Page 104 of Always Be Mine

“For what exactly?”

Reluctantly, Lucy lifted her head. “If I had spoken up earlier and told him that I didn’t want to be a secret, and demanded he tell me the real reason, then maybe…”

“No.” Mandi put a hand on her shoulder. “His actions aren’t on you. It’s not your fault he didn’t tell you everything, or that he thought it was a good idea to keep a secret, or even that he didn’t stand up and claim you as his girlfriend and the love of his life when he had the chance. None of that is onyou.Own your part, certainly. But do not take on his missteps as your own. I won’t allow it.”

Lucy stared at her best friend and shook her head. After a moment, she smiled. “You really think I’m the love of his life?”

Craig found the note where he’d left it, stuffed under some books on his nightstand.

He unfolded the envelope and stared for a moment at his name written in his father’s familiar scrawl.

Did it really matter what was written in the letter? Would it make any difference to his current fucked-up situation to find out that his dad had never believed in him as a single father, or that he shouldn’t have attempted to raise Meri on his own?

No. It wouldn’t make any difference to the mess he was in now.

Reading some stupid letter from his dead father wasn’t going to bring Lucy back. It wasn’t going to change the fact that he’d let her go. And then, instead of calling her and begging her to come back to him, he’d let days go by.

Craig groaned and shoved his phone away. He couldn’t call her now. It had been too long.

He didn’t deserve her. He’d demonstrated that clearly enough.

“You win, Dad.”

He snatched up the letter and tore it open. He pulled the piece of paper from the envelope and before he could change his mind, started to read.

Dear Craig,

Son. There is so much I wish I could tell you right now.

The first thing I want to tell you is the one thing that I imagine you’re doubting right about now. I believe you are an excellent father.

Craig sneered and immediately hated himself for it. This whole experience was changing him, and more and more, he wasn’t sure it was in a good way. He exhaled slowly and kept reading.

I know you’re angry at me right now.

That made him chuckle.

Of course you are. I can see you sitting there, saying, “Yeah, right. Then why did you make me hire a nanny?” I know you, son.

Despite himself, Craig smiled.

I hope you know by now that I’ve always admired the way you stepped up and changed your whole life to be a father to Meredith. I never doubted for a moment that you’d be an excellent father. It’s true that I was concerned. But not that you couldn’t do it. No. I was worried that you would give so much of yourself to that little girl that you would forget about you and what you need.

And my worries were well founded. I’ve watched that very thing happen.

Now, I don’t know when you’ll read this letter, son. Perhaps Meri is a teenager already and if that’s the case, you’ve probably found my request even more ludicrous. But there is a method to my madness.

And if you haven’t figured it out already, let me lay it out for you.

Just because you can do everything on your own, doesn’t mean you should.

No man is an island, Craig. It’s not only okay to ask for help, it’s a good thing. And you won’t be the only one to benefit. Meredith needs it, too.

Being a great parent is important, but it’s equally important to take care of yourself.

I hope by now the nanny you’ve hired has shown you this very thing. You can be a better version of yourself, and a better father, when you have time to breathe and hopefully even time to find yourself a bit.

There has never been one moment where I didn’t believe in you, Craig. I hope you realize that wasn’t what this was about. Not for a second.

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