Page 80 of I’m Already Gone

Jake clenches his jaw, eyes still simmering, but he nods. “I have always taught you and your sister to speak freely. To use your words. But I’ve also taught you both to do it respectfully. Just because of what happened between your father and me doesn’t give you the right to talk to him that way. And I won’t allow it.”

He briefly looks away, staring at his trophies on his wall, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “It’s hard, Mom. Really hard. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Do what?” I ask.

He looks back at me, his blue eyes clouded with frustration and confusion. “Have him live here. After everything he did.” He throws his hands up in a sudden, exasperated gesture. “For years before you got divorced, he ignored us. And now, all of a sudden, we’re what? Supposed to just forgive him? Like nothing happened?”

“No,” I say.

He rears back. “No? What do you mean, no? How can you forgive him?”

“Because life is too short, Jake,” I explain. “The past is the past, and there’s nothing we can do to fix it. We can’t change what’s already happened.” I reach out, my hand covering his where it rests on the duvet. I stroke the back of his hand with my thumb.

“But we can live in the moment and hope for a better future. Your father made mistakes, but he is still your father. And don’t you think he deserves a chance to prove himself?”

Jake looks at me, his brow furrowed in thought, the fight slowly draining from his posture. He’s quiet for a long moment before he finally responds.

“I guess,” he says with a shrug. “But he left, Mom.”

I gently cup his cheek, smiling softly. “No, honey. I left. We can’t hold his past mistakes against him forever. He loves you, Jake, he always has. That never stopped, not for a second. He lost his way, yes, but sometimes life throws us challenges that force us to look at things differently. There’s nothing wrong with that. We are humans, and none of us is perfect.”

“Are you happy?” he asks me, the question coming out of nowhere.

“I’m… content,” I say, a genuine smile spreading across my face. “I’m happy that you and your sister have your father back in your lives. I’m happy that he’s around more, doing the best he can for us, trying to make up for lost time. And I’m happy that my children are safe, healthy, and growing into amazing people. What more can I ask for?”

“I love you, Mom,” he says quietly.

“I love you more,” I respond.

I give him a tight hug and a kiss on the top of his head before standing and walking toward the door.

“Mom?” Jake calls out just as my hand touches the doorknob.

“Yes?” I glance over my shoulder at him, my heart already feeling lighter.

He takes a deep breath. “I’ll… I’ll apologize to Dad.”

“That’s all I ask for, sweet boy. Good night.”

He rolls his eyes, but there’s a small grin playing on his lips. “Night, Mom.”

I shut his door, the quiet click echoing in the hallway. I pivot and almost run smack into a hard chest. “Oh, jeez!” I sputter, stumbling back a step.

I look up, my eyes wide, to see Ethan’s panicked face.

Ethan

“Please don’t make me leave,” I blurt out desperately.

“That thought never occurred to me,” Lily murmurs. She grabs my wrist and leads me into her bedroom. The fragrance of lavender instantly fills my nose.

She flips the light switch, bathing the room in the warm, yellow light. The door shuts with a thud. She steps back, wrapping her arms around herself.

“Are you okay?” she asks, her silver eyes warily searching mine.

I swallow hard, the pressure building behind my ribs again. “If Jake doesn’t want me to stay because he’s uncomfortable, I’ll leave,” I start to blab.

Her lips twitch, a slow, amused smirk fighting its way through the tension. “Last time I checked, Ethan, Jake doesn’t own this house.” She pauses. “I talked to him about his outburst at dinner. That’s all.”