers and our sister, Willow.”
“You have an amazing family. They’re so friendly and welcoming. I was just the nurse on duty, and they made me feel like family. Your mom made sure that she brought me food every day. Did you know that?”
Wrath shakes his head. “I didn’t, but that sounds like her.”
We drive straight through from New Orleans to Nashville, Tennessee. We spend the next eight hours talking and laughing. Stopping long enough to grab fast food, which we eat on the road.
Chapter 6
Wrath
Ican’t remember the last time I smiled and laughed so much. My wound, which healed, is still a little tender some days. Today is no exception with all the laughter, but totally worth it. With each mile, I’ve fallen a little more in love with Millie. She’s an amazing woman with a heart of gold.
We’re both tired by the time we check into the hotel. We decided on a room with two queens. I’m too tall for a double and they were out of double king rooms. After a few minutes of discussion, we order pizza.
“O M G, they have a Godfather’s pizza. Can we get the original with pepperoni breadsticks, extra nacho cheese?” Millie says while bouncing on her feet.
“I take it you like Godfather’s pizza?”
“My favorite, and they don’t have them everywhere. They were closed for a while. I’m excited they opened back up. I only get it when I go home.”
“When’s the last time you were home?”
“It’s been three years. I’m beyond ready to see my family. I got caught up in my new job. When I first started at Mercy General, I was pulling back-to-back doubles. I barely had time to sleep, much less go home for an extended period.”
“Then this reunion will be even sweeter.”
“It is so much sweeter. I’ve missed them terribly. I can't wait to see my little brothers and meet their girlfriends. Both are in relationships, Tyler’s dating a girl named Amy Fox. She’s a localgirl whose family is well-known in Brown County. That’s the county little Nashville is in.
“Micah’s girl Missie is from Savannah, Georgia. I love her accent. We’ve video chatted a few times.”
A knock at the door interrupts our conversation.
“That’s the pizza. I’ll get it.”