Page 70 of First Chance

“Still, she ruined your life,” Jo says angrily.

“I know. I had to mourn the relationship that I thought I had with her. I mourned my normal life. I mourned a child that was never truly mine. It ruined me.”

“But you got a second chance.”

“It took my grandfather forever to get a meeting with your father. I couldn’t believe it when he called to tell me it worked. I was exonerated. My charges were dismissed, and I wouldn’t have to live with my name on some vile sex offender’s list.”

“Did he tell you about it? The meeting?”

“No, not really. We were so happy I was getting out of prison that we only spoke about the future.” I glance at her as she bites her lips introspectively. “Why?”

“I need to tell you the truth about something, but I don’t want you to be angry at me.”

“Why would I be angry?”

“I’ve kept something from you.”

My stomach sinks. After the betrayal I just spoke about, she thinks dropping another bomb on me is a good idea?

“Tell me, Jo.”

“I knew your grandfather.”

“What?”

“I met him that day, in the Governor’s office. I was shadowing my dad for school in my sophomore year.”

I stare at her fully, not having any idea where this is going.

“I listened to him talk about his grandson and how innocent he knew you were. I was moved to tears, hearing him advocate for you. No one in my life had ever been in my corner the way he was for you. He was the most genuine man I had ever met. I felt like I could see the honesty in his eyes, and I believed every word he said.

“He was in his military uniform, it was really sweet. He showed the letter to my father to prove your innocence, but I never knew what it said. All I knew was that my father was going to say no. He had no intention of exonerating you.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jo

He stares at me in disbelief, but it’s so dark now that it’s shielding me from the intensity of it.

“I knew your grandfather was telling the truth. I knew you were innocent because he believed you were. He left the room, and my dad practically threw the file into the trash. I was horrified that he could be so cold-hearted.”

“Jo…” He mutters, but I keep going.

“I threatened to tell my mother about his affair with his secretary if he didn’t do what your grandfather asked. They had just recovered from his last affair, and he couldn’t afford to get caught in a lie again.”

Lochlan’s mouth hangs open, listening to me spew my truth. It feels freeing to get this weight off my chest.

“He called your grandfather back in the room and stamped his approval to set you free. I could see how surprised he was, and when he looked at me, I think he realized what I had done… He was so thankful, he cried like a baby, and I did too.”

“You… My grandfather…” he mumbles, still processing whathe’s hearing.

“I followed him into the hallway, and I told him that I wished I had someone in my life who loved me like he loved you.” I lay back on the blanket and stare into the dark sky, warding off the burning in my eyes.

“He must’ve seen the pain in my eyes because he told me if I ever needed a safe place to go, he had a black bear sanctuary that was always open to rescues.”

“You came here looking for him?”

“Yeah.”

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