Page 45 of Madden

First of all, I'm going to say what I should've said when you offered to take care of Mick for me.

Thank you.

You didn't have to, and no one else stepped forward to do it. Our parents are holding strong to never wanting anything todo with me, and that means not wanting anything to do with Mick, either. While that hurts me more than I can tell you, I'm thankful that you've been willing to take care of him.

He's lucky.

I remember how loving you were when we were kids. Although I'm older than you, you always took care of me and everyone around you. I should've done what you asked me to do and given away my parental rights immediately. I didn't because I'm an asshole, and I like to blame other people for the shit I've done.

Mick doesn't deserve that, and neither do you.

I'm sure you know I'm going away for a long time. When I get out, Mick will probably have his own family, and at that point, I realize I won't have a claim to him. If Madden is to be believed, you and Madden will have the claim to him.

That's right, Madden came to talk to me. Actually, he came to kick my ass and tell me what a fucker I was being. In the end, he was right.

I was wrong.

Please love my son the way you've loved me. Please show him what a real family is, and what a mother is like. Allow him to have the life I wanted, but never could seem to get. Don't let him stand in his own way like I have. Push him to be better than me, Becca. I know with the two of you raising him, he will be.

The only thing I ask is that you let me call him. I won't be his father figure, and I understand that. I don't want to be. At the same time, I don't want him to have some sort of romanticized view of who I am. I've seen enough guys here dealing with their sons, to know that the sons can get a skewed view of who we are. I don't want him to think this is acceptable.

It's not.

And I wish someone had loved me enough to tell me to stop the bullshit before I got this deep into it.

I want to tell him to never get sucked into this. Let him know who I am, but also let him know what I've done. Honesty is something I should've led with, and I never did. I want to do that now.

I'm sorry that I've made this difficult for you. I shouldn't have.

I love you; I appreciate you, and you're lucky to have Madden in your life. He came in here like he owned the place and told me to get my head out of my ass.

This is me doing that.

You should have the paperwork that allows you to take custody of Mick. If you don't, please reach out, and I'll make sure it's done.

Love,

Trey

My heart is pounding as I fold the letter and put it back on the envelope. This is something I will hold close to me forever.

Right now, though, I have to find Madden. I have to thank him. He didn't have to do any of this, and he continues to go above and beyond. He's the first person in a long time, besides Stephanie who hasn't disappointed me.

If I'm being honest, I love this man, and he has to know that as soon as possible.

CHAPTER 31

MADDEN

"What's wrong?"I ask as Bec runs toward me, her dark hair flowing down her back.

She crashes into me, and I pick her up, holding on tight as she wraps her legs around my waist. "Nothing. Trey signed over custody to me, and it's all thanks to you."

"No, it's not." I shake my head. "He's a father, and I choose to believe he finally stopped thinking about just himself, and started thinking about what's best for Mick."

She grabs my shirt between her fingers. "You and I both know that's a fucking pipe dream, Mad. He did this because you pressured him and made him feel like shit about what he was doing."

I carry her over to the picnic table on the side of the building and have a seat with her in my lap. Her eyes are bright and full of unshed tears. "No one has ever done anything like this for me before, Madden. I don't know how to react, or what to say, other than thank you."

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