Page 48 of Until I Have You

“It’s fine.”Theo swallows.“I’ve been bitter to him because I’ve been paying for his mistakes.But I was the one who covered them up.”

I think through every article I’ve read about Wallington Limited over the years.Scandal after scandal.Briberies and affairs and money laundering and schemes.More often than not, Theo’s picture was taken coming out of a courtroom, usually successful.

Until it became too much.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my moments,” he says through a wry chuckle.“Ask your father.”

“Trust me, I know,” I say, trying to laugh too, but failing.

“Now Bonnie pays for my idiocy,” he says.“Because now we have to start over.”

For the first time, Theodore Wallington doesn’t seem like a conniving businessman or a reckless party boy.But a human.

All the animosity I’ve held onto since I was a child for him starts to unfurl.“I think we all end up paying for our parents’ mistakes at some point.No matter how good they try to be.”

Theo opens his mouth to reply, but Bonnie interrupts us, holding up her empty hands.“Done!”

“Goodness, you’ve got ice cream all over your face, here–” Theo pats his pockets for something.

I hold out the napkin I have wrapped around my cup of ice cream.“Here.”

The smile he gives me reaches down into my belly and squeezes.

Fuck.

“Thank you, Abigail.”

How dare he always say my name like that?

I think as I look down into my cup of ice cream that’s turned into a light green soup.I toss it into a nearby trash can.

With Bonnie cleaned up, we go into the bookstore.

Bonnie goes directly toward the kids’ section like she has a sixth sense for it, and we follow, slow, holding onto the remains of the conversation we were having that was unceremoniously cut off.

The longer I walk beside him, the more I flip through the catalog of every interaction we’ve had since I ran into them at the aquarium.How cruel I’ve been, so righteous in my disdain of him.After all these years of blaming him for pulling my father away from me, looking for evidence of his badness in every article, every rumor.

“I owe you an apology,” I blurt in a voice so soft I hope he didn’t hear me.

“Hm?For what?”

“I…” I force myself to look at him when I say this.“I’ve been kind of an asshole.”

A laugh bubbles out of Theo, one that interrupts the quiet bookstore.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t swear when she’s–”

“No, no.I’m just surprised, I…” Theo shakes his head.“I wouldn’t say you’ve beenthat,Abigail.You don’t owe me anything.”

“I know, but I’ve been rude.I’ve been–” I sigh.“I haven’t been myself lately at all.”

“I know the feeling.”

We exchange a look.The softness in his eyes reminds me of my father, but more.Less concern.More understanding.“You know, when I was a kid, after my parents broke up, I blamed you for taking my dad away from me.”

Theo’s brow tightens, and his head cocks to the side as he takes in what I’ve said.

“I didn’t hear from him for months.And I was little, and I didn’t understand and…it’s always been easier to say that was your fault than my dad chose to–” Something wells up in the back of my voice.

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