Page 94 of Whatever It Takes

Charlotte’s parentslived in a gated retirement community just north of West Palm Beach, Florida. As we pulled into the pale brick, circular driveway, my confidence took a slight hit. It had been years since I’d seen the Donavons. Their house in suburban Philly was always a place where I’d felt at home. Yet, staring at the unfamiliar yellow house with pale blue shutters had me feeling out of place.

The front door opened, and Emery rushed up the driveway to greet her grandparents. It was my idea to come here and get away, so why was I so damn nervous? I grabbed Charlotte’s hand; she gave mine a gentle squeeze fully aware of how on edge I felt.

Charlotte’s mother pulled her into her arms while her dad stood off to the side with a bouncing Emery in front of him. The flight was only two and a half hours, but the little girl had so much energy she didn’t know what to do with herself.

“Quinn.” He extended his hand. “It’s been a while.” His tone was polite, but there was no escaping his scrutinizing stare. I felt more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. No matter what happened between Charlotte and I, it never changed how I felt about her parents. I’d always cared about them and considered the Donavons my second family.

“This visit is long overdue,” I said, knowing that I had a lot to make up for. “Thank you for having me. It means a lot.”

Susan pulled me into her arms. She was always a hugger. “It’s so good to see you.”

Susan Donavon looked nothing like her daughter. She dyed her hair a yellowish blond and kept it cropped short. Her skin was golden tan, and she wore more makeup in one day than Charlotte did in a month.

Charlotte was more like her dad, minus his receding dark hairline. She had the same green eyes, and the exact olive skin coloring.

“Let’s go inside so we can catch up,” her father said, walking through the front door. I glanced at the car and determined that I would grab our luggage out of the trunk later.

This house was nothing like the traditional colonial home that Charlotte grew up in. The walls were coral white instead of covered in colorful wallpaper. The home had an open floor plan, decorated in soft blues and greens. I looked over to a white shelf, noticing it was covered with pictures of Charlotte and Emery. Charlotte was an only child. Her parents had a hard time conceiving, so she arrived later in life. She was always the sole focus of their attention.

“Emery.” Susan reached for her hand. “Why don’t you and your mom take a ride on the golf cart with me? I want to introduce you to a few friends of mine up at the clubhouse.”

Emery eyes lit up like fireworks. “Will there be lizards running around the pool like last time?”

Everyone laughed. “I think I saw a few earlier.” Susan smiled. “Why don’t we let your grandpa give Quinn a tour of the house?”

Charlotte’s eyes met mine. I gave her a subtle nod letting her know it was fine. After the girls took off, her father gave me a quick tour. We kept the conversation light as we walked from room to room.

He patted my shoulder as he finished showing me around. “I’m going to fetch us a drink. Make yourself at home,” he said and disappeared into the dining room.

The oversized ranch style house was located on the 9th hole of a beautiful golf course. Ryan Donavon always had a love for golf, just like Susan Donavon had a love for the ocean.

I opened the sliding glass door and relaxed a bit, feeling a light breeze with a view of swaying palm trees. I glanced up at the stunning sunset thinking I could get used to this.

A glass of scotch was placed in my hand. “I’m going to get this conversation out of the way, Quinn, and give it to you straight.”

I swallowed. “I’m ready.”

“I’m still angry with you. You hurt my daughter.” I stayed silent, letting him say his piece while I stared out into the backyard. This conversation needed to happen. “While it’s nice to see Charlotte so happy again, it’s going to take you a while to earn my trust back.”

I sipped the scotch and continued to stare out the window. “You have every right to feel that way. I messed up, and no one regrets the pain I caused her more than I do.” I turned so I could look him straight in the eyes. “However, I can guarantee you that I’m here to stay permanently. I love your daughter, more than my own life. You have my word that I will never leave her again. In fact…” I swallowed the buzz of nerves in my throat. “I want to ask her to marry me, and I was hoping I could have your blessing.”

He arched an eyebrow. “We’ve had this conversation before, and you ended up breaking her heart. What’s different this time?”

I thought about how to answer that. I didn’t want him to have any doubts about my feelings, or whether or not things would actually work out this time. It seemed like another lifetime ago when I took him out to his favorite hamburger joint and asked for Charlotte’s hand in marriage. I was so young and naïve back then, thinking I had the world at my fingertips. “I guess you can say that I reached the point in my life where I understand what I have. If I could go back and do it differently, I never would have left.”

He nodded. “The only problem with that, Quinn, is that it’s not just Charlotte anymore. You would be signing up for a life raising another man’s child.”

“Emery is a part of Charlotte, and there isn’t a piece of her that I don’t love. I’m fully aware of what I’m signing up for, and I can’t make it happen quick enough. I want a life with both of them.”

We hadn’t told her parents about the baby yet. He had every right to doubt me, and I still needed to demonstrate to him that it didn’t matter to me if Emery was blood or not. I loved her as my own, and I would take on whatever role Charlotte gave me.

He glanced at me then looked back to the golfers as they hit their drivers toward the green. “I’m happy to hear that, although that’s not the only obstacle standing in your way.”

I understood exactly what he meant. Grant had agreed to the divorce, but until everything was finalized, nothing was guaranteed. I was sick of living in limbo. Sick of him being in my way. “I’m doing everything I can to rid her and Emery of that piece of shit.”

He laughed and clinked his glass with mine. “It’s good to have you back, Quinn.” He set his amber liquid down on the table. “What do you say we go hit a few balls? Just don’t tell the wife. I may have been stretching the pain from the back surgery just a little bit.” He winked and I laughed. It was good to see some things never changed.

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