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See, he met her first, but when I told him that I was falling in love with her, he just let me have her. He said we deserved happiness. Unlike him, I was a selfish bastard who barely thought about others. It never occurred to me that he loved her. I married your mom, and we were happy. At least that’s what I thought. I was too focused on my career and my fortune.
Every time she needed help with the kids, Declan was there for her. I’m not surprised that they fell in love. Your mom asked me for the divorce, and I told her that if she ever asked again, I would take away the kids. I knew how much she loved you all.
And then you came into our life. There was something so special about you. I thought you were a little gift. The reason I should be a better husband and a father. I, of course, asked my best friend to be your godfather. He adored you.
I thought my marriage was perfect until the accident when Declan died, and I discovered you were his daughter.
My heart shattered that day. I lost my best friend, and I couldn’t forgive my wife. As promised, I took away the children—you included. My plan was to make your life a living hell, but I couldn’t. Every time I saw you, I remembered that boy who would defend me in the playground—the man who gave me a hand so I could go to college. I couldn’t hate you, not one bit.
You and I had lost a lot. We deserve to have the best father and daughter relationship, even when we weren’t by blood. I hope I did a good job and if I ever failed, I apologize. Know that you’re the best part of everyone.
I trust that you’ll know what to do with Declan’s company.
Love you, my little one,
Daddy
Gabe takes the letter away from me. “You finally read it?”
I nod. “It was better than Izzy’s suicide note,” I say, remembering the note we found while going through the things we put in storage.
Back when she first called me so I would come to help her. It wasn’t so we could reconnect. She planned on committing suicide. I still remember the few words she left in that paper, “I can’t continue. Please take care of my kids. They’ll probably be better with you.”
I don’t know what her future looks like, but I hope soon she’ll see this as a second chance. We’ll be here to help her.
“Don’t get upset. It’s bad for the babies,” Gabe says, then bends and kisses my belly twice.
“I’m trying. But it’s hard not to get angry when I think about what happened . . . and what could’ve happened. Izzy tried to kill herself in front of them. That’s something Cora has to live with,” I remind him. Well, I won’t tell her until she’s older and can understand the implications. However, I destroyed the note.
“Our girl is thriving now,” I continue. “But what if it impacts something during her teenage years.”
“Those are worries for tomorrow. Though, you have to remember that Cora is still going to therapy. And she has a family that loves her and will be there for her, always,” he says, then tilts his head toward the paper I’m still holding. “So, what made you open that old letter today?”
“Richard was having a lucid moment when I visited earlier,” I explain with a shaky breath. “It was the first real interaction we’ve had since everything happened with my mom.”
Gabe tenses, his jaw clenching. “He wasn’t cruel to you again, was he?”
“No, actually, he apologized for back then. And for ignoring me when I was so sick,” I reply, wiping away a stray tear.
I shake my head helplessly. “Part of me wants to hate him, Mom . . . even Declan for the lies and the pain they put us through. But they were just flawed and hurt, people doing the best they could.”
I take a deep breath and think about the letter. “Dad loved Declan. I wonder . . . if Dad and Declan had been born in a different time, would they have accepted themselves and made things work together with my mom?”
Gabe gives a helpless shrug. “You can drive yourself crazy with what-ifs, babe. The hard truth is they all made choices that shattered their children in the process.”
He hands me a container, his tone shifting. “I brought you something light to eat. How’s the nausea now?”
“No puking in almost two whole hours.” I grin wryly. “That’s got to be a new record, right?”
Gabe chuckles, shaking his head. “Probably. You should start getting ready, though. It’s almost time to get Cora from her first day of school.”
“Are your parents going too?” I ask. “She made them promise.”
“Them and all my siblings, apparently,” he confirms amusedly. “Even Grandpa Chris was there helping out today at the school. I’m sure she got to see him a few times.”
“She’s a lucky girl,” I say.
“Because she has you as her mom,” he states.
