AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"No, it’s not okay. I was distracted," he continues. "By grief at first. And then I fell in love with Sarah. It’s no excuse, though. I should've made more time for you all. I'm sorry about that."
“It’s really all right. You don’t have to apologize.”
He looks at me. “I just don’t want to leave things between us unsaid. You know?”
I pat his knee. “I appreciate that.”
At length, we pull up the drive to the new house. I cut the engine and turn to face him. Hearing my dad actually acknowledge the problem is refreshing. I suck in a deep breath, and stare at him for a long beat.
My dad is asking forgiveness, as I did last week. If I got a blank page and a fresh start, he deserves one too. I swallow against the tangle of feelings in my throat.
"I forgive you, Dad," I say simply.
We embrace roughly, clapping each other on the back.
“Love you, son,” he rasps. “Don’t you ever forget that.”
“I love you too.”
As we get out of the truck, I feel lighter. Like a weight has been lifted between us.
I nod to my dad as my brothers' trucks pull up the drive, parking behind my convertible. Sarah’s sleek SUV turns down the street. Savannah waves from the passenger seat.
As soon as she hops out, I sweep her into my arms and kiss her deeply. She giggles against my lips.
"What was that for?" she asks.
"Just because I can," I say with a grin.
My family looks on, smiling and joking about young love. For the first time, their teasing doesn't bother me.
I take Savannah's hand as we walk inside our new home together.
"I love you," I tell her sincerely.
She squeezes my hand, her eyes shining. "I love you too."
* * *
This feels right. Like coming home.
It’s been a long road and a hard-fought love. But my soul has found its resting place right by Savannah’s side.
* * *
THE END
40
Savannah
One Month Later
The metallic screech of the bulldozer's blade scraping against concrete makes me wince. I squeeze Cole's hand tighter as we watch the community center's west wall crumble into a pile of rubble.
"It's bittersweet, isn't it?" Cole says. "I’m sure it’s hard to see the community center torn down. But we have set up a pretty good system to get us through the year between now and the opening of the new one."
I nod, blinking back tears. As a kid, I spent countless afternoons in that rec room with Mom, playing board games and listening to her laugh.
