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Mr. Diaz holds up his palm to Randy, trying to calm him down. “No, he didn’t. I was able to talk to the judge after Dalton here proved that he was there, lighting your property on fire, and that he was the one who should be arrested.”
Randy stands so quickly that his chair knocks to the floor, and he rushes toward me. “You did what?”
I stand in shock, staring at a man so angry that I genuinely fear for my life.
Mr. Diaz rushes around his desk, grabbing him by the shoulders to stop him. “It’s okay. I’ve been out there to see for myself. There was no damage. He did it to prove he was on your property, so you had every right to point a gun at him.”
Randy looks at him, then back at me, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Dalton turned himself in as the guilty party here. Which got you out of jail,” Mr. Diaz responds, his grip on Randy lessening and his hands just resting on his shoulders now.
Randy’s tension softens but only slightly. “Then, why isn’t he in jail? Why is he here?”
“I explained everything to the judge.” Mr. Diaz looks right at me. “Everything.”
I hold my head high. Still not ashamed or wavering from my decision.
He turns back to Randy. “The judge decided to let both of you out, knowing now that nothing really happened to warrant you both being in jail. Dalton is here because I wanted to make sure you knew his side of the story and, more importantly, that he was willing to take the fall for everything.”
“Fine. I heard you. He can leave now,” Randy bites out.
“Randy”—Mr. Diaz sighs—“I’ve known you a long time. I think you need to listen to the boy.”
I watch as Randy closes his eyes for a brief moment, then looks up at me.
I stand up straight with a plea for forgiveness. “Please know I am nothing like my father. I don’t blame you one bit for hating him. I now know the truth, and I completely understand why you wouldn’t want me with your daughter. I will prove to you that I am the man she deserves.”
“He is,” a female voice says from the doorway.
Natalie enters, her face red and stained with tears, and I instantly rush to hold her, trying to wash the pain away.
When she allows me to wrap her in my arms, all the stress I’ve been holding disappears for a breath—until I hear Randy yell, “Get away from her!”
As I glance his way, Tracy reaches out and holds him back. “Randy, hear them out.”
Natalie grips me closer, her head lying on my chest as she confesses, “Daddy, we never meant for any of this to happen, I swear. Dalton’s proven to me he’s not like his father, and I know he’ll prove it to you too.”
“I want to help, sir,” I say. “We all know you had every right to think I was trespassing on your property, and you had the right to protect that property. I made sure the sheriff knew that too.”
“He proved it too. In a way I wouldneverrecommend anyone to do, but it made the case pretty open and closed,” Mr. Diaz says. “You both are free to go, and all of this is behind us.”
Randy takes a deep breath, and I watch the last bit of stress that he’s been holding on his shoulders melt off completely.
He faces Mr. Diaz and holds out his hand to him. “I really appreciate your help, Alex.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Dalton here.” Mr. Diaz nods in my direction as they shake hands. “I wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t come to me for help. Please know that I’m always here for you. For anything.”
Randy nods his head in agreement. “That means a lot.”
Tracy stands and walks around Mr. Diaz’s desk to give him a hug. “Thank you, Alex.”
Watching the interaction between adults who have an obvious longtime connection fills me with a hope I didn’t know I needed. I’ve never seen my parents act this way toward any other adults. Shit, they don’t even act this way toward each other.
My dad has always had thisyou’re on your own in this worldattitude and doesn’t trust anyone. Not even with his business partners. It’s a horrible way to live.
I want to be more like Randy and Mr. Diaz. I want to be there for people I know and help them in any wayI can. That’s what life should be about. Helping each other.
I look down at Natalie, who’s still in my arms, and kiss the top of her head.
