“We were really good at hiding.”
“I guess I don’t understand why you guys were hiding in the first place.”
“We didn’t think you guys would approve, and we knew Christian definitely didn’t.”
“Oh, honey … all we’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy. Both of you. And if you found that with one another, who are we to say anything about it? Your brother has always been so overprotective of you, but he would have eventually come around. His little sister, his best friend, he couldn’t ask for a better outcome.”
“You would think, but you should have seen him a few weeks ago when Julian told him to meet us at a restaurant.”
“I saw your brother’s busted lip. I can imagine what happened.”
“Did he tell you?”
“He told us he saw you guys, and Julian and he exchanged words. Christian is hurt, but he’ll come around.”
“I can’t believe you guys are so forgiving. I know how sad you were with the way he left.”
She lovingly smiled. “Honey, it was a long time ago. Julian has always been a very complex man, even as a child. At first, of course, his abrupt departure was painful, but I know he didn’t mean to hurt us. Now, finding out about you guys, I understand why he thought leaving the way he did was the best idea.”
“Really? Because I barely understand it.”
“You were raised in a loving home. Julian may have stayed at our house a lot, but he’s always been thrown away like he was nothing more than yesterday’s garbage. Kids that are abandoned like he was and thrown into the system usually tend to mess everything up before someone they love can do it for them. It’s sad, and I’m not making excuses for him. I know he believed he was doing what was in everyone’s best interest.”
I nodded. “I know. I’m glad you guys are so forgiving. You mean a lot to him. He loves you, both of you.”
“And we love him. He’s always been a special boy, and we knew he’d amount to great things. I had a suspicion it would be something to do with cars. He’s always had a passion for them. How are he and Capri? From the looks of it, they’ve already taken to each other.”
“They’re two peas in a pod. I’m the odd man out these days.”
“Give it time. It will all work itself out.”
“I’m trying.”
She pulled me into a firm embrace, murmuring, “All the pieces will fall together.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you more.”
The front door opened, and Christian called out, “Autumn?”
I pulled away and swallowed hard, making my way toward the front door to greet him. “Hey.”
He smiled, pulling me into a tight hug, and I was relieved. My brother was very important to me, and I didn’t want us to have any issues. Especially when it came to Julian and me.
“Hey, Kinley.” I hugged her next, whispering into her ear, “Thank you for making him come.”
“Believe it or not,” she replied. “He came willingly.”
Which surprised me more than anything.
—Julian—
“Daddy! Do you see? Look! I’m riding Buttercup all by myself!”
“I see, Capri!”
She was riding her pony with one of the ranch employees, while Autumn’s father and I were talking.
“I want to thank you for coming today.”
He put his hand on my shoulder, reminding me of all the times he did. “You look good, Julian. Happy, content, relaxed. Fatherhood suits you, son.”
I nodded, feeling his encouragement in the same way I did as a boy. With just a couple of words, he always had the ability to make me feel like I was wanted, cared for, loved…
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy about anything in all my life.”
“Not even when you grossed your first million?”
“Money has never made me happy. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a moment to realize how far I’ve come. I’m always contemplating what’s next, what happens now. It was so hard for me to be present until Autumn came back into my life. All I was doing was moving from one day to the next, but for the first time in over a decade, I’m actually standing still and enjoying every second of life. I haven’t worked since I made Locke Enterprises announcement, and it’s been some of the best days of my life.”
“Glad to hear it. You deserve it.”
I looked into his eyes. “I’ve always admired the man that you are. Always strived to be like you. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to know you don’t hold any grudges. What I did was truly fucked up.”
He chuckled. “It was very fucked up.”
I chuckled back.
“We spent a lot of years wondering if we did something wrong.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. The weight of his words was unsettling.
“My intention isn’t to make you feel bad, Julian. It’s to make you aware.”
“Either way it’s hard to hear.”
“You’ve always been like another son to us. When we read the article the other day, it all made sense, and we understood why you handled things the way you did.”
“I never meant to betray your trust with Autumn. I spent years pushing her away, but you know your daughter—she’s hard to resist.”
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Her mother is the same. If you would have told us back then what was going on between the two of you, we would have understood. You grew up together, so it was only natural if things took a turn in your relationship.”
“I know that now, but I didn’t back then. I was so grateful for everything you guys did for me, and I couldn’t bring myself to disappoint either of you. I didn’t want to make problems in a home where there weren’t any. Toward the end, Christian was getting suspicious, and I didn’t know what else to do. I knew if I’d stayed in Texas, I wouldn’t have been able to stay away from her. I loved her, I still do. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved, and all I can do is make amends with everyone.”
“We don’t have to forgive you, Julian, we already do. It’s you who has to forgive yourself.”
“You may not have to excuse my behavior and betrayal, but I know I have my work cut out for me with Christian. He’s far more stubborn than your daughter.”
“You bet your ass I am.”
Our stares shifted toward Christian, who was walking up behind us.
I nodded. “Glad to see you could make it.”
“I came to see my niece and sister.”
“Christian—”
I stepped out in front their old man, interrupting him. This wasn’t his argument to fight—it was mine.
“I fucked up.”
He got in my face. “I fucking loved you, man. How could you betray me like that?”
“Don’t you think I know that? I missed nine years of my daughter’s life because I fucked up so bad. I’m the reason she’s spent all her life without a father.” I pointed to myself. “Me. The man who grew up in foster care, going from piece of shit parent to piece of shit parent, and you think I wanted this for her? You don’t think I’ve been punished enough for my poor choices?”