Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Are you going down to join them?”
At that question from my dad, I glance over at him. Unlike Trevor, who is still fit for his age, my dad has put on weight around his middle over the years and lost even more hair at the top of his head.
“Yeah.” I start to head for the stairs but stop when he speaks up.
“Do you think we could talk for a minute before you go down there?”
All day, I’ve avoided any real contact or conversation with him, and that’s seemed to work for me. But I know it’s been awkward for Mom and Miranda, who’ve shared more than a few looks, not missing the undercurrent of tension.
Without a word, I walk to the table and take a seat across from him.
“I…” His brows dart together. “I’m not sure how to even start this conversation, but I know I need to.” His gaze moves to the shore, where I can hear Kingston giggle, then it comes back to me. “While you and your sister were growing up, I made more than a few mistakes,” he begins, and I make a sound in the back of my throat. That is the understatement of the fucking century. “I was young and selfish and have no excuse for the things I did to your mom. Things that in turn affected you and your sister.” He rubs his lips together. “I wish that telling you I’m sorry would be enough, but I know it won’t. Will it?”
“No.” I glance toward the water when I hear Hanna laugh. “I can’t imagine doing what you did, and I felt that way before Hanna was even pregnant. I don’t understand how you could put your wife through that over and over again, the mother of your children, especially knowing now what it feels like to have a child on the way.”
“You’re right. I was a coward and convinced myself that if I hurt her enough, she’d eventually do exactly what I knew she should do—give up on us and leave. Only, she never did.”
My chin jerks back. “You wanted her to leave you?”
“I never thought I was good enough for your mom. Even when we started dating in college, I questioned why she wanted to be with me. I was always sure she’d eventually walk away.”
“You weren’t good enough for her, and she definitely should’ve walked away,” I grit out.
“Again, you’re right.” He nods. “And I have no excuse for the things I did or the things you had to witness,” he says quietly, and I want to tell him what a dick he is.
But how can I, when he’s not trying to come up with some lame excuse to justify his actions?
“Your mom and I love you, and it hurts her that you two aren’t as close as she’d like. And now, with you getting married and having a baby, she’s feeling that more than she already was. And I know that’s on me too.” He holds my gaze, then adds quietly, “Please don’t take this out on her, the anger and hurt you have because of me. She doesn’t deserve it.”
“Everything okay?” I look to the bottom of the stairs and find Hanna there, her eyes on me and a full of concern.
“Yeah, baby. All good. My dad and I were just catching up.”
“Okay.” She gives me a soft smile as she cups her belly that I swear is getting bigger by the day as she climbs the steps.
“You all right?”
“Besides feeling like I have to pee every ten minutes, I’m fine.” Her voice is filled with an annoyance that makes me smile as she walks across the deck toward me. “I’m going to use the restroom.”
“When you come out, I’ll go back down with you.”
“Okay.” She glances at my dad and smiles before heading into the house, closing the door behind her.
“I like her for you.”
“She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” I admit quietly, and he nods.
“I’m gonna head down to the beach and get some S’mores before Kingston eats them all.”
“Sure.” I watch him get up, then a minute later, he disappears into the darkness beyond the deck. I realize almost immediately the weight that had been sitting in my gut since he and my mom arrived is gone. What that means for my future relationship with them is something only time will tell.
“Hey.” Hanna steps outside, and I watch her walk toward me when I hold out my hand. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I pull her down on my lap, and she settles against me with ease. “He apologized.”
“That’s good, right?”
“I think so.” I kiss the side of her head. “Are you ready to get back to London after tomorrow?”
“Yes and no. I want to see everyone and be able to say goodbye, but I know it’s going to suck.”