Page 76 of Reforming Hunt
“Indeed,” Hunt said.
“More champagne?” the man asked Esther.
She nodded, and he walked off, hand tucked into sleek gray suit pants the color of his hair.
When he was far enough away, Hunt notched his chin in the man’s direction. “So who’s the new man?”
Esther swatted his arm. “Lenard is a friend, and don’t you start nosing into my business.”
Hunt held up his hands. “I thought it went both ways.”
“No,” she said. “Not with your surrogate mother. My romantic life is mine alone.”
Hunt had always wondered if Esther and his father had a thing going on in his father’s later years. Neither had said or done anything to indicate that kind of relationship, but the way Esther had looked out for them like a mother…it seemed possible there had been some kind of understanding.
Then again, his father never got over Hunt’s mother, so who knew? He’d never know, given how open Esther was being. “Fine. Keep your secrets. For the record, he seems like a pretty dapper dude.”
Esther looked over her shoulder, and Hunt would swear she was checking out Lenard’s ass. “He is, isn’t he?”
Good God.Hunt mentally cringed. “Right,” he said. “I better go find my bride.”
“Do that,” Esther said. “And read the letter with her after you do.”
Hunt made his way across the deck, greeting guests and tracking down his wife. He finally found her coming up from the restroom. His wife had to pee every hour these days, so it was a safe bet to find her there.
He hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her to his chest before she could round the corner and return to the guests. “There you are.”
“Hunt, we need to return to the party,” she said, but she was smiling and snuggling into his chest, her tummy a warm, round ball between them.
“In a minute,” he said, and kissed her. Then he ran his hands down her sides and cupped her bottom.
“Hunt,” she said in warning. “We have a very nice honeymoon/babymoon set up. There’s plenty of time for that.” She stood on her tiptoes and looked over his shoulder. “The guests are waiting for us.”
“Esther gave me a letter and said I should read it with you.”
Abby glanced down at the white envelope he pulled out.
Hunt blinked. “Actually, I think it’s from…my father? That’s weird. My name on the envelope is in his handwriting.”
He opened the envelope and unfolded the letter, and Abby leaned on his arm to read along.
Dear Hunt,
Before you were born, your mother wanted a girl, but I wanted another boy. You probably never knew that, did you?
Out of all my sons, you got the short end of the stick. You weren’t able to experience enough of the love your mother had for you boys. I thought losing her was the worst thing to ever happen to me. Turns out, my decisions later in life caused me my biggest regrets, and the ones I’ll never forgive myself for.
I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and your brothers. In my head, you boys were my world. I thought I showed it by making a success of the club and providing for you. Turns out, being a successful businessman does not a good father make. I managed to push you away. I know that now. And believe me, I’ve beaten myself up over it.
Don’t ever think you weren’t wanted. Don’t ever feel shame or blame for your mother’s illness. She wouldn’t have given you up for anything in the world, and neither would I. Not even to have more time with your mom.
I see her in you the most. You have her smile and her eyes, but what really hit me as you grew older was the way you both embrace life with both hands. You are one of five blessings your mother and I dreamed of together, and I hope someday you’ll realize the same joy we did.
Only try to be more present than your dear old dad.
Oh, and one last thing: don’t let Levi bully you. He carried you around like you were his son when he was in elementary school. Was cute back then. Not so much once you hit high school. That boy thinks he knows it all. Takes after his pops in that way. He genuinely loves you, but he’s as clueless as the rest of us.
Trust your instincts. You’ve always been a good man, and I have no doubt you’ll make the right choices in life.
