Page 63 of When Forever Stays

“That’s right.”

“ID,” he says in a monotone before extending his hand.

I dig out my wallet, slide my driver’s license out, and hand it over to him. For the first time since I stepped up to the desk, the man looks up at me, but then he looks back at my ID. “This says Rhett Stryker.” I try not to roll my eyes like a teenager. “RJ Hemlock was my stage name.” Expecting this issue, I already have the contract to my apartment pulled up on my email and I show it to him. After a few moments of deliberation, he gives me a curt nod and hands my phone back to me.

“Oscar Davis was found trashing your apartment by the security guard at your complex. When he was placed under arrest, hekept repeating that the man who owned the apartment is his dad. Is that true?”

“Yes,” I say.

I grit my teeth as an odd mix of excitement and anger fills me. Excitement that Oscar finally acknowledged that I’m his father. Anger because the first time Oscar admitted to being my son was in front of a security guard while he was destroying my apartment.

We run through the motions, and I assure Officer Bishop that I have no intent of pressing charges and that I want to get Oscar out of here. After sorting everything out, I sit in the reception area and wait for Oscar to be brought out. I pull my phone out and scroll through my messages with Dana, and I can’t help but smile. Everything with her is both comforting and unexpected. It’s only been a day but I already miss her presence.

“I’ve been praying I’d find you here when I arrived.” Ashley plops down beside me, the dark circles under her eyes revealing the turmoil she’s endured.

“I told you I’d come,” I say.

“You did,” she agrees. “But I can’t say I’d blame you if you didn’t.”

Her statement has me raising my brows. “Oscar is my son. I’d die for that boy if I had to.”

Tears fill her eyes. “You’ve proven that.”

Carefully, I put my arm around her and pat her back, trying to infuse any kind of comfort I can. A few moments later, we hear footsteps before Oscar stands in front of us, staring down at us. I remove my arm from Ashley’s shoulders and stand.

Oscar has a look of disgust on his face. “You abandoned me when I was a baby?—”

Ashley cuts him off. “No, Oscar. RJ never abandoned us.” It’s clear the words pain her by the look on her face. It’s probably reminding her of our checkered past. The reminder pains me too.

“That’s right, he just never returned your phone calls. Because he didn’t want to take responsibility for his actions.”

My shoulders droop. “You were better off without me back then. I would have made a pretty crappy dad.”

“You were a crappy dad,” Oscar practically spits at me, then turns his head, looking away from me.

His words send a sharp pang to my chest, but I stand strong. “I deserved that.”

I look from Ashley to Oscar, praying God helps me find the right words to say. “Don’t get me wrong, I wish I could have known you from the very beginning. But I also wish I would have been a better person back then. I didn’t deserve you.”

I tentatively place my hand on his shoulder. “But that’s all in the past. And we can’t change the past. We can only try to be better in the future and leave our shortcomings to God.”

Slowly, Oscar turns back to face me, staring straight into my eyes, clearly checking to see if I mean my words. “Mom never said you were a Christian.”

“It seemed to me like you didn’t want to know much about me. So she respected what you wanted.”

Oscar looks between me and Ashley. “I guess that’s true.”

“I can’t change what I did or didn’t do in the past. But if it’s all right with you, I’d like for us to focus on the future.”

Despite not looking convinced, Oscar shrugs. “I guess we can try.”

We head over to my apartment, and Oscar takes several hours to clean up the mess he made with minimal help from me or his mom. Thankfully, he’s done no damage to my furniture. Once he’s cleaned everything up, I call my realtor to let her know it’s once again in showing state, and she tells me she already has a buyer ready to make an offer.

After Ashley and Oscar leave, I call Dana and update her on everything.

Dana’s response is one of understanding. “I’m glad you were able to get him out. But I know this isn’t easy on you. We’re praying for you back home. Take whatever time you need.”

“Thank you for understanding and the prayers. I need it. We all need it.”

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