AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, let me finish, darling. Logan and Nicolai might be Titans, but you my dear girl, are the strongest one of us all. You’re the glue that holds everyone together. Your brother and father are going to need you more than ever in the upcoming days, weeks, and possibly years. I’m going to need you.”
“Anything,” I swore, not even caring that I didn’t know what I was agreeing to.
“I need you to let me go, then I need you to live your life. Chase your dreams and never let anyone make you settle for less than what you deserve. Anything you desire in this world is yours for the taking. You just have to know your worth and believe what I’m telling you.” I nodded as more tears continued to fall. “A mother’s love is never-ending. It’s pure. It’s unconditional. It’s true. I love you, Nicole.”
“I-I love you too, Mama.” I could barely even get that out.
She then pushed at my back and I turned, only to be pulled into her arms. She kissed the top of my head and held me for a few seconds, then I heard her breathing growing ragged. “Your father. Get him for me, please.”
I got up, then went outside only to find Nicolai alone. “Where’s Dad?”
Nico shrugged. “He went to his office, and he doesn’t want to be interrupted.”
I remembered what my mother had said, and while I normally would’ve adhered to his wishes, his wife didn’t have much time, so he was going to have to man up and do this for her. I walked swiftly to his office, and I opened the door only to find it empty. I stepped inside anyway, then called out to him. No one was here, so I closed the door, and headed back down the hallway, searching every room until I found him out on the lanai. He was in front of the pool with his hands tightly wrapped around the railing. His entire upper body was slumped, and a man whose head was always held high now had it hanging low. I walked toward him and knew by the way he tensed up that he heard me.
“Mama wants you to—”
“I’m not going to say goodbye.” He turned and leveled me with one of those looks he’d give others when he dared them to defy him. My mother’s words from earlier came rushing back once more, echoing inside my head.
“You’re going to do it anyway because it’s what she wants.”
I’d never stood up to my father like this before. I normally did what was asked. If anyone ever challenged him on anything, it’d be my brother or my mother, but it never had been me. It was one of the reasons I would’ve never gone to Chicago if Jonas hadn’t intervened. There was no uncle to set things right now, only me.
What about what I want?” he asked, and I almost laughed. In true Titan fashion, it was all about him. Briefly, my thoughts turned to Callum, then anger filled me. “This isn’t about you. Mama’s going to pass away whether you’re there or not. Why would you make her unhappy on what is her last day on earth? Don’t you love—”
It’s because I love her, Nicole. How in the hell am I supposed to say goodbye to the love of my life? This should’ve never happened.”
“But it has, Daddy. I don’t want to let her go either, but we have to.”
He moved to me and embraced me tightly. His chin was now resting on top of my head as I pressed my face against his chest. “If I tell her goodbye, it makes this real. I’m not ready to accept that she’s gone.”
I tilted my head up. “If you don’t do this, you’ll regret it the rest of your life. She needs you to be the man you’ve always been, and when she passes, I’m going to need you to be him, too.”
“How do I say goodbye?” The words seemed almost torn from him.
“You let the words come to you. I can’t tell you what to say or how to feel. I just know that if you’ve ever loved her, or us, that you have to do this. She needs this.”
“I do love you,” he told me, then kissed me on the forehead. “Let’s go do this. Afterward, we can comfort each other.”
I gave him a nod, then we returned to the house. Nicolai seemed surprised that I’d lured him back, and I went to stand with my brother as my father entered the room. This was all so surreal, and as the minutes ticked by, eventually my father reopened the door. He summoned us to him, and soon the three of us were gathered around her bed. A few more goodbyes were said, then she took the prescribed drug. It wasn’t long before her eyes closed for the last time, and death stole her from us.
CALLUM
After turning down my mother’s request to join the others in the Adirondacks for Thanksgiving, I stayed in the city. Many of my friends were away with their families, including the only person I really wanted to see. The only problem was that Nicole wanted nothing to do with me. This wasn’t about Harper, or even the fact that she was my student.
Something had happened, and I was still at a loss when it came to figuring out where I had screwed up. My mind kept returning to the last night we had spent together, and even that didn’t make sense. I never forced myself on her, and she could’ve said no to anything we had done. I was truly at a loss, so opting to get out of my place, I headed to the neighborhood sports bar.
Noah and Romeo were playing today, and this win would almost certainly guarantee them a playoff spot. They had the best record in their conference, and it wasn’t even close. As it was, they both led their respective positions in pro bowl voting. Their success was the only good thing to have happened in the last few months. This year appeared to be good for everyone, except me. Gabriel had reunited with Harper, and the two were so happy together. My two friends were killing it in their careers, and...
I was about to say something about Daxon, until I opened the door to the sports bar and noticed him sitting there alone. The Titan didn’t look upset, even though he was alone over the holiday. I supposed I should’ve been more like him. I noticed the basket of wings and single beer mug, then decided to go join him.
“Hey,” I said once I reached his table.
Daxon looked up and grinned. “Hey! I thought you were in New York.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t feel much like socializing with the entire Steele and Meyers families this year.” My mother and Mason Steele’s father were siblings, and although I loved hanging out with Mase, even he wasn’t enough of a draw.
“You’re just in time for the second half,” he told me, then snapped his fingers without even looking up. Seconds later, a mug of beer was set down in front of me, too. “Thanks,” he told the woman without giving her a second glance.
