Addison (The Mitchell/Healy Family #6)(57)

“We’re listening,” mom replied.

This was it. This was where I took control of my life. “I’m in love with Cole Chase.” My father went to stand up but my mother reached across the table and put her hand over his. “Colt wait.”

I continued. “I know you’ll never understand it, and I don’t expect you to. I just can’t lie about it. What we have is real. It’s not about what his blood relatives did to our family. He didn’t even know them.”

“It’s DNA. He’s no different.”

“Daddy, the bible says not to judge, but isn’t that exactly what you’re doing? You don’t know Cole. You don’t know anything about him.”

“I know all I need to know.”

I refused to stand down. “I spent the night with him last night, and I’m going to stay there again. You can either accept it or push me away. No matter what you decide my decision remains. You won’t stop this from happening.”

“This is bullshit!” My father never cussed at the table. It was an unspoken rule. His eyes widened and focused on mine. His fists were tight, and I knew I was about to get his wrath. “If you undermine me you’re out of here, do you understand me? You’re not going to come into this house and tell me you’re going against me. This is not happening. That’s the end of it, Addison. You will not see him again.”

My mother remained silent. I could tell she knew I was about to run – to go to the man who made it better, the one I wanted to build a future with.

“You barely know him,” she mentioned.

“It’s no different than you and Daddy. You told me yourself. You said you knew you loved him immediately.”

“It not the same,” my father interrupted.

“Yes it is!” I slammed my hands down on the table. “It’s exactly the same. You weren’t supposed to love Mom, but you couldn’t help yourself. How dare you come down on me for expressing my feelings. I know what love is, and what I have with Cole is real. You can’t change it. You can’t control it. For once this is out of your hands. My decision is made. I’m going to be with him.”

My father remained staring at me. “If you go to him you’re no longer welcome on this ranch.”

“Colt, please. You don’t mean that.” My mom’s heart was breaking, but if I let my guard down he’d win.

“I mean it. If you choose that boy over us we’re done. I won’t financially support you in any way. You’re on your own.”

“Fine,” I said as the tears started pouring out. “If that’s how it has to be.”

“When he hurts you, and trust me he will, don’t come crying to me for forgiveness. This is the one thing I’ll never be able to forgive.”

My father was a hard headed man. He got it naturally, according to my Gram, but I never expected he’d hurt me the way he had. While my mother cried he stood there telling me to be sure my decision was the right one before I walked out the door. In some ways I knew it wasn’t goodbye forever, but it sure did feel like it.

My dad walked out after I’d gone upstairs, but not before laying into my mom for refusing to be supportive of his decision. Knowing my mom, she was more worried about me having a relapse.

Once I’d packed a suitcase, I headed downstairs and found her sobbing in the kitchen. “I’m sorry Mom. This is hurting me too. It’s not fair. I should be allow to love who I want.”

She nodded. “You’re right. I just wish it was easier for us to understand. Why him? Your father is never going to understand. He thinks you’re doing this on purpose.”

“Last night I bought an eight-ball of coke and was about to snort it before Cole found me. He was pumping gas near where I was parked in my car. I’d told him we couldn’t be together. I didn’t have anyone to talk to. No one understands what it’s like being with him. I’m not talking about the sex. I wouldn’t even care if it never happened. He makes me happy. He makes me better. I can’t explain it. When I’m with him I’m not an addict. I’m just me. I tried to stay away from him. I swear I did. I can’t anymore though. It’s not fair to deny myself happiness. I don’t blame you for being angry, but I have to do this.”

“What your father said isn’t the truth. You always have a home here. Always,” she repeated as she stood up and hugged me. “Please call me and let me know you’re okay. Don’t do what Cassie has done to her parents.”

“I’ll call you, Mom. I’m not hiding. I’m deciding to live for me. I love you and Daddy. Please tell him that. He might not love me at the moment,” I had to stop because I was beginning to sob. “But I’ll never stop loving him.”

“He loves you always. He’s angry. He’d never want you thinking that.”

I smiled and rested my head on my mom’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you. I know if you could you’d be there. I don’t blame you. His uncle almost took your life. He put our whole family in danger. Cole knows why you feel the way you do. We just wish you’d give him the opportunity to show you he’s nothing like them. It’s not in the DNA like Dad says. Some people are a reflection of their upbringing. Cole was taken from his mother when he was ten. She basically abandoned him way before then. You’d know that if you gave him a chance.”