Just Like Romeo and Juliet - Brooke St. James Page 0,3

he lost his way and left home. He forced me to make a lot of enemies. There were wounds created that still haven't healed. He broke me down in the time before he left, and his father never forgave him for that."

"What does any of this have to do with me?" I asked.

"Our boy should've never moved to Houston. He should've stayed in Galveston. He could have worked for us and made a nice life for himself. He was ruined by a broken heart and then he ran off and made all sorts of mistakes."

She sounded disappointed and frustrated, and it only made me mad.

"Sooo, you called me to Denny's to tell me that you think you know who my real dad is, and that my existence is a big mistake?"

"Heavens no, my child, you are the only good thing that Michael did back then." She stared at me with tears welling in her eyes. "You don't know what my husband and I would give to have our son back. He's been lost to us for so many years that we don't know where to begin. I mean, our son knew about you all these years, and he just told me you existed. But I knew instantly I had to get to know you. I felt hope, like getting to know you would somehow be the same as me being able to go back and get things right with my son. I just know it. You're a fresh start for our family."

"N-no, ma'am, I'm not a fresh… I didn't come here expecting… I'm not going to… " I trailed off. I honestly didn't even know what to say to her. "If this is true, why wouldn't your son find me and tell me sooner?"

"Michael must be going through a midlife crisis. I don't know what's going on with him. I think he's dealing with a lot of his regret. My birthday was a couple weeks ago, and he called and told me I had a grandchild. I talked to him for a while, and one of the things he said was that you existed. He didn't even know if you were a boy or girl. He gave me your mother's name and told me briefly how they met, and Gary did the rest. He found you, got some information, and set up this meeting. I honestly can't believe it myself. I've been sitting here staring at you, and I still can't believe what I'm seeing. Anne Rose. What a beautiful name. You are the spitting image of my son, sweetheart. I just know you are his daughter, and I want you to know you have family who loves you and would love to get to know you."

I stared at her, trying to think of what in the world I could possibly say to all this. I felt shocked, stunned. I felt like my whole world had broken to pieces.

"You're saying all of this like it's no big deal, but you have to understand that it is a big deal to me. I'm not saying that I believe it's true. But even if it was, did it ever occur to you that maybe I don't want to know? My life is fine like it is. Maybe I don't want to know if my real dad is some other guy."

Chapter 2

"So, you're just picking up and going to Galveston to meet these people?" My best friend stared at me with a dumfounded expression like I had lost my mind.

"I'm thinking about it," I said. "Jennifer lives there. I could just tell my parents I'm going there for her. I don't even need to tell them anything. They'll just assume I'm busy or hanging out with you."

"Do you believe what that lady said?" she asked, still looking confused.

I shook my head. "I don't know. I didn't at first. She freaked me out a little. I almost got up and left the table. I thought she was kidnapping me or something."

"And now you're going to visit her in Galveston?"

"I think so," I said. "But it's not like I let her talk me into it easily. We sat there at Denny's and talked for two hours. She and her family own a restaurant over there, can you believe it? A big seafood restaurant! Like Red Lobster but better! She told me all about it."

I spoke in an amazed tone because I had always wanted to be a chef, and Maggie knew it. I would have