Page 73 of Our Sweet Destiny
“You know what you’re asking me to do. This family lives by three steadfast beliefs: a strong work ethic, family loyalty, and honesty. If you don’t believe in family honor, then you’re not the man I thought you were.” Hal held Rex’s stare.
Treat walked up behind his father and said, “What happened tofamily knows no boundaries?”
Hal spun around and looked Treat dead in the eyes. “You stay out of this, son.”
“It’s okay, Treat. I understand his feelings.” Rex wasn’t about to beg for his father’s forgiveness for falling in love with a wonderful, intelligent, beautiful woman. He turned to leave. Each painful step as he moved away from his father felt like a knife in his heart.
“Son, I’m talking to you, and when I’m talking to you, eyes remain on me.” His father’s commanding voice boomed through the night.
Rex took a deep breath and turned around. He crossed his arms. He’d known it would be hard to stand up to his father, but he hadn’t anticipated the gut-wrenching agony of a slow departure. He wanted to flee, get as far away as quickly as possible and pretend the man he’d built his life around hadn’t tossed him aside like he didn’t matter. He wanted to wrap Jade in his arms and feel her love so he would know he’d done the right thing. He didn’t want to look into his father’s dark eyes and say goodbye, but for Jade, he would do just that.
His father walked closer, until they were less than a foot apart and he could see every whisker, every wrinkle, on his father’s face.
“I hate the way you handled this,” his father said.
No doubt. I should have told you fifteen years ago.“Yes, sir. So do I.”
“But I hate how I handled it even more. This crazy feud took over, and when your mama died, I let that feud run all kinds of crazy into my head. I had so much anger inside me, son. I needed an outlet.”
A lump lodged itself in Rex’s throat. He felt Jade slide her hand into his, and he drew strength from her touch.
“I had six kids to raise, and I couldn’t take it out on each of you, but I did need a place for it. And that feud was a solid outlet. I didn’t think it would hurt anyone, and what he did was wrong. He sold horses to a man who caused all sorts of problems for your mother when she was younger.” Hal lowered his gaze, then looked back up at Jade and shook his head. “Rex, you’re more of a man than I could ever be. You were loyal to me for far longer than I probably deserved. I knew how you felt about Jade when you were younger, and I should have released you from my grip back then, but I couldn’t. Every time I thought about your mother and the way that old neighbor, Joe Richter, treated her, how he tried to stand between us, how low he made her feel, I saw red. Your loyalty lasted thirty-four years, son, and now it’s doing what it should. It’s shifting to the woman you love. It’s shifting to your family.”
Rex looked at Jade and wiped the tear that slid slowly down her cheek with the pad of his thumb. Then he turned to his father, but words eluded him. He stepped forward and embraced the man who’d taught him how to be a man.
“I’m sorry, son. We do the best we can in this world, and sometimes that’s not quite good enough.”
“You did fine, Dad. Thank you for your support.” When they pulled apart, Rex bit back the tears that threatened to fall as his father approached Jade.
“Jade, you’re a feisty, beautiful woman, and you did not deserve our family’s back turned on you for so long. I hope you’ll accept my apology. I’m truly sorry.”
“Of course,” she said as he scooped her into his big arms and held her close.
Rex barely heard his father whispering in her ear.
“That boy of mine has never had eyes for any other woman, and I swear his mother knew that you two were meant for each other. Even Hope knew it.” He looked at Rex and shook his head. “Son, one thing you need to know. As much as we hate to admit it, women are right most of the time.” He turned back to Jade. “Now, don’t you let that go to your head, because I’ll deny ever saying it.” He winked. “And another thing, don’t you hurt him, ya hear?”
Jade cracked a wide smile. “Not on your life.”
His father pulled away from Jade and said, “Now we gotta talk to that stubborn mule of a father of yours.”
