She remains frozen, still on top of me and her eyes are locked with mine. I don’t say anything more, and neither does she. A few more moments pass then she rolls to the side and onto her feet looking to me.
“I never came looking for any of this, Dylan. I didn’t cast a spell on you or blackmail you into falling for me. And yes, deny it as much as you want, but you fell for me just like I fell for you. However, as much as I love you, I can’t make this work by myself. I don’t want to walk away from you because you’re going to see that as me leaving, but the way I look at it, I’ve lost you either way.” She brings her hand to her eyes, wiping the tears that had started to fall. “I do love you, Dylan, more than I thought I could ever love one person. I never truly understood what my father felt when he lost my mother, but now I do.” She lets out a soft cry as she clenches her stomach. Her next words are said through the sobs. “I love you. I will always love you, but I’ll give you what you want.”
As quickly as she walked into my life, she turned and walked right back out.
There you go, Dylan—she’s gone.
Chapter 24
Dylan
I’m standing in the kitchen of the cabin, a place I thought I’d never have to see again after the sale went through. But when I went to hand the keys over to the lawyer, he asked me to hold onto them because the new owner has some questions and asked if I could walk him through.
I’m looking out the back window when I hear the front screen door open. I turn to greet the new owner, but when I catch sight of who’s in front of me, my rage takes over.
“You don’t know when to damn well quit,” I roar.
Her expression’s dulled, not really holding any response to my outburst. “Not anymore, no.”
“You need to leave.”
There’s a slight twitch to her jaw as she takes in a breath. “Actually, I have an appointment with you.” I look to her in confusion, so she explains further. “Let me clarify, Dylan. I bought the cabin.”
“No, you didn’t. The name on the sale was Andrew Murphy,” I correct.
She nods. “Yes, when you sold it, but then he turned around and sold it to me.”
“Why would he do that?” I question.
“Because I paid double what he bought it for.”
I laugh. “Well, it looks like you’re putting my father’s money to good use.”
Sarah straightens her posture. “I did, and with what was leftover, I created a scholarship in Chase’s name at the university.”
“Excuse me?” I ask sure that I didn’t hear her correctly.
Sarah draws her lower lip slightly in between her teeth. “Dylan, I want to explain it all to you, but it’s not something I can just make you understand in a two-minute pass by. Can we take a seat?”
I look to the older woman. You would think with the amount of money she has that she would be covered in couture and expensive jewelry. Instead, she looks how I remember her when I met her that very first day over eighteen years ago. I remember thinking that she looked a lot like the lady at my preschool, almost whimsical in a way. Natural. Approachable. Trustworthy—I was wrong.
I should just walk out of here. There’s nothing this woman would have to say to me that I need to hear. But I’m curious. “You have five minutes.”
Sarah nods, taking a seat on the chair next to her. I don’t move right away, but noticing her hesitation, I lower myself to the couch.
She clears her throat. “It’s so nice to see you. How have you been?”
“This isn’t a cordial reacquaintance, Sarah. I’m allowing you this time to say what you have to, then I’m out of here, and I never want to see you again.”
She looks to me with saddened eyes. “Of course. Dylan, the money that repurchased this cabin, and the money that set up the scholarship in Chase’s name was the money your father gave me. I can only imagine what you were made to believe about me, so I want to clarify something for you right now.” She pushes out a quivered breath. “Dylan, I never wanted to leave you and Chase. I was made to.”
My brows snap together. “What are you playing at here, Sarah?”
She shakes her head. “Absolutely nothing. Dylan, I won’t put the blame on anyone but myself. Ultimately, I’m the one that left without a fight. I abandoned you and Chase, and you have every right to hold that against me. I’m not looking for your
forgiveness...I don’t deserve it. But I do need you to know that I never once stopped loving you or your brother. The two of you were my sole reason for existing. You were my life.”
“If that’s true, why did you leave?” I question skeptically.
“I’m going to need a little more than five minutes here to fully explain, Dylan.”
I tighten my jaw, taking in a breath. “Fine.”
She nods and continues. “The first time I ever met your father was at an arts fundraiser. I was at the event in hopes of meeting some gallery owners. People that I might convince to look over my work, but the only way to get in was working as a server.” She brings her fingers to her mouth, letting out a chuckle at the memory. “God, I was ballsy back then...no inhibitions, but I was literally a starving artist. I think the last meal I’d eaten was two days before, so to me, a worst-case scenario was that I at least got to take home some table scraps.”
“I don’t understand. I thought you owned this place back then. How could you have this and no food to feed yourself?” I ask.
“Ah, yes! You were young, but I’m sure if you remember, this place back then was—”
“Colorful,” I interrupt.
Sarah smiles, letting out a chuckle. “That’s right. I attempted to make it more livable because it was a dump. I’m surprised the township didn’t make me tear it down. When it was left to me by my great aunt, it was falling apart. Honestly, it probably should have been condemned, but I needed a plave to live in, so I patchedworked it up as best I could and made do. When I think back, at the time I thought it couldn’t get any worse, but I was wrong. “ She leans in, resting her elbows on her knees. “That night at the findraiser, I met the most
charismatic man. He was poised, articulate, and the way he commanded everyone’s attention; well, you knew he was a man that you didn’t say no to.”
I let out a snicker. “And you didn’t.”
She looks to me, shaking her head. “No, I didn’t. It was a vicious cycle I never learned to break where he was concerned, at least not until it was too late. At first, it was wonderful, surreal almost. I mean, a gorgeous, obviously wealthy man wanted me. Like actively pursuing me, I thought I had fallen down a rabbit hole into some other world. He pulled out all the stops—extravagant dates, beautiful clothes, jewelry, but it was when I met his young boy that I knew I was done for. It had only been eight months when he asked me to marry him, and I said yes without even a sliver of hesitation because I knew if nothing else, there was no way I couldn’t be in this little person’s life.”
That woman she’s describing to me, that time she’s recalling, I remember it. It was one of the two times I can remember being truly happy—the second being the first time Velyn and I were together.
Feeling a sting at the back of my eyes, I stand from the chair and turn to look out the window. With my back still to her, I say, “But you still left.”
“I did.”
I turn back, hands now in my pockets, hiding my clenched fists. “Why?”
“Because if I hadn’t, you might never have known your brother.”
I sit back down. “What?”
“After Chase was born, your father changed. It’s almost like now, with the connection of sharing a biological child, he felt he had more control. He felt like it granted him certain permissions. The man I had fallen for, that I promised to spend my life loving and gave him a second son, turned into a monster.” The tears glisten in her eyes. “He accused me of unimaginable things. Sleeping around, stealing, saying that Chase wasn’t even his. He would have me followed, limit my access to fr
iends, and even went as far as to have a guard outside the house so I couldn't leave unless he said so.” She shakes her head. “I was a prisoner in my own home, enslaved by a man that I thought loved me. Dylan, I was slowly dying inside.”
“So, you left.”
“I did but not before going to a lawyer. I wasn’t leaving without my boys. I didn’t care about anything else, but I wanted you and Chase with me,” she says.
“Then what happened? Why did you leave us with him?”
She sighs. “The day I was set to leave, I had three bags packed, one for each of us, but he stopped me in the driveway with the sheriff at his side. He served me papers. They stated that I was free to take Chase, but you had to stay because you weren’t legally my son. He went as far as also to have it written in the papers that once I left, Chase would no longer be his responsibility and was not to have any knowledge or future contact with his brother…with you. Also, that as per the prenuptial agreement, I left with nothing, not even the cabin as I had
signed it over to him when we did the renovations. He then threatened that when I couldn’t feed my own child, he would have him removed from my care and put into the system. He wasn’t even going to help with Chase. Right there, I called my lawyer. He had also received the same paperwork and outright told me your father had all the power and that there was nothing I could do. Dylan, I had nothing. He was right; I wasn’t going to be able to feed myself, let alone a child. So, when I looked to Chase in my arms and down to you still with your hand in mine, I knew if I couldn’t have both of you in my life, you could at least have
each other. I was defeated, and your father knew it. He wasn’t going to let me back in; he made that very clear, so I left—alone.”
“And you never looked back.”
“I did look back, every day of my life. The one thing that your father didn’t know was that in that house, I had one person, a friend.”
When I look in her eyes, I know. “Connie.”
She nods. “Yes. Knowing that she was the one that would be raising you and Chase. Knowing that you had her gave me peace.” She reaches for her purse pulling out a folded manilla envelope and handing it to me. “Every school picture, birthday cake, soccer game, or school project, Connie would send me the memory one way or another.”
I open the envelope pulling out a pile of pictures and children’s artwork. “Is this ours?”
Sarah nods. “Every time she replaced yours and Chase’s artwork on the fridge, she would send me the old one with a little story about it on the back—I kept every single one.”
I look back down to the pile in my hands then drop it on the coffee table. “Explain the money. You said my father sent you off with nothing.”
“He did, initially. But I ended up going back to my lawyer about the cabin, It had been in my family for decades. But I couldn’t get it back. However, the judge did order him to pay me. Not the outcome I’d wanted, but I did make an additional request. I asked the judge if he was to keep it, then I would like it to be in yours, and Chase’s name. Also, that he couldn’t sell it and that only once you were both eighteen, could you decide if you wanted to keep it or not. I pleaded that it had been in the family forever and that if it wer lest to you boys, it would remain that way. Your father agreed to the terms; he hated the cabin anyway, and when he wrote the check he added a few zeros. He wanted to hand it to me personally, and when he did, I’ll never forget his words. He said, ‘Do you see that number? I keep that rolled up in my sock drawer for poker nights. I can destroy you and anyone you love, and trust me, I will.’ I knew what he meant and that he could, and would do it.” She pauses a moment. “Dylan, I deposited that check into an account, files the papers away in a drawer, and never looked at it or accessed it until I learned that you had sold the cabin. That money was always going to be for you and Chase when I knew that your father couldn’t hurt you anymore, but I was too late.” Sarah lets out a breath. “This place is still yours, Dylan. I’ll be transferring the title back to you later today. Do with it what you please, but know this. This cabin will always be the one place your father will never have any reach.”
Having said all she can, she stands from the chair and heads to the door. Before she leaves, she turns back. “I would love to have you in my life
again. You may not think so, but to me, you are still and will always be my son, the only one I have left. My door and heart will always be open to you.”
My mind was reeling. I didn’t have a clue what I was supposed to be thinking or feeling. The only thing I did know was that whatever it was that was running through my head now had me standing in front of my father’s office door.
I needed the truth.
I don’t knock, and when I open the door stepping into my father’s office, he lets me know that I didn’t.
“Dylan, I’ve been quite lenient with you over these last few weeks, but there are still rules that need to be followed...simple ones,” he says with his tone held even and calm, but I know he’s angry and honestly, I don’t care.
“My dismissal of your regimental rules is the least of your worries.”
My father shoots up his chair, toppling over. “You don’t talk back to me. Do you—”
I let out a roar. “Shut up and sit down.”
I would never have spoken to my father like this before. I would’ve been worried about the repercussions. But now, I just don’t give a shit.
“Dylan I’m warning you—”
“I said, sit down. I don’t care about your threats empty or not. I have questions, and I want them answered.”
He doesn’t take a seat; I didn’t expect him too. It would show that he’s giving in, and my father never submits to anyone, so I just continue. “I saw Sarah today.” His jaw twitches and eyes slant, but he remains silent. “What, you have nothing to say? Yeah, I didn’t think you would after her name was mentioned. You know when she first started to explain to me why she left I didn't believe her. I was humoring the woman because I just needed someone to
deflect my anger onto. But as she got further into her story, I started to remember. Nothing huge, just small memories of when she was with us. But I still wasn’t giving her much regard, at least not until she pulled out the envelope full of photos and other keepsakes that were made by Chase and I . You forced her and threatened her out of our lives just like you do everyone
who won’t bow down to the almighty Edward Dandridge.”
My father lets out a growl. “I’m giving you permission to speak your mind but I will—
“You’re not giving me shit. I’m saying what I have to, and you will stand there and listen. After all, I am my father’s son; it’s time for you to now listen to me. She was my world. I loved her so much, and you just ripped her out of our lives. Chase and I could’ve had a mother. Chase would probably still be alive. Your need for control ruined this family, or at least what was left of it. But it ends now; I won’t let you destroy anything for me anymore.”
“If this is about that girl, she’s the one that will destroy you. Heed my words, son.”
I let out a laugh. “That girl you’re talking about...her name’s Velyn. I’ve pushed her away. I’ve treated her poorly. I’ve outright told her that she was a mistake, and all because I thought there was no way her intentions and feelings toward me were true. Once again, like with many things lately, I was wrong.”
“You’re showing your weakness, Dylan.”
I shake my head. “I don’t care. I don’t think I ever did. The only thing I cared about was keeping myself from getting hurt again, but it’s too late because I already let my guard down with her. I love her, and when I leave here, I’m going to kneel in front of her and beg for her forgiveness. Plead with her to take me back because I was wrong. I’m going to promise to love her forever, and unlike you, I will keep that promise.”
My father lets out a roar of laughter. “You’re stupid if you think that she’s any different. You’ll see, she’ll show yo
u who she really is soon enough and when she does, don’t come back here. I’m done with you. You’re an utter disappointment. Both of my sons were. You leave here, and you leave with nothing. You will be nothing. Go knock on her door with that proposition and see what kind of reception she gives you.”
I take a step toward my father, just the desk separating us. “I’m willing to take that chance.”
I turn to walk away, but just before I walk out the door, he yells out. “You’ll have nothing, Dylan.”
I turn to him and smile. “If she takes me back, I’ll have all I will ever need. Have a good life, Dad.”
Chapter 25
Velyn
I’m not sure if my body aches more because I’m still recovering, or because I have not moved from this spot since before two nights ago when Dylan pretty much threw me out of his house and told me never to come back.
I have no energy, and the more I lay here, I start to realize just how easy it was for my father to slip away like he did when my mother died. The only saving grace I have are the dulling memories of my father when he was like that...at his worst. They’re a reminder, and I refuse to let myself get like that.
I sit up, pulling the knitted throw over my shoulders and grab the remote off the table. I was never one for television, but lately, it’s the only thing that doesn’t require me to exert more energy than I have.
I flick through the channels looking for something other than reality television because, honestly, my reality’s enough to handle, and
procedural cop shows because well, I don’t need any ideas. Coming across a channel airing reruns of old sitcoms, I stop when I recognize the show...it was one of Chase’s favorites. My heart tightens at the memory of him. I miss him.
Just as I close my eyes to hold back the tears, there’s a knock at the door. I don’t bother to get off the couch. The doors unlocked. It’s always unlocked. The perfect setup for one of those cop shows. Ha!
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