“For the record, in my opinion he’s doing this because he thinks it’s best for the family. He assumed that cutting you off would make you come home and give up Cole.”
“Cole deserved a chance though.”
“All I wanted was to have a chance. It’s obvious I love his daughter. I’m not the enemy. We both want what’s best for her.” Cole’s explanation wasn’t anything new. Everyone in the room was aware of how he felt.
“Well, you’re not going to have to wait long for him to get in touch with you. I wanted to come here first; to prepare you.”
“Prepare us?” I asked.
“Yeah, after our talk he called my dad. Your mom was in tears over it. They’d all kept my paternity a secret for so long. They knew once Cole found out we were related it would get back to everyone else. They broke the law to protect me from the Chase family. Apparently our grandma was trying to take me. I know you didn’t have a good upbringing, but I did. My dad is my only father. He was there when I was born, and he’s been with me ever since then. We never needed blood to be related. I’m his in every way that counts. He loves me unconditionally and I love him the same. The idea of her taking that away from him made him go to extremes to protect me. Uncle Colt didn’t want my dad getting hurt. He needed to make sure he was okay with it. The thing is, I’d already told him about you. It was his idea for me to intervene, and that’s when I brought it up to Noah.”
“I’m glad you did,” Cole admitted.
“Your dad will be here any second. I asked him for a little bit to explain why I took matters into my own hands. I knew things would become heated. You’ve got two men who are fighting for your love. It wouldn’t have ended the way you wanted it to. Now it doesn’t have to be that way. Addison, we both know your father doesn’t apologize. I have no idea what he’s going to say to either one of you. You need to be prepared for anything, but just know he’s not going to cut you out of his life anymore. He seemed like he was about to break anyway. I just eased his mind a bit. Just because we were born to illegitimate people doesn’t mean we’ll turn out like them. Life is what we make it.”
“Please tell me you’re going to stick around for this,” I asked Bella.
“Are you kidding? I love drama. My ass is staying right on this couch.”
The sound of gravel moving around caught our attention. Cole looked out the blinds to see who it was. “It’s your parent’s SUV. They’re here.”
I got up to greet them, opened the door, and saw my dad with a bouquet of lilies. Chris and Ethan hopped out of the back, carrying gifts, while my mom had grocery bags. The moment I saw them, after a month being away, I started to tear up. “Hi.”
My mom was the first to kiss me. “Hi sweetie. You look wonderful. I didn’t know what to bring, so I made us lunch.”
Chris walked by and shoved a couple packages in my arms. “Here. They’re house warming gifts.”
“This isn’t a party,” I mentioned.
“It is now,” she corrected. “You know how this family is. Just go with it.”
Ethan smiled and gave me a nod before heading inside, leaving me to face my father alone. He didn’t come close enough to hug me. Instead he stood a full body’s length away. “Addison, it’s good to see you.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “Don’t come here and pretend to be nice to Cole. I told you before, and I’ll tell you again, I love him and nothing you can say will change it.”
“I reckon I might have been wrong to push you away. You need to understand that I was only thinking of your best interest. His relatives caused us nothing but pain. I was thinking of your mother, and what they took from us.”
“Dad, Cole wasn’t a part of that. His mother abandoned him. She left him alone in his house for days without food or nourishment. He was a little boy. Do you think for one second he’d want anything to do with her, or anyone else in that family?”
“Are you going to let me get a word in?”
“Are you going to be nice?”
My dad smirked and then shook his head. “You’re hard-headed. You get it honestly. No one could ever tell me I was wrong without a fight.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Are you admitting you were wrong?”
“I’m admitting I handled things improperly. You’re my little girl and I felt threatened. Your sister was assaulted a while back and I couldn’t do anything for her. When I heard who you were involved with it concerned me. I didn’t want you going through something traumatic. We couldn’t afford to lose you again to drugs.”
“Daddy, when you forced him away I went out and bought drugs. I was that messed up where I wanted to forget about everything, even my accomplishments.”
“So you used?”
I shook my head. “No. Cole saw me on the road and stopped me. I was seconds away from making a terrible mistake and he was there to save me. That’s what he does, Daddy. He keeps me safe. He makes me happy, and when we’re together I’m different.”
“I owe you both an apology. You’re grown. I overstepped. I’m here to make it right.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready to forgive you. You cut me off.”
“Addison, I never stopped being your dad. I continued paying your car payment, your insurance, your cell phone bill, and your tuition. They were empty threats and you didn’t even realize it.”
“You told me I wasn’t welcome on the ranch.”
“And you think I would have stopped you? Have I not been a good father to you? Have I not given you everything you ever wanted?” I watched my father break down right in front of me. In all my life I couldn’t remember him crying, but there he was, covering his face and shaking.
I walked over to him and placed my hands on his strong arms. “You’re the best father. I’m grateful for having you. I’m just angry for what you did. You hurt me.”
“I’d do anything for you, darlin’. I’d give you whatever you needed.”
“All except for Cole. You wouldn’t let me stay with him.”
He deeply sighed. “I said I was sorry.” He wiped his face and stared at me, his eyes red and strained.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You need to tell him that. He’s the one who has to forgive you.”
I hadn’t noticed Cole step outside. He was leaning on the front door listening to us bickering. “I accept your apology, but I need to know you understand I don’t have anything to do with that family. I’ve been alone practically my whole life. My foster family tried to fill the void, but they never loved me. In all honesty, I think the only person who ever has is standing in front of you. Can you imagine what it’s been like for me? All my life I’ve been searching for a place to belong. Without your daughter I’m lost. I don’t care what anyone thinks about us. What we have is real, and I’m not going to leave her, no matter who thinks they can get in the way.”
My dad held his hand out to Cole. He said nothing as he waited for Cole to react. For a few seconds I wondered if he would turn around and walk away. In my opinion my dad needed to be taught a lesson, but Cole was done fighting. He wanted to be accepted, because he had too many reasons to be thankful.
When they shook I wanted to cry. I held my hands up to my face and watched them both smile. “All my life nothing has been more important than family. My niece was right. I can’t love her and force you away. I am truly sorry.”
“I know, sir. I get it. I just hope you know you were wrong. I was never a threat. I tried not to love her,” he looked at me as he said it, “but she’s hard to forget.”
“If you hurt her we will have a problem,” my dad threatened.
“Don’t worry. I plan on making her crazy happy for as long as she’ll have me.”
Epilogue
Six months later
“Are you sure that’s everything?” I asked Cole as he locked up the trailer.
“I told you I double checked every room. If you don’t believe me go on in and check for yourself.”
I looked at the
truck piled high with the rest of our things. We’d had to wait until our six month lease ended before being able to move back home. Ever since the day my father came to apologize, he’d been itching to get me to move back to the ranch. After much consideration, my Gram asked me to move into the main house with her. She’d met Cole a few times in the past several months and come to favor him, maybe even a little more than Ethan. If you ask me, she had a little crush on him. I think Gram was just sweet on Cole because he’d bend over backwards to impress her. He’s already repaired several minor things in the house.
From what my parents told me, I was the last child left to live in the house, since my brother and Christian both had homes of their own. Since it would be mine in the future, they felt it was alright if we moved our things into the one wing and got settled.
I’m pretty sure Cole about crapped his pants when we sat down at a family dinner and discussed it. He’d never had much growing up, so it was a bit overwhelming to look at the mansion and imagine it being his home.
I knew I’d have to take care of Gram eventually, and I was okay with it. For now we’d have over six thousand square feet of living quarters just for us. My Gram would have the other half, and we’d share the kitchen and common areas.
Another thing Cole couldn’t believe was that we wouldn’t have to pay rent. The house had been paid for years ago before my grandfather passed away. Aside from the annual taxes, which were paid by the farm, there was nothing except for the utilities.
My dad wanted us to save. He knew Cole liked his job doing tattoos, but offered him a position on the farm anyway. At first he declined, but had been helping out when things got hectic. I was almost positive he was reconsidering the offer to be able to work so close to the house.
For me, I’d be able to finish my course, and finally get my certification as a drug counselor. I still thought back to that night in the car when I almost ruined everything I’d been working for. Being extremely close to having a career I knew I’d love, I was thankful Cole had stopped me. If I would have used there’s no telling where I’d be, and how my life would have changed.
“Are you going to miss this place?”
“How can you ask me that? We’re moving into a castle.”
“It’s not a castle. It’s just a big white house.”
“Maybe for you.”
“Are you overwhelmed?”
He snickered. “No. I’m more petrified. I feel like I’m going to mess something up.”
“You’ll be fine.
“And you’re sure this is cool with your dad?”
“Cole, you were with me when he insisted we move home. What are you stressing about?”
“Being a family.”
I got in the truck and took his hand. “How many times have I told you that you weren’t alone?”
He rolled his eyes. “Too many.”
“Stop worrying. It’s just a house. If you don’t like it there we’ll move into one of the trailers.”
“I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”
“That’s what my dad said about you,” I teased. “Now you’re actually friends.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. He’s coming around. I still think I have something to prove to him, but I’m working on it. One day he’ll know I’m in this for the long haul. There’s no place else on this earth I’d rather be than with you. Wherever you go, I go. I love you, precious.”
“And I love you, Cole.” I looked toward the road leading back to the ranch. “Let’s get going. There’s a bubble bath calling our names.”
No one really knows what their future may hold. We need to take one day at a time and try to be the best person we can be. Life is short. There are no guarantees. I knew now how important it was, and what I’d taken for granted. With the love from Cole I knew I’d have a future free from drugs and addiction. He’d saved me in more ways than he knew, and in many ways I’d done the same for him. Whatever brought us together, whether cosmic or coincidence, we were blessed and happy it happened. Cole finally had what he’d always wanted.
A family.
THE END
Book 7 , CASSIE, will be out Fall 2015
Check out the Mitchel Family Books and others by Jennifer Foor @ www.jenniferfoor.com
Addison Page 19
