Page 89 of Meet Me in the Vines
“Son, I’m sorry. I’m sorry about everything. After we lost your brother, I…” His eyes well up and his voice shakes. He composes himself before finishing his thought. “I didn’t know how to handle my grief. I took it out on you, and I couldn’t look at you for months because you look just like him. It killed me, son,” he cries softly. His eyes shimmer in the late afternoon sun. When I look in his gaze, I see a brokenness that mirrors mine. Two sides of the same coin. Two people fighting grief who took it out on each other.
“I should’ve been there for you. I should’ve fought harder for you and for our family when Duke started threatening blackmail,” he chokes out. Now I’m the one who puts my hand up to say my piece.
“Dad, you were trying to protect me, and now that I’m older, I get it. After being with Audrey, I realized everything that happened…happened. Nothing can change the past.” I pause and glance toward James’s tombstone. “I was angry with you for so long, but not because you took a deal with Duke and made mebreak it off with Audrey…” My voice is shaky and I feel the sting under my eyes of unexpected tears. What does Audrey always say?
Take a deep breath, count backward from five.
“I was angry with you because I needed you. I needed my dad, and you shut me out. When all that shit happened with the tape, I knew you were trying to protect me and our image. But I didn’t care about any of those things, Dad,” I cry out, my tears flowing faster, letting the years of anger fade with each confession.
“All I cared about wasyou.I only ever wanted to make you proud. You seemed so ashamed of me, and after James died, I only wanted my dad.” My hands cover my face and I let the rest of the anger fall away, being closer to forgiveness than I have ever been. My dad walks in front of me and grabs my shoulders to stand me up, pulling me into the warm embrace I’ve needed for a long time. The moment our arms wrap around each other, I swear I feel James hugging us, too.
“I’m so sorry, son. You’re right. I wasn’t there for you. I was selfish, and I was wrong to put so much on you. Please, forgive me, Donovan,” he pleads, holding my collar so tight it crinkles my shirt.
“Of course I forgive you, Dad. Do you forgive me?” I ask, squeezing my eyes shut to coax out the last of my tears. He pulls me back from the hug and smiles.
“Yes, son. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
We step back and chuckle, wiping our eyes. A huge weight lifts off of my shoulders. I’m ready to move on and start over with him, rebuild the relationship that we never got to have.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I hold a finger up to my dad to check it. My heart squeezes the second I see a text from Audrey on my screen.
Audrey
Donovan, I’m so sorry. Please come to the cottage. Something’s not right.
The air exits my lungs all at once. Every muscle in my body tenses to attention. My dad’s eyes draw wide in response to my impeding panic.
“Donovan? What’s wrong?” he asks, his eyes frantically scanning me up and down.
“Audrey needs me. Something is wrong. I need to go.” He looks over my shoulder at James’s tombstone and back at me. He nods, his brows furrowing with determination.
“I’ll go with you.” He grips my shoulder, his gaze softening for just a moment.
“What about James?” I ask, looking back at his tombstone.
“You’re here, son. Right now. I’m coming with you,” he reassures me, pulling my shoulders in for another hug. I gotta get used to this affection from him, but I’ll admit…it’s nice. We pull back and he kisses my cheek.
“Thanks, Dad. Follow me, okay?”
“Okay, Son.”
We hastily jog to the front of our vehicles, and before I slide in, I give James’s grave a final glance and a nod. I fire up the engine, seeing my dad in the rearview mirror. He gives me a thumbs up and I speed my way out of the cemetery with my dad in tow. I whip out my phone to send Audrey a text.
Donovan
I’m on my way, Mouse. Hang tight. I love you.
Before I can hit send, my screen lights up with Chief Harper’s name. My heart beats faster, anticipating whatever I’m about to hear on the other line. I silently pray before picking up his call.
Please don’t tell me it’s Audrey. Please don’t tell me it’s Audrey.
“Hey Chief, what’s going on?” I answer, steely.
“Donovan, we’ve got an ID on the black SUV. One of my patrol cars clocked it on the way out of town not yet an hour ago, matching the same description from the footage. Ran its plates.”
My stomach feels like it’s in my throat, my body tingling with adrenaline. A cold sweat forms on my brow, and I briefly take my hand off the wheel to wipe it away. I pause before answering, glancing back at my dad, who is still following close behind.
