I Will Always Love You by Annette Evans Read Free Book Online

the years; sending me to private school and taking care of me.”
    “Melissa, that’s what parents are supposed to do, take care of their children. But they shouldn’t expect the children to give up what they want in life, especially when that child is now an adult.”
    Melissa hugged herself as she stood looking at Dr. Foster. She turned back to the window and looked out at the clear blue sky. A blue sky that was so much like the color of Stefan’s eyes. She smiled wistfully to herself and slowly turned back to Dr. Foster. Melissa quietly said, “You know I did go back to Germany.”
    “No, I didn’t know. When was that?”
    “Three years later.” She crossed the room and took a seat once again in front of Dr. Foster’s desk. “Valerie and Dennis were getting married in September 1988, so she and I went to Germany for two weeks for a girl’s last fling. Of course, Valerie saw right through that. She knew that I was using the excuse of her upcoming marriage as a way to get back to Germany. And the wonderful friend that she is, she didn’t mind one bit.”
    “And did you see Stefan while you were there?”
    Melissa’s eyes clouded over. “Yes,” she said darkly. “Valerie and I were at a festival when my cousin Brigitte told me that Stefan met someone the previous year and they were married a few months later. At that very moment, Stefan and his wife, Elke , walked into the festival tent. You should have seen her. She’s beautiful with long blonde hair and big, brown doe eyes. Everything that I’m not and never will be. I wanted to die right on the spot.”
    “Did you talk to Stefan?”
    “Yes, we spoke for a few minutes the night that I met his wife. I was leaving the festival after only being there for an hour. I just couldn’t take seeing Stefan anymore. My heart was break ing just seeing him with Elke .” Melissa shuddered at the memory. “I made an excuse to Valerie and my family and I quickly left. When I walked out of the tent, I walked right into him. He was alone and asked me how I was. Can you believe that? My heart was ripped to shreds and he was asking me how I was.”
    “Stefan didn’t know how you still felt about him,” Dr. Foster gently reminded Melissa.
    She sighed. “Yes, I know. But I was so upset that I played it real cool with him. I told him how happy I was for him and his bride. He asked me about my life, and I told him that I was doing well in college and dating a few different men, which was a complete lie. Stefan said that he was happy for me and then we said good-bye.” Melissa looked away and with a tear in her eye said, “I haven’t seen him since then.”
    “How do you feel about that?”
    She shook her head. “Terrible.” Melissa faced Dr. Foster again. “When I got home from Germany, I completely changed my life.”
    “In what way did you change your life?”
    “I dropped out of college with only one year left to graduate, and I began working as a receptionist for a construction company. That’s how I met Jack.”
    “Jack? Who’s Jack?”
    “My husband and the father of my daughter,” Melissa simply answered.
    Dr. Foster looked curiously at her patient. “Tell me about your life with Jack.”
    “Jack’s twelve years older than me and my family didn’t like him from the start. But by that time I really didn’t care what my family thought anymore. Jack and I dated for eleven months when I found out that I was pregnant. My parents were very disappointed, but my father insisted that Jack and I marry. My parents bought us a condo in the same building that they live in which infuriated Jack. He said that my father was trying to throw his money around and rub Jack’s nose in the fact that he’s only a construction worker and out of work some of the time.”
    Dr. Foster studied her patient. “Why is Jack out of work some of the time?”
    “Well, the construction business is seasonal at best. And sometimes Jack doesn’t make it to work in time and he