Love Survives (Love's Suicide #2)(88)

I could tell she felt betrayed, but we both knew he would have done anything he could to keep us apart. In that moment I began laughing uncontrollably. “That bastard. I can’t believe the levels he stooped to keep us apart. You’re telling us that he knew he couldn’t have kids?”

“That’s exactly what we’re telling you, son,” My dad reassured us.

I started making my plate while smiling huge. “This day just keeps getting better.”

Kat kicked me under the table, only making the whole moment more funny. Didn’t she understand that we won anyway? We were together, and nothing was going to change that, especially not my brother.

“Sorry, we were just worried that you’d think we were lying to keep Branch from B.”

My dad folded his hands and looked toward Kat as he spoke. “I’m feeling a bit disturbed myself, Katy. It seems there’s a lot of things that Branch did that we weren’t aware of. If we would have known, we never would have let you accept his proposal.”

Then my mother cut in. “Of course not. Katy, we knew how Brooks felt about you. I never could understand what made you pick Branch. I mean, I love both of my sons, but they’re very different. I should have said something back then, I suppose.”

Kat remained as calm as she could. “Brooks and I have decided that we’re not going to dwell on what’s already been done. We can’t change any of it. We just want to move forward, with our daughter and our future.” When she looked at me I knew we were on the same page, finally, after so long.

It only took me a second to give all my attention to little B. I shoved food in my mouth and opened it to show her. She mocked me and began giggling.

“I can see that some things haven’t changed.” My mother joined in.

“How about we start over?” Kat added.

“Katy, you’re home. As much as I would have loved to be a part of your life for the past two and half years, I understand why you felt like you had to leave. I’m not going to lie. That morning you left was a day I don’t like thinking about, but aside from sending everyone home with their gifts, it wasn’t so bad. Walt and I were worried what would happen when you finally saw Brooks again. My mother used to tell me that absence makes the heart grow fonder. You two grew up in the same house. It wasn’t hard to believe at all.”

“I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I left because I couldn’t bear to see your faces. I thought you’d hate me.”

“We were angry that we let it go as far as it did. Branch hasn’t always been forthcoming, but he made it a point to shove everything about the two of you in his brother’s face. We accept blame for allowing it to happen. The fact that you two found each other again, just proves that it’s right.”

I squeezed her leg as I spoke. “She thought you were going to make her sleep in the tree house.”

“We might make you sleep there, but not Katy, and certainly not little Brooklyn, who’s obviously named after her father.” My mom was in heaven. When I saw her peer over at my beautiful daughter I knew why. It wasn’t just my dreams coming true, but also her own. She had her family back, and I felt overwhelmed with comfort.





Chapter 43


The rest of our first day consisted of a bunch of catching up. My parents were captivated by their granddaughter, and I had to admit that she was pretty crazy about them too. For me, it was surreal. I felt so at home, being there with them. It was as if I could picture our lives there with them, and B knowing she'd always have them to turn to. That’s when I really started thinking about the future. I knew Kat had just built a house, and as much as I didn’t want to take her away from it, I wondered if she’d ever be willing to move again?

My life now revolved around them. I wanted us both to be comfortable without worry. Since I’d never settled down since joining the military, I had a pretty big savings. I also had money that was supposed to go to my college that I’d never used. With all that sitting in a bank drawing interest I knew I’d be able to buy a larger home, possibly closer to my parents.

It wasn’t until I walked outside to grab something out of my truck when I noticed the for sale sign on Kat’s old house. It was obvious what I wanted to do. I just needed to make sure she’d be okay with it.

A little later my dad and I went up in the attic to try to find bed rails. Once we were up there, in the intense heat, I started looking around. My dad sat down as if it wasn’t blistering hot. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“About what?” I asked.

“Well, the girls for one. The fact that you have a daughter. Any of it?”

“I’m happy, dad. That’s all I care about. I want to spend the rest of my life providing for my girls.”

“Did you really know about Brooklyn this whole time?”

I couldn’t lie to my dad, not when he knew me so well. I sat down on a bin across from him, and prepared to tell him the truth, until I noticed the bedrails in plain sight. “Look, there they are.”

“Brooks, I need to know you’re okay. I mean, I know you’re happy. You obviously have everything you’ve ever wanted. I’m worried about how it came to be.”

I turned and looked the man right in the eyes. “Dad, it’s hot as hell up here. When I tell you I’m fine, I mean it. Kat and B are my life. I’m not just happy, I’m ecstatic, I’m elated, I’m overjoyed.”