AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Warren clapped a hand over his back. “Good to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor even when the woman you love has left you.”
Rathe flinched.
A moment later, Warren watched with blurry eyes as Rathe slowly ran a hand over his face. He remembered seeing his son do it countless times when he had been young and too proud to cry.
“Father?”
“Before you tell me what you have to say, I want to ask you just one thing.” Rathe’s voice was leaden, as lifeless as he felt inside.
“Anything.”
“Is Mary truly safe?”
Ah, fuck. The pain in those words made Warren wish he had the power to share his son’s burden. If he had been searching for proof that what Rathe and Mary had was the same with what he had found with Alyssa, then that one question was it.
Rathe could have asked where had Mary gone. He could have asked if she truly did not want to see him. But in the end, Rathe’s love for the girl trumped everything else.
Warren said gruffly, “Yes. She’s safe.”
Rathe managed a smile. “That’s all that matters.”
It took a while before Warren could speak again, finding it especially hard to keep a tight rein on his emotions. “Even though you haven’t asked the questions, I’ll give you the answers anyway.”
Rathe’s head whipped towards him.
“Mary went away in a place she’s hoping you won’t find her. She loves you, son, but...she’s also in a lot of pain because of what happened—-”
“Don’t bother to sugarcoat it,” Rathe said bitterly. “She’s in pain because ofme.”
Warren shook his head. “No, son. In many ways, Alyssa and I are to blame as well. Because your actions are the result of the childhood you had.” Forcing himself to stop beating around the bush, he said tersely, “You once asked us about the pre-nuptial contract between us.”
Rathe stiffened. “You were right, Father. That’s none of your business—-”
“It is your business. And to answer your question, it was because your mother was once what everyone was saying she was.”
Rathe stared at his father uncomprehendingly. “I don’t—-”
“She was someone who married me for my money.” Before his son could react, Warren told the rest of his story. And when he was done, he said heavily, “Neither of us wanted you to know the truth because we feared you’d lose all love and respect for her. But now, I know that was a mistake. We should have told you. If we had, then maybe none of this would have happened. If we had, you might have understood love a little better and feared it less.”
Warren forced himself to meet his son’s gaze. “I’m sorry, son. I’m sorry we kept that from you. But now you know, I want you to finally take off the weight you’ve always carried on your shoulders all these years. Because, son, love – whatever shape or form it takes...”
This time, it was Warren’s turn to run a hand over his face.
“It doesn’t matter whether you fall in love with someone thirty years younger or older than you. Love that’s true can’t ever be a burden.”
Rathe slowly ran his hand over his face once more. “Bloody hell, Father.” He laughed, the sound painful but genuine at the same time. “Couldn’t you have told me this when I was six?”
Warren joined in the laughter.
“Ah, God.” Rathe squeezed his eyes shut, and he said brokenly, “I truly love her, you know.”
Warren’s chest tightened at the despair in those words. “I know.”
