Stranded(2)

They’d gone out of their way to attend all of Jack’s events, but found excuses not to do the same for her. Even when she’d gone through her rebellious stage, they barely batted an eye.

In adulthood, it was India who ran errands for them and who was there when they needed a favor, but was it even acknowledged? Never. When Jack decided to grace them with his presence, which was rare, her parents were all smiles.

It was one thing to feel one’s parents loved their sibling more than them, but it was quite another to know it was true.

Only when she’d begun dating Steven Cartwright did they seem to take an interest in her life. Besides Jack, there was nothing her parents loved more than one-upping their friends and family. They had to have the best house, buy the most expensive cars and go on the most exotic vacations, even if their incomes didn’t always support their extravagance.

India’s engagment to such a prominent up-and-comer had been a feather in their caps. Of course she’d been flattered to have someone like Steven take an interest in her. He was good looking, polished and smart—all great qualities. It was too bad he couldn’t keep it in his pants. Catching him cheating brought all the uncertainties she’d dealt with throughout their relationship to the forefront. It made her wonder whether she would have gone through with the wedding had she been none the wiser. If India was being completely honest with herself, she wasn’t sure if she’d agreed to marry him because she loved him or because her parents liked him so much.

Regardless, they were through. Her mother may be willing to accept infidelity to maintain her way of life, but India wasn’t prepared to do the same.

When she made it to her apartment there were three messages on her answering machine. Against her better judgment, she checked them.

“India, I don’t know what the hell got into you tonight, but you have a lot of explaining to do. You embarrassed me in front of my friends, colleagues and family. Once I calm my parents down, who have been nothing but nice to you by the way, I’m coming over to straighten this mess out.” Steven practically yelled the message.

Was he kidding? His mother was a holy terror. Sure she was nice to her “baby”, but when no one was around Mrs. Cartwright let her know in no uncertain terms India wasn’t good enough for her precious Steven.

Mr. Cartwright was no better, constantly talking to her in a condescending manner, and putting down her job as a public defender. What bothered her most about him were the “accidents”. The first time he touched her booty, his hand supposedly slipped, but the second and third time was beyond enough. Telling Steven about it had done nothing to change matters.

Good riddance to the lot of them. Anyway, Steven was sadly mistaken if he thought she’d allow him to cross her threshold.

The cheating bastard.

“India, sweetheart, this is your Aunt Val. I’m just checking in to see if everything is alright If you’re up to it, give me a call and let me know if you’re okay.”

A slight smile touched her lips. Good ole’ Aunt Val, always there when India needed her.

“India Rochelle Powers, you have a lot of nerve walking out on your father and I after the stunt you pulled tonight—”

India pushed the button to shut off the message. She didn’t need this. The only person she was inclined to call back was her aunt.

Picking up the receiver, she punched in Aunt Val’s number.

“Hello?”

“Aunt Val, it’s me, India.”

“Hey, sweetheart. I’m glad you called. I was worried about you. How are doing?” There were no recriminations in her tone nor did she demand to know why India had done it.

And she appreciated it.

India sighed. “Pretty good, considering I was just tag-teamed by Mom and Dad. They weren’t happy about what I did.”

Her aunt chuckled. “Well, standing up in the middle of the toast to tell the guests you weren’t going to marry…uh, a no good son of a bitch, according to you, at your engagement dinner was bound to create some drama. I’m sure you had a good reason though. It’s not my place to judge.”

The tears that had threatened to spill earlier flowed down her cheeks. To have someone in her corner meant so much to her after all she’d been through today. She sniffed. “Thank you, Aunt Val. And yes, I did have a good reason, although Mom and Dad don’t think so. I remembered I left my jacket at Steven’s place and when I went over, I spotted his car in the driveway, but he’d told me he’d be in court all day. I don’t know why, but I got a funny feeling, so I let myself in with his spare key. I heard noises coming from his bedroom and to make a long story short, I saw Steven in bed with some woman.”