Second Chance at Forever (Forever Book 2) (23 page)

“Miles, please? Tell me the rest.”

“I was already in the building waiting on you and your father to arrive when he phoned me to meet him outside. I had taken the stairs to avoid you coming off the elevator. I met your father outside the atrium, and that’s when I saw Ralston holding back your Ms. Mitchell. She was struggling to get out of his hold. He only released her when instructed by your father to do so. She was crying and begging your father to allow her to go to you, but he stopped her…again. She tried to threaten him, but he knew it was all a ruse, and played out his hand to her. He once again threatened her family, and by doing so was able to bring Ms. Mitchell to her knees. She sobbed and sobbed while begging your father to show her mercy. I’m sorry, Walker, but he never did. She showed him her locket and told him that it didn’t matter how it appeared in print that you had moved on, she was still the owner of your heart. That’s when he did the unthinkable.”

“What the hell did he do?”

“He ripped the necklace off of her neck. Ralston was laughing and actually enjoying her visible misery. I was sick over it and wanted to leave, but he ordered me to stay. She begged him to return it, but he said no. We left her there, crying on the ground, Walker. I deserve whatever punishment you want to bestow on me. I will never get her pathetic image out of my head from that day, and her piercing cries haunted my dreams for many months that followed.”

Miles took another gulp from his drink and went on. “I’m so very sorry, Walker. No words will ever make up for what we did to that poor girl and what it cost you. I can promise you that I have truly told you everything now. It pained your father for a great many years not telling you the truth, but he made his choice and he had to live with it. Don’t let his mistakes and poor judgment define you and take you down the same dark roads as it did for him.”

“It pained him? Are you that deluded, Miles? What he did to Reese on that day probably caused her to lose our child. How could she provide a safe environment for our growing baby while she was constantly under surveillance, stress, and then to be physically assaulted by Ralston? Reese may have been tall, but she barely weighed over one hundred twenty pounds. Fuck! She was carrying my child, Miles! How the hell could anyone be so cruel?”

The wheels were spinning in my head. “This just makes perfect sense now. This is what my father was trying to tell me when he visited me in California. I never gave him the chance to tell me the truth. I don’t know if it would have made a difference finding out then or now, I still have so much hatred for the man. I can’t even see straight. Miles.”

“I’m sorry it took me all of these years to finally tell you what you should have known years ago. I truly hope you find what you’re looking for and make peace with all of this.”

“Is this it? Do I now know everything, Miles, and I do mean everything?”

“Without knowing what his last letter contains, I swear to you I have told you all that I know.”

I believed Miles this time. He had nothing to gain by keeping the truth from me. I sat in my father’s office for hours after Miles had left. I wanted to go to Reese and hold her. Beg for forgiveness on behalf of my father, and all he had done to her. I placed her locket back into the pouch and placed it in my pocket, vowing to repair it as soon as I returned to the city. I only had one last thing to do: read his letter.

My son,

I promise you that this will be the last letter you ever will read from me. Again, I took the coward’s way out by leaving this for you instead of telling you the truth to your face like a man should. I truly intended to tell you the truth on the day I came to your office, but you knew me so well. How could I have done that to you? And on the anniversary of your wife’s death and my grandson’s birthday. I could see the pain all over your face, but I once again pushed you until you snapped. This was my forte Walker, and although I’m responsible for all of your pain that you have gone through, I still couldn’t see past my own righteousness. No amount of apologies will ever make up for what I have done to you. You must know by now that Henry Townsend was my partner in all of this. Ralston and Miles were just players in the game. I expect you will seek out your own brand of justice or revenge for the ones that hurt Ms. Mitchell.

Miles is a good man, and he did try to stop me, but I never listened. What we did haunted him for many years, and I have to presume it still does. Henry has had to also pay for his role in this as well. The night his daughter died, he had said it was God’s way of punishing him for what we did to Ms. Mitchell. I didn’t believe it then, but maybe in some small way he was right. Not that I’m a religious man, but karma is real, and we have all had our share of it.

If you ever get the chance to be with Ms. Mitchell again, I truly hope this locket finds its way back to her. She was incredibly brave while standing up to me, and I broke her by taking this from her. I hope to one day be reunited with my grandson—your unborn child—and beg him for forgiveness. He should have lived my son, and have you as his father to raise him. You will never know how sorry I am for your loss. Please don’t let my sins define you, Walker. I know how much I have hurt you, but you’re also your mother’s son and have goodness that runs through you. You love more than you hate. Please, my son… let love be your guiding light back to the woman I know you still love. I knew it from the moment you spoke about your life, and who you were missing.

I pray you get your second chance and finally live the life you were meant to have.

In parting…

Your father,

Phillip Alexander Reed

Sitting in silence and now staring at my father’s portrait, I vowed to take back what was taken from me…starting with Reese. My father was right about one thing. I was very much in love with Reese Mitchell, and she would be mine. Our time together was stolen from us. No letters of apologies can ever make up for that, but our connection was just as strong now as it was all those years ago. I gathered my things from my father’s office and took one last look around the room. My eyes found his, and it was my defining moment as Phillip Reed’s son.

“You’re a coward, father. You hid your treachery from me all of these years simply because you believed you could. You had no right to play God with our lives, and I promise you, father, I will right those wrongs. Death may have freed you of the burdens you carried while alive, but it doesn’t mean I will ever forgive you for what you did. I knew you were ruthless, but to do this to your own son is incomprehensible to me, and I hope you carry this with you to the deepest realm of hell.” I slammed my way out of his study, and vowed never to return to it again.

Jackson and my mother had now returned. Jackson’s arms were filled with shopping bags, as I’m sure my mother had spoiled him with gifts.

“Why, hello there, Walker. We thought you would never emerge from your seclusion. Is all your business concluded for the day?”
Ah my mother, as graceful as she conducts herself, she also has a smart mouth about her as well.

“Yes, I’m done for today. How about we all have an early dinner before Jackson and I return to the city?”

“Sounds good to me, dad. What do you say Grandmother? Where do you want to go?”

“In honor of hanging out with my amazing grandson all day, let’s think out of the box and order…pizza.” I rarely remember a time when my mother shocked me, but this took the cake. Olivia Walker Reed wants greasy, cheesy pizza.

“Okay, mother, pizza it is.” Jackson smiled and hugged his grandmother. He loved her so much, and the sight of them made the coldness I felt for my father melt away some in my heart. I will never forget what my father did to me, but I can’t keep Jackson away from my mother. A couple of hours ago, I wanted to take gasoline to this house and burn it to the ground. I hated being here, but it’s the home she shared with my father, and I would leave it be for her.

We ate our pizza, and Jackson explained in great detail about film school and of course Riley. “Grandmother, as soon as we are settled at school, my first chance I get, you have to meet my girl. Riley is amazing, and I know you will love her. I had a great time today. And thank you for my new camera. I promise you this bad boy will make an award-winning film.”

“I love you, Jackson, and of course I look forward on meeting Riley. She sounds lovely, and anyone that can make you this happy is worth getting to know.” They hugged one more time, and then Jackson waited in the car for me to say my goodbyes to my mother.

“Mother, if I remember correctly, those were the same words you recited to me when I wanted you to meet Reese. Did you mean it back then?”

“Yes, Walker, I did. Reese was an extraordinary young woman, and she brought you happiness and clearly loved you. I wish I would have known what your father was planning. If I had, you must believe I would have tried to stop him. Remember what we talked about, son. I know you want another chance with Reese, but it’s not just about her anymore. She has a husband, and a daughter who is in love with Jackson. This can crumble all around you, and many lives will be affected by the choices you make. Please be careful, my son.”

“Mother, I know what I’m doing. None of this had to happen if it wasn’t for father manipulating me in the first place. Look, we had a pleasant afternoon. Let’s not spoil it now. I will be in touch.” I quickly hugged my mother and turned away from her. She wanted more, but every time I felt like she was defending the past or my father, anger burned throughout me.

I glanced down at my phone, no missed calls or texts from Reese. Come to think of it, Jackson didn’t speak to Riley at all today. I guess she wanted to give this time to him with his grandmother.

We arrived back in the city by seven. All I wanted to do was see Reese. I was going to quickly shower and change and then go to her hotel. I had so much to tell her and it couldn’t wait one more minute.

“Dad!” Jackson screamed for me.

I ran out of my bedroom to find him slamming the phone down onto the counter. “What’s wrong, son? Why are you so upset?”

“I just called the hotel, and Riley and her mom have checked out. Riley’s phone is going directly to voicemail. What the hell, dad? Why would she leave without telling me?”

My heart just sank deep in my chest. This is why I couldn’t get in touch with Reese last night or today. She was running again, and if she told me she planned on going home, she knew I would have stopped her. I tried to calm down and get my words out without alarming Jackson. He was clearly hurt by Riley’s sudden departure. So was I, for that matter, but I didn’t want him to see.

“Jackson, maybe a family emergency occurred, and they had no time to call.”
I was praying my feeble excuse would be enough for Jackson to calm down.

“This doesn’t make sense, dad. Even if Riley had an emergency she would have called me. Did I freak her out last night by telling her that I loved her? How could she leave without telling me?” In a rare moment, Jackson began to cry and sat in pain with all of his unanswered questions about Riley.

“Listen to me, Jackson. I’m sure she has a valid reason why they left. Please calm down, and let’s just relax a bit and then call her again. If Riley doesn’t pick up, then just leave her a message. I’m sure she will return your call.”

Jackson began holding his head. Every time he did this, it scared the hell out of me. This was another reason why I didn’t want him on the other side of the country. His mother having a stroke took her life, and since his early teen years, Jackson had suffered with migraines. I had him tested every year with blood work and scans to make sure he’s okay.

“Dad, I’m going to take a shower, and then if I don’t reach Riley, I’m going to bed. I have a headache, and feel kind of sick.”

“Do I need to call a doctor, Jackson? You must tell me if you need one.”

“Dad, it’s just a headache. I’m going to take some Advil and lie down. You have the look in your eyes again. Don’t worry. I swear to you that I’m fine.”

“Okay. Get some rest, and I’ll check on you in a little while. I love you, son.”

“I love you, too. Good night, dad.”

Asking me not to worry was like asking me not to breathe. How could I not worry when it came to Jackson’s health? How much more could I take today? With all that I found out from Miles and finally learning the truth, my head was pounding. I had to reach Reese and find out why she left without talking to me.

First things first, I had some matters to take care of, and I needed to start with Henry Townsend. That son of a bitch played with my life, and now that I knew the truth, I believed a visit was in order to my father-in-law.

I phoned Stephen and made all the arrangements to leave in the morning, stop in Arizona, then arrive home in California. My next call was to Reese. Her voicemail picked up and this time I left a message.

“Reese, I don’t know why you left without saying goodbye. I can’t believe I’m actually saying these words again, it’s like I’m back there when I discovered you missing the first time. I will find you this time. I promise you that, my love. Reese, I meant every word I said to you last night. I love you, and you’re mine forever. You will be seeing me soon. You can count on that.”

I hung up and prayed that she didn’t delete my message before listening to it. Once I dealt with Henry and got Jackson settled back at home, I could focus on Reese. Before going to bed, I checked on Jackson. He was fast asleep with Riley’s picture in his hand. I could tell he was crying from the tear stains on his pillow.
My poor boy, so in love and now missing his girl because she left without as much as a simple goodbye.
I brushed his fallen floppy hair away from his eyes. God! He looked so much like his mother when he slept. I know it’s a restless sleep, but I can’t help to think of Elizabeth when I get these rare stolen moments with him. I took his phone and placed it on his nightstand and carefully placed Riley’s picture along with it.

As I watched over Jackson, he appeared to look more relaxed as he fell deeper into sleep. I turned off his light and made my way to the door, taking one last glance at him.