Page 106 of Unforgivable

“Don’t let him fool you! This one was a pouty, moody turdweed for three days after that game. He kept grouching about flags not being thrown and possible steroid use on the other team’s end,” Rhys traitorously threw in. They had a good laugh at my expense before Jack launched into a story about the time I threw a temper tantrum at the aquarium on my fourth birthday because I had to leave the sea turtle tank. I had then escaped while he and mom had their backs turned, and they frantically searched top to bottom to find me before discovering I had snuck back to that turtle tank just to sit in front of it to watch them.

“I ended up buying him this small, plush turtle from the gift shop just to lure him back to the car,” Jack laughed fondly. “Leana was so annoyed at me for “reinforcing the behavior”, as she put it, but it worked like a charm. He carried that thing everywhere for almost a year if I remember correctly.” Our eyes connected across the table, memories tugging us under together. My tears mirrored his as we thought back on those happier times when we’d felt like a real family, just the three of us. Something shifted in Jack’s expression before he swallowed down the rest of his wine and took a deep breath.

“So listen, there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about, but I’ve been waiting until everything was in place,” he started, brows pinched with nerves. “Right after I filed for divorce, I hired a legal advocate to look into pressing charges against Blair for child abuse.”

He paused, letting the information sink in. My brain was shorting out, failing to fully comprehend what I heard. It was still difficult toaccept that Jack was willing to believe me about the abuse I endured, let alone that he’d turn in his own wife, or ex-wife, for it.

“You—you’re pressing charges? Why? Is that even possible now?” I stammered, a myriad of feelings warring inside me. Rhys’ face was a mask of shock and hope next to me.

“I should have done it years ago when you first told me. I’ll regret that forever, but at least I can do the right thing now. The advocate told me that it’s still within the statute of limitations for you to press charges, as long as you’re willing to be interviewed and potentially testify to what she did to you.” He trailed off on a hoarse whisper, his eyes dark with anger and remorse. The idea of talking about what I suffered while living with Blair made my stomach churn, but I knew that would be a necessity if I went through with it.

“Who’s going to convict her after all these years without hard proof? Basically, it’s my word against hers and I wasn’t believed by anyone back then. Why would I suddenly be believed now?” Anger and bitterness tinted my words, and Jack nodded solemnly.

“I won’t lie, this is an uphill battle, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. It’s important that she’s called out for what she did to you, Callum. My advocate has some ideas on how to better our chances, but there is a risk that she’ll walk. Even if that happens, at least you will have confronted her about the abuse and hopefully found some closure, if not justice. You deserve to tell your story.”

I thudded back into my chair, feeling like the air was knocked out of me by these new possibilities. I had long ago given up hope that I’d ever get justice for what I went through. Closure was a myth that I stopped believing in when it was clear my trauma had grown roots that anchored into my soul. Yet maybe there was a path to closure after all, a way to move past what had haunted me for years and allow me to live without its shadow.

I reminded myself that Jack was trying to right his wrongs and fix the hurt he caused. I didn’t want to be the hypocrite who wouldn’t give him the chance when Rhys had been willing to do the same for me. If that beautiful, compassionate, incredible man could find it in his heart to forgive me, then maybe Jack could be worthy of redemption too.

I looked over at my Sweetness, needing the strength I always found in him. That mesmerizing purple hue shone back at me with such understanding and love that it made me want to haul him over the table and sink into his kiss. We reached across the table simultaneously,both needing contact as we communicated without words. One look at his face told me what he thought of all this, and his thoughts were the ones I trusted most.

“I’ll do it,” I said simply, glancing back at Jack whose lips turned up in a relieved smile.

“I’m so damn proud of you for doing this. I just can’t tell you enough how sorry I am for not fighting for you years ago. If I could take it all back, I would. I love you so much and I’ll spend whatever time I’m given making it right,” he replied tearfully. Something in me propelled me out of my chair and around the table to his side. He stood slowly, cautious hope etched into his features. I threw my arms around him, trembling with the force of everything crashing into me at once. Jack’s embrace was damn near suffocating, but I couldn’t regret it because it felt like his hug was holding me together.

We both broke, quiet sobs wracking our bodies as years of hurt, anger, and regret bled out of us. I didn’t want to hold it in anymore. I had too much taken from me already, and I didn’t want to be so consumed by rage or hatred that a second chance at a family was taken from me too. I had thought Rhys was all the family I needed, but if it was possible for me to have more, I would grab it with both hands. Rhys wanted this for me and perhaps that was because he knew what I needed better than I did.

“Thank you, dad,” I choked out. I thought Jack couldn’t squeeze me any tighter, but I was proven wrong. It felt as though my ribs would crack under the pressure, but I didn’t want to let go. Standing there with my dad’s arms around me, I didn’t feel much like an orphan anymore.

I was stillin a daze when Rhys and I made it back to my apartment. My brain was working overtime to process the idea that Blair could actually be charged for her crimes. Yeah, she might still get away with it, but for the first time ever, there was a chance. And it was all thanks to Ja…my dad.God, that’s gonna take some getting used to.

I hadn’t fully forgiven him for being so absent after mom died, but I was open to us becoming a family again. The fact that he took to Rhys so quickly and seemed intent on earning his trust as well meant a lot to me. Rhys was my life now, the keeper of my heart. We were a packageddeal and I was thankful that Jack embraced our relationship without hesitation.

A pang of sadness twisted my chest when I thought about how mom would never get to know Rhys and love him as much as I did. Something told me those two would have been thick as thieves because they were oddly so similar. Mom radiated love and acceptance to everyone around her. She was optimistic and smart. She could find the good in the darkest of hearts, just like Rhys.

So why was I so terrified that I wouldn’t find that in her letter? Clarity hit me like a freight train. I knew who my mom was. She was one of the best people I’d ever known. What she and dad did was terrible and wrong, but…they’re human. They made mistakes that were cloaked in love, and although it didn’t excuse their affair, it put it into context.

I couldn’t say that I wouldn’t have done the same thing if Rhys was married to another man. Just the image of that made my stomach turn. If someone else had beaten me to him, I would have tossed all morals out the window on the highway to Hell just to have him. Love isn’t always beautiful. It can be messy, painful, and ill-timed, but no less genuine. My parents found that out the hard way and they paid for it. Sometimes good people do bad things, but it doesn’t make them bad.

“Hey, you okay?” Rhys asked when he noticed I was still standing in the living room, stuck in place. I walked past him without a word, heading straight for the bookshelf in my room before I could overthink my decision. “Cal? What’s wrong?”

I zeroed in on the green and gold spine on the bottom shelf, pulling it out carefully like it would disintegrate in my hand. Nostalgia washed over me at the familiar illustrations of Tinker Bell, the White Rabbit, and a ruby slipper embossed on the cover. Opening it, the pages naturally fell apart at the center seam where the wrinkled, aged envelope was tucked inside. I felt Rhys gingerly approach and squeeze my shoulders gently.

“Would you prefer to read it alone?” he asked softly. I knew he just wanted to make sure he wasn’t overstepping, but the thought of him leaving right now had panic rising in my chest.

“Don’t go!” I exclaimed, snatching his hand in mine tightly as though he’d disappear on me. “Please stay with me…”

“Okay, baby. It’s okay, I won’t go anywhere,” Rhys crooned, rubbing my back soothingly. He led me to my bed and we crawled up,propping ourselves against the headboard. It was fucking ridiculous how big a deal I was making of reading a damn letter, but when you’ve built something up in your head for so long, it’s hard to see it differently. It had always seemed cursed or tainted in a way, holding secrets I was never ready to face. But there was no more hiding. No more fear. No more anger. It was time.

Rhys looped his arm through mine and draped his left leg over my right, and his sweet coconut scent flooded my senses like a hit of serotonin. I pressed a quick kiss to his temple and opened the letter with shaky hands. The first sight of my mom’s thin, loopy handwriting drew tears to my eyes and my heart beat unsteadily.

My Callum,

It seems so wrong for a lifetime of love to be distilled down to a single letter. There’s not enough words known to man to properly tell you how I love you, but it’s all I have at the end. I only wish I had more time to show you.

You became my world the first time I heard your heartbeat on the monitor. I was reborn the second you took your first breath. When I saw your eyes open the first time I held you, I knew I was born to be your mother.

I know you didn’t take it well when I told you about Jack, but I hope you can find a way to embrace it when the time is right. You were born of the greatest love and friendship I could have imagined. Even though I am deeply ashamed of how I hurt my sister, I don’t hold an ounce of regret for bringing you into this world, despite my own failings. Jack is the love of my life and if I could have been selfish, I would have held onto him forever. But you made me want to be a better person, a better mother, so I chose to finally do the right thing and let him go.

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