Addison (The Mitchell/Healy Family #6)(52)

More than any other emotion, I missed him. We hadn’t been together long, but to me, it felt like years upon years. Yes, he’d lied to me, but was it really a terrible lie? It wasn’t like I’d asked him if he was any relation to that family. It was more like he’d kept the truth from me. I just wasn’t positive if it was because he cared, or more to the point of having other motives.

That night still replayed in my mind – my dad searching every nook and cranny he could to locate me. By the time I saw the flashlight shining on my body, I wished I’d perished. I couldn’t begin to know how to look into his disappointed eyes and tell him how sorry I was. Internally beaten up, I was lifted into his arms and carried all the way home. It must have been a good mile, and he never slowed.

My dad was much like the equipment he used every day. He was resilient, strong, and determined. He’s who I would have liked to be. Instead I was weak, and now clearly a terrible judge of character.

For the hike back to the house he kept reminding me how much it was going to be okay. “Don’t you worry, darlin’. Daddy’s got you.”

I nestled my body into his, because of all the places in the world this was the most safest. He did have me, and unlike Cole, his love was real. My dad didn’t hide behind his religion or beliefs he told the truth, even when we didn’t want to hear it. I’d forever respect that part of him.

I don’t remember much of the walk, except for the fact that I was freezing cold, soaking wet, and trembling in his arms. My mother stood on the porch awaiting his return. I remember she was holding her cross from her necklace in her hand. As soon as she saw us she kissed it and ran in our direction. I hated they worried this much about me. I was supposed to be a grown woman, capable of making my own decisions. The only thing I’d shown them on this occasion was that I had the mentality of a child, and a terrible way of showing respect and admiration to the two people in the world that would rather die than see me in pain.

Once inside of our house, I went upstairs to take a hot shower. I sat down on the tile floor and let the sprays run cold while I wept. My unfortunate evening had left me unable to want to do anything other than cry.

Noah and Shalan stopped by with their son, Jordan Noah, who was the spitting image of my brother. His bright green eyes made me want to smile, and for a little while I was content playing around on the floor with him, as if nothing had happened. He was almost six months old. With his first birthday still a good bit away, Shalan was sitting with my mother planning on how they were going to design the cake. Noah and my dad were discussing some new fan system for a chicken house, leaving me to be without unwanted questions. When it started to get late Jordan got fussy. My mom was the first to try and coax him, but what he needed was to go home so he could get a good night’s sleep – something I knew I wouldn’t be getting anytime soon.

As they were leaving, Chris was walking in. She tried to get Jordan to smile, but he was being stubborn, hiding his face from her. She didn’t seem too bent out of shape and I knew why. She was there for me, not our nephew. Chris took me by the hand and led me upstairs, ignoring the fact that our parents expected a hello at the least. Once my bedroom door was shut she pulled me into her arms and held me while I broke down again.

It took me a while to explain everything that transpired. It took her longer to sit there wondering how I didn’t recognize the last name. “So what now? What are you going to do?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. What can I do? No matter how I feel it doesn’t help the fact that we can’t be together. Even if I love him, it changes nothing.”

“Why don’t you go visit everyone in North Carolina? You could stay with Jax and Amber for a week and clear your head.”

I shrugged. “Amber is about to deliver twins. I’m not going to add to the stress.”

“Stay with Bella, or Aunt Miranda and Uncle Ty. I wouldn’t recommend Aunt Amy and Uncle Conner. They’re dealing with Cassie’s shit”

“I need to stay here. I have school, and meetings. I can’t just leave because life gets hard.”

“People take vacations. You’re entitled to live you know. You don’t have to be so structured.”

“It’s how I stay focused. Anyway, leaving town isn’t going to fill the void. I’m always going to wonder if it was real.”



Looking back on that night now with the answer was just as confusing. I never expected Cole to show up at the hospital to talk to me. I didn’t know he’d leave that drawing of me; the one he did when I was naked. The note attached ripped me apart. It wasn’t long, but it changed everything.




I never knew what happiness was until you walked into my life. I never wanted a family until I saw what a real one looked like. If I had the chance, I’d tell you I love you every day, because I do. I love you Addison Mitchell. I think I loved you from the first moment your lips touched mine.

Come back to me. Be with me.

- Cole

It was a no brainer why I drove to his tattoo shop, or what I wanted to say when I got there. What I couldn’t handle were the waves of emotions I felt as I kissed him goodbye. We could never be. He had to understand there would never be a future for us. Mitchell’s and Chase’s would never be able to be together. The damage was done. My mother almost lost her life by the hands of his uncle. No one in my family would ever accept Cole. He’d threatened the lives of my aunt and cousin. He’s burned down the barn my parents were to get married in. He’d taken too much from us – it was unforgivable.