Page 68 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

June sits next to me and takes my hand. She doesn’t say anything, just stays there, lending me her strength with her presence alone.

I’m the one who breaks the silence first. “I want to forgive her, but I’m not sure I can.”

“I believe you can.”

I shake my head. “I can’t get over all the pain from the past. I will always remember how utterly lost I was.”

“Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you have to forget the past.”

“I know. I’ve hated her for so long, I’m not sure how to cope if I stop.”

“I don’t think you truly hate her.”

I release a loud sigh. “You’re right. I don’t. Even though she hurt me so much, I love her. She’s my mother. She knows she messed up and regrets it. But I can’t help thinking she’s only remorseful because she’s dying.”

“Does it matter? Many people don’t realize the damage they’ve done until the end. At least you gave her the chance to ask for your forgiveness.”

I look at June. “Do you think I should forgive her?”

“Only you know the answer to that. Try to put yourself in her shoes.”

I take a deep breath. “If I had hurt you beyond measure, I’d want your forgiveness before I died.”

June touches my face. “And I would give you that because I love you.”

“Even if what I did made you hate me?”

“Yes.” She smiles. “I could never hate wholeheartedly.”

I take advantage of the emptiness of the chapel and kiss my girl. I need to be near her and taste her love. I’m taking a silent vow to never, ever hurt June the way I’ve been hurt. It would destroy me if she couldn’t forgive me.

And just like that, I have my answer.

CHAPTER 29

JUNE

Ryan doesn’t tell me what he plans to do, but when he returns from the chapel, Cory and Mackenzie are in his mother’s room again, so he goes in to see her too. I stay with Jake and Lachy in the waiting room. Jake stands with a cup of good coffee in his hand.

“How is he?”

“I think he’s going to be all right. Is that for me?” I point at the cup.

“Yeah.”

“Thanks.”

I sit between Jake and Lachy and don’t say much while I drink my coffee. My phone pings with a text message, and I get a little jumpy. What if it’s Bill again?

Jake and Lachy both stare at me.

“Are you going to check yer phone, lass?”

“You guys are more curious than I am.”

“I won’t look. I promise.” Jake smiles.

“You’d better not.” I fish my phone out of my purse and sigh a breath of relief. It’s not Bill. Thank God.

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