Until Harry(23)

My heart hurt.

“But maybe I could have helped him,” I whispered.

My father’s hands gripped my forearms. “You listen to me,” he said firmly. “We were there for Kale constantly, but his mind was absent. It’s taken him this long to be able to live with Kaden being gone. You couldn’t have helped him; he was so far gone during the time of Kaden’s passing, no one could get through to him.”

I could have reached him; I knew in my heart I could have.

I blinked numbly. “Couldn’t Drew help him?”

My father shook his head.

“A few months before Kaden passed away, they split up and called off their engagement. The strain of Kaden’s illness put a wedge between them that they couldn’t overcome. They lived together for a few months after Kaden died, to help one another cope, but Kale eventually moved out, and Drew remained in their house. She didn’t want to leave because she felt like Kaden was still there with her in spirit. She is with somebody new now, and she seems happy, but Kale never dated anyone else. Losing Kaden almost killed him, and every day is a desperate struggle for him.”

I used to dream of a time where Drew and Kale would break up for good, and she would be out of his life, but now that it had happened, I found myself wishing for nothing more than for them to be together again. Maybe she could help him, and he wouldn’t be so sad and alone.

“I wish I could have done something,” I whispered.

My father kissed my head. “Don’t we all, honey?”

I leaned my head back and stared up at the starlit sky, watching my breath turn to fog when I exhaled. It was cold as ice outside, but for the life of me I couldn’t feel it. My body was just as numb as my heart.

“You can do something now.”

I looked at my father when he spoke and said, “It’s been years; what can I possibly do for him?”

“Just being there for him will help him. You have no idea how much he worships you, Lane.”

I licked my dry lips. “He idolises a girl from his past, Dad, but I’m not the same Lane he, or any of you, knew. She’s gone,” I whispered, my voice tight with emotion. “I’ve changed so much that I don’t even recognise myself anymore.”

My father hooked his arm around my shoulder and tugged me against him. “You need to be here just as much as we need to have you here, Lane. You can find yourself again and possibly help Kale find peace in the process.”

I exhaled a deep breath and looked up at my father’s lined face. “That’s a lot to achieve in a short amount of time.”

He winked. “Your Uncle Harry believed that you would achieve great things. I trust in his judgement, and I trust in you. You can do anything you set your mind to, my love.”

A lump formed in my throat.

“You’re making wanting to run away again very difficult to do.”

“Good,” my father swiftly replied. “The time for running away is over. It’s time now to face things head on.”

Damn him.

I sighed. “I feel like you would be good in any pep talk-related situation.”

My father grinned. “It may be my calling, but I’m retired now. I’ll have a crack at it in my next lifetime.”

I laughed and threw my arms back around my father, hugging him tightly.

“I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, sweetheart,” he replied, and kissed the crown of my head.

We were quiet for a few moments, and then we separated.

“Do you want to visit Lavender while we’re here?” my father quietly asked me.

You’ll never be without me, Lane Edwards; we’ll be best friends forever. I shook my head and shook her voice away.

“I’m going to spend time with her on Monday when not many people will be here.”

My father nodded and extended his hand to me. “Let’s go home, darling.”

With a lump in my throat, I placed my hand in my father’s and held on for dear life, knowing that eventually I would have to let go, no matter how much I didn’t want to. Together, we walked hand in hand back to my parents’ house. When we entered through the front door, we were met with silence.

“Stay here tonight.”

I hesitated in replying to my father, so he quickly said, “Just for tonight. Spend our last night with Harry here with us.”

When he put it like that, there was no question about where I would be sleeping.

“Is there a bed in my room still?” I questioned.

My father lifted a brow. “Your room is still the same way it was when you left.”

I blinked. “It is?”

My father tilted his head to the side as he scanned me with his eyes. “Why wouldn’t it be?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I thought you might convert it into something else.”

He snorted. “Like what?”

I glanced to his gut. “Not a gym, obviously.”

He reached out and clipped me around the ear, making me laugh. “Cheeky mare,” he chuckled.

I smiled and replied lightly, “I’m only teasing, but I did think you would change it to storage or something like that.”

My father shook his head. “We would never do that. Your brothers’ room is still the same as it has always been. They both often drop in and sleep here. We left yours the same way for the same reason.”