“What happened?” My heart lurches in my throat because, no matter what her story is, it crushed her. Years later and the emotions are pouring.
“His father owned a high end Auto & Body Shop in town. Morgan worked part time for him. Spring break, he and I went white-water rafting with a group of seniors. While we were gone, his dad died of a heart attack. He was alone in the shop. Morgan’s only sister found him. It hurt the whole family, but Morgan carried an enormous burden of guilt. In his mind, even if he couldn’t have saved his dad, he would have been there instead of his sister.”
My own eyes start to sting. “That’s horrible.”
“It was. But he was p
art of my family, and we all banded together to help. My parents helped in every way they could. The other shops in town shut down the day we buried Mr. Drake. He was so respected. The church was standing-room only. I still remember seeing the only two tears Morgan allowed himself that day. He insisted on being strong. I vowed to be his strength.”
“You’re a good person, Crystal. Not many eighteen year olds could find that within themselves.”
“It wasn’t enough. We got through the rest of our senior year, but Morgan never fully recovered. I tried so hard, and to this day, I believe I’m the only one he let see him suffer. He broke down with me several times. It was crushing, but I never allowed myself to break. He needed me, and ultimately, that’s why I left.”
She takes a deep breath and pulls some tissue from her purse, handing me one. “We were supposed to leave and come to Charlottesville in August. He started acting cagey. Our time together became limited because he worked longer hours in the body shop. Finally, he told me he was staying home to take care of the family business until he felt they could hire someone trustworthy enough. He also wanted to be with his mom a bit longer.
“I was crushed but supportive. It was my idea to stay with him, but my parents threw a fit, and they were largely vocal about it. My dad tried to reason with us, but we stuck with our decision. Until, one day, Daddy threatened me with the largest ultimatum of my life. Either I break things off and go to college, or he’d blackball the Drake Family Garage. They’d lose everything.
“Usually, this is the part of the story where people roll their eyes because it so cliché.”
“I’d never mock you,” I assure her.
“The threat wasn’t only a threat to the Drake family; it would affect so many people. But eventually, it would kill Morgan. The family business was well respected, but most of their clients came from referrals. My dad is in insurance and sent all his clients to the Drakes. If they lost Dad’s referrals, then Morgan and his mom would have to let staff go. That would start an avalanche of problems that would devastate Morgan. He already felt so much guilt, so I told him I was leaving without him and that it was best if we ended things.”
“He let you walk away?”
“Yes, I said some pretty ugly things to convince him this was my decision. I used words straight from my father’s mouth that I knew would shatter any hope of a future relationship. I told him I couldn’t be linked to a ‘grease monkey’ for the rest of my life. My goals had changed. He had nothing to say after that.”
“Was that the last time you saw him?”
“That was the last time he saw me. I’d get up at daylight and drive to the park across from his shop. I’d sit for hours after he opened and watch him work. It was pathetic. The week after I broke it off, his mom cornered me at the grocery store. She was livid, but once she was done reaming me, her pain was evident. I promised to stay away and never hurt any of them again. Then I went home and made arrangements to come to school the next week. I started Summer B classes.”
“The academic band-aid to extreme heartache,” I say confidently. “I know that maneuver very well.”
“You do?”
“Oh, yeah, I left Nashville with the same broken heart you suffered.”
“But it worked out, obviously.”
“Not without years of pain.”
“I know about years of pain.” Her eyes glisten again.
“It’s none of my business, but what about your parents?”
“I practically severed my relationship with my dad the day I drove away. He’s an arrogant asshole who thinks I’ll see his logic when I get my degree and start my career. My mom has spent the last three years apologizing. She tries to reason with me that he was trying to do what was best, but it’s pure bullshit.
“The only way I could be so stubborn is to stand on my own two feet. I am completely financially free of them, so they have no say so in my life.”
“Jesus, you’re my hero. That’s incredible.”
“It gets lonely. I don’t socialize much because I’m married to school and work. But no one will ever have the power to control me again. Morgan’s shop now has two locations and three managers. They’re doing amazing. That’s what matters.”
“Crystal, Bryce flies out tomorrow night. I opted not to be on the travel team this year for cheer, so I have a free weekend. Plan on coming over to have drinks with Quinn and me. I’ll tell you my story. My tale involves a pregnant fling, a fake engagement, and a lovesick teenager who had a crush for six years.”
Her lip tips up in a small grin. “You’re on.”
The professor comes in and starts a video, and my mind starts to wander.