Page 69 of Loving Violet
“Hi, I’m Taylor, Adrian’s dad,” he says, extending his hand.
Austin grabs his hand and says, “Nice to meet you. I’m Austin.”
That’s all Austin says, and I can feel the tension increasing on Taylor’s shoulders.
“Well, have a great night, guys,” Austin says to all of us. He turns to look at Adrian. “Adrian, what do you think if we go fishing sometime?”
Adrian beams with happiness. “Yeah! Can we take Max with us?”
“Sure. I will let your mom know when we can meet.”
“Perfect. See you soon.” Austin looks at me and gives me a kiss in the forehead before he walks to his car, hops in, and leaves.
I turn to my son and say, “Grab your stuff and put it inside.” Adrian places Max on the floor and gives me the leash, then goes to grab his things from the car.
“So, that’s the famous Austin,” Taylor says.
“Yep.”
“Adrian talked to me about him. It’s nice to put a face to the name. Violet, aren’t you going too fast with this dude?”
Is he for real? Yesterday, he was lamenting and saying that he was sorry, and today, he is back to his normal self. I shake my head with disdain.
“Taylor, what I do or don’t do is none of your concern,” I say firmly, crossing my arms. A part of me wonders where this sudden courage is coming from, but I’m glad it’s here. If he didn’t care what I did when we were together, why the hell does he care now?
“It is my concern because I care about you,” Taylor says, his voice strained. He runs a hand through his hair—a telltale sign of his frustration. “I know I messed up. I told you that yesterday, but man…” He pauses, his chest rising and falling as if searching for the right words. “I miss you, Violet. I miss my family. Isn’t there a way we can try again? I’m willing to go to therapy, to change. Just…please give me a chance.”
I blink, stunned. Is he serious right now? How the hell did I stand this man for so long? I must’ve been blind, willfully blind. Now that I can see him for who he really is, I can’t believe I ever stayed. I’m finally free, and there’s no way I’m letting him drag me back.
“Taylor,” I say, my voice steady, “there’s nothing in this world that would make me go back to you. If you want to change, fine, do it. But do it for yourself, or for the next woman you meet. Be a better man for her.” His face falls, but I press on, refusing to let his guilt derail me. “What you did to me was unforgivable. I stayed with you far longer than I should have, and I’ll regret that for the rest of my life. So please don’t bring this up again. Ever. What if Adrian overhears you? Do you realize what kind of false hope that could give him? It’s not fair to him, or to us. This is over, Taylor. It’s been over.”
A wave of pride swells in my chest. I feel like I’m truly standing up for myself, and it feels damn good.
“I know I was awful,” Taylor says quietly, his voice breaking. “I’m sorry, Violet. For everything.”
I shake my head. “You keep saying that you’re sorry, but words mean nothing without actions. One day, you’re full of remorse, and the next, you’re back to the same narcissistic bullshit. I can’t do this anymore. From now on, if you need something, email me. Or text me. But I don’t need to see you, and I don’t want to hear your voice.” His jaw tightens, and I can see him bristling at my words, but I don’t stop. “I’m moving on, Taylor. I’m building a life for myself, one without you in it. That doesn’t mean I’ll stand in the way of you and Adrian. You’ll see him whenever the court allows, during your part of the summer, at Christmas, but don’t confuse that with having a relationship with me. Those days are gone.”
Taylor stares at me for a moment, his expression a mix of frustration and sadness. “Violet?—”
“Have a safe trip, Taylor,” I cut him off, my voice final. I’ve said everything I needed to say, and there’s nothing more to add. I watch as he nods stiffly, his shoulders sagging in defeat. When he finally walks away, I let out a long breath, relief washing over me. For once, I feel completely in control of my life, and I’m not about to let anyone take that from me.
As Taylor drives away I stare at the night sky and take a deep breath before heading inside. My heart is full, not just from the joy of standing up for myself, but from the promise of a future with Austin.
Later, as I tuck Adrian into bed, he tells me more about his day. "Mom, Dad bought Max all these toys and treats. We stayed up late watching movies and we also ate candy and ice cream. It was so fun!"
"I'm glad you had a great time, sweetie," I say, kissing his forehead. "Now get some sleep."
I walk to my room and lie in bed, then I start to think about today and how much fun I had with Austin.
His kindness, his interest in Adrian, and the way he makes me feel—all of it points to something real, something worth holding onto.
Chapter 24
Violet
“So,spill the beans! How was your hike with Austin?” Josy asks, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Josy and I have had a blast gossiping in between brewing and baking. She’s dying to know every detail about my day with Austin.
