Addison (The Mitchell/Healy Family #6)(63)

“I owe you both an apology. You’re grown. I overstepped. I’m here to make it right.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to forgive you. You cut me off.”

“Addison, I never stopped being your dad. I continued paying your car payment, your insurance, your cell phone bill, and your tuition. They were empty threats and you didn’t even realize it.”

“You told me I wasn’t welcome on the ranch.”

“And you think I would have stopped you? Have I not been a good father to you? Have I not given you everything you ever wanted?” I watched my father break down right in front of me. In all my life I couldn’t remember him crying, but there he was, covering his face and shaking.

I walked over to him and placed my hands on his strong arms. “You’re the best father. I’m grateful for having you. I’m just angry for what you did. You hurt me.”

“I’d do anything for you, darlin’. I’d give you whatever you needed.”

“All except for Cole. You wouldn’t let me stay with him.”

He deeply sighed. “I said I was sorry.” He wiped his face and stared at me, his eyes red and strained.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “You need to tell him that. He’s the one who has to forgive you.”

I hadn’t noticed Cole step outside. He was leaning on the front door listening to us bickering. “I accept your apology, but I need to know you understand I don’t have anything to do with that family. I’ve been alone practically my whole life. My foster family tried to fill the void, but they never loved me. In all honesty, I think the only person who ever has is standing in front of you. Can you imagine what it’s been like for me? All my life I’ve been searching for a place to belong. Without your daughter I’m lost. I don’t care what anyone thinks about us. What we have is real, and I’m not going to leave her, no matter who thinks they can get in the way.”

My dad held his hand out to Cole. He said nothing as he waited for Cole to react. For a few seconds I wondered if he would turn around and walk away. In my opinion my dad needed to be taught a lesson, but Cole was done fighting. He wanted to be accepted, because he had too many reasons to be thankful.

When they shook I wanted to cry. I held my hands up to my face and watched them both smile. “All my life nothing has been more important than family. My niece was right. I can’t love her and force you away. I am truly sorry.”

“I know, sir. I get it. I just hope you know you were wrong. I was never a threat. I tried not to love her,” he looked at me as he said it, “but she’s hard to forget.”

“If you hurt her we will have a problem,” my dad threatened.

“Don’t worry. I plan on making her crazy happy for as long as she’ll have me.”





Epilogue


Six months later


“Are you sure that’s everything?” I asked Cole as he locked up the trailer.

“I told you I double checked every room. If you don’t believe me go on in and check for yourself.”

I looked at the truck piled high with the rest of our things. We’d had to wait until our six month lease ended before being able to move back home. Ever since the day my father came to apologize, he’d been itching to get me to move back to the ranch. After much consideration, my Gram asked me to move into the main house with her. She’d met Cole a few times in the past several months and come to favor him, maybe even a little more than Ethan. If you ask me, she had a little crush on him. I think Gram was just sweet on Cole because he’d bend over backwards to impress her. He’s already repaired several minor things in the house.

From what my parents told me, I was the last child left to live in the house, since my brother and Christian both had homes of their own. Since it would be mine in the future, they felt it was alright if we moved our things into the one wing and got settled.

I’m pretty sure Cole about crapped his pants when we sat down at a family dinner and discussed it. He’d never had much growing up, so it was a bit overwhelming to look at the mansion and imagine it being his home.

I knew I’d have to take care of Gram eventually, and I was okay with it. For now we’d have over six thousand square feet of living quarters just for us. My Gram would have the other half, and we’d share the kitchen and common areas.

Another thing Cole couldn’t believe was that we wouldn’t have to pay rent. The house had been paid for years ago before my grandfather passed away. Aside from the annual taxes, which were paid by the farm, there was nothing except for the utilities.

My dad wanted us to save. He knew Cole liked his job doing tattoos, but offered him a position on the farm anyway. At first he declined, but had been helping out when things got hectic. I was almost positive he was reconsidering the offer to be able to work so close to the house.

For me, I’d be able to finish my course, and finally get my certification as a drug counselor. I still thought back to that night in the car when I almost ruined everything I’d been working for. Being extremely close to having a career I knew I’d love, I was thankful Cole had stopped me. If I would have used there’s no telling where I’d be, and how my life would have changed.

“Are you going to miss this place?”

“How can you ask me that? We’re moving into a castle.”