A Taste of Spring

Dez felt the sting of betrayal pulse through him. He took a step back. He lifted his hand to his mouth then lowered it.

"Yeah, I paid her," Fallon announced again.

He didn't have to repeat it. Dez got it the first time. He understood Fallon loud and clear. Spring was paid to "lift his spirits..."

The first step he took felt clumsy and sluggish, but as he took the second and third he attempted to move with more precision. Dez pulled open the office door. He heard conversation around him, he noticed people standing in the aisles, watching him as he walked by them.

"Lover's quarrel," Percy sneered as he passed.

The sound of a commotion going on behind him didn't halt Dezmond's steps. Gasps and the sounds of furniture being moved didn't stop him. He thought he even heard Fallon calling his name but he didn't turn back. None of it mattered. Fallon no longer mattered.

She was paid.

(I'm a fool.)

----------

FIVE HOURS LATER

The drive to his parent's home in upstate New York didn't even register. Hell, the truth was, Dez didn't remember the trip in its entirety. He didn't recall stopping at red lights or even merging onto the highway. All he was aware of was pulling up along the curb in front of his childhood home and parking where he still sat, staring at his steering wheel.

The sound of tapping jolted Dez to attention. He turned to see his father bent over looking at him through the driver's window.

going to sit here

I even doing here? he

of the

seat belt. He waited until his father backed up before he opened

father said as he

hand. It was the way Marcel Rey

is brewing some coffee. She made her famous cinnamon buns," Marcel said as they

coffee mug. His head hung. His chest still ached from being betrayed

Marcel whispered in the background. "We could have

refrained from shaking his head. His father was one of those people who lacked the ability to speak quietly. And to be talking about what he thought they were talking about...

"Shh, he'll hear you."

late," Dez said as he lifted his mug

buns. She placed it in front of Dez then

happened?" she asked.

started

boy, is she pregnant?" Marcel demanded

and Fallon lied to me. Apparently, she's an escort and he hired her...to get me out of my

silence in the room was longer than he expected. Both his parents should

a horn between his ears.

he said again.

chair made a screeching sound as she stood. She said nothing as she