Page 147 of The Apple Tree

Kyle looked at his watch. “We can go anytime, buddy. Let’s have you use a restroom on the way out.”

I stood. “Give me a hug, munchkin.”

Josh hugged me, and the small lump in my throat that had been there for their whole visit began to swell. When he released me, I feathered my fingertips over his arm. Josh’s gaze followed my touch. Then he looked up at me and smiled while whispering, “I forgive you.”

In the next breath, he put on his jacket and turned toward Kyle.

I remained frozen in place, with his dagger of forgiveness lodged into the center of my heart.

“A week to go,” Kyle said as I stood straight. “I’m proud of you, Eve.”

I nodded since that lump was so thick that words couldn’t squeeze past it. I glanced away and pressed the pads of my fingers to the corners of my burning eyes.

No one was keeping me there. I checked myself in, and I could check myself out. And if Kyle would have asked me to leave with him, I would have.

But he didn’t.

“Come on, Dad.” Josh pulled Kyle’s arm.

“Okay, buddy.”

I swallowed hard, but I still couldn’t breathe. With a brave smile, I hugged him, but I kept it brief and quickly stepped back, staring at my feet while sliding my hands into my back pockets.

“Let’s go, Dad.”

Don’t move.

Not a blink.

Not a single breath.

Kyle let Josh pull him a few feet closer to the door.

Don’t move.

Not a blink.

Not a single breath.

A tear escaped.

And then another. But I kept my head down so he wouldn’t see them.

Just as holding it in became unbearable, I slowly lifted my head, hoping they were gone, but I was met with Kyle taking several long strides back to me. He took my face in his hands and kissed me.

I released a sob, gripping his jacket. When the kiss ended, he dragged his lips along my cheek to my ear and whispered, “I fell hard too.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

PETER GABRIEL, “IN YOUR EYES”

Kyle

I madesure Josh got fastened in the back before I climbed into the driver’s seat of my truck and closed the door. Then I started the engine to pull out of the rehab center’s visitor parking. My hand wrapped around the gearshift, and I clenched my teeth, every muscle in my body tensing to hold it together. But all I saw was her face covered in tears, her pleading bloodshot eyes, and her quivering lower lip. And I wanted to scoop her up in my arms and take her away from all the pain.

Releasing the gearshift, I fisted my hand at my mouth as my eyes pinched shut, and my body shook with emotion. Everything ached bone-deep, and my heart didn’t beat right. It had been the worst three weeks of my life. And that said a lot, considering the mother of my child abandoned us.

But I felt like I had abandoned Eve and didn’t know how to make it right. As much as I wanted to be everything she needed, I wasn’t. I failed her, like I had failed Josh. And when we walked into the rehab center, and I saw her for the first time sincecarrying her unconscious body back to the house, her light didn’t shine as bright.

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