Page 62 of Dare to Need

Heat crawled up my neck as my father sucked in a deep breath. “I really appreciate that you were willing to step up for this family when I couldn’t and that you were willing to put your interests aside for the betterment of those around you. When you first told me you wanted to take my position in the company, well, I’d never felt more proud in my life. But as the days ticked by in that tiny box of a room, I realized that having you take over the Walker Corporation would have been like living in your own tiny box. One that your soul probably would have died in, and there was no way I could have that.

“And I saw it in your face, that night you came to visit me. Something was eating at you really bad. It took me a few days to figure out what it could have been, but when it hit me, I realized what I had to do.”

He looked to my mother then, who nodded her head slightly, her deep brown eyes twinkling. His features had softened, just a fraction and not enough for anyone who didn’t know him to notice. But I could tell. The love he shared with my mom buzzed between them.

“I sold the company.”

“What?!” I shot forward, my response more of a shout than anything.

“I signed the papers this morning.”

Like a dog watching a tennis match, my head bounced side to side as I glanced back and forth between my parents. Shit-eating grins plastered on both their faces.

My mouth bobbed open and closed, but no words came out.

“When I said I wanted you to live life, I meant it. While I was incredibly thankful you were willing to take my place when I needed you to, I knew there was no way I could let you follow through in making a decision that would destroy your happiness. So, I sold the company and now you’re free to pursue what you truly love.”

“Dad…you built that company from the ground up. It’s been your entire world for decades. You’re just going to sell it off like that? I thought it was your dream to keep it in the family.”

“When you face death, your dreams change.” He took my mother’s hand and planted a kiss on the back of it. A rosy blush painted her cheeks.

I sat back in my chair again, the tension in my muscles melting as my limbs felt heavy from the release.He sold the company.

“So, what does this mean?”

“It means that our family will be set for life and I can actually spend time enjoying it. We can all start to focus on being together more and your mother and I can support you and your brother in whatever endeavors you decide to pursue.”

It was unreal. The only thing I’d ever truly wanted from my father—more time—and here he was, willing to give it freely at the expense of selling his company.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, I do and I haven’t said it nearly enough. But I’m proud of you Garth. I’m so damn proud of the man you’ve become. Not the person defined as an artist, but a boy who turned into a loving, kind, generous man with strong morals and a giving heart. In truth, when I set aside my own ambitions, that’s all I ever wanted for my kids. To see them grow into decent people. And you’ve done that, in spite of the shit I’ve thrown at you.”

I rose from my seat and hugged my father. He smelt of cinnamon and my mother’s vanilla perfume. Though he’d just laid in a hospital bed for over two weeks, his arms were strong as they clamped around me. I hugged him harder, sharing a moment we both needed more than we were willing to admit.

“I love you, Dad,” I whispered against his chest.

“I love you too, son.”

My mother’s palm stroked up and down my back as we stayed there for precious seconds, letting ourselves catch up on all the time we missed by being mad at one another. In that moment, he was just my dad and I was just his son. Every ounce of the pain we’d caused each other fell away as a new seed of hope was planted.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Iwas in a dream filled with bright laughter, warm savory smells of breakfast, and the enjoyable company of everyone I loved. It was a dream I’d secretly hoped would come true for as long as I could remember. And it finally had.

My father was at the head of the table, while my mother and Garrett sat to his left and Eva and me sat to his right. Lucas was opposite my father with Drema sitting between him and Eva. The only people missing were Eva’s parents and it looked like we would be able to spend the second half of the summer on the east coast of Florida with them after all.

Everything was coming together in a way that made my chest swell to its fullest capacity.

Last night, Eva and I shared a romantic dinner in our room where I was able to tell her the news that my father sold the company and I was no longer bound to take over as CEO. Though I had planned on telling my parents that I needed to withdraw my offer, there was something symbolic about my father being the one to prevent me from having to take over. It felt like the final chapter was closed on that part of our relationship. There was nothing standing in the way of us moving forward. We’d both forgiven one another for all the arguments and discord. And he had done what I’d always hoped he would; he put his fatherhood above his legacy and chose to do what was best forme.

Eva had cried when I told her the news and her tears brought on some of my own. The final shedding of any residual tension I’d carried over the past few weeks was complete when I held her in my arms as we’d both laughed through the tears knowing it was all behind us now. We could finally move forward. I had no fucking idea what I did to deserve her, but I was so thankful that she came into my life like the angel I’d always needed.

A sharp cling permeated the air. Everyone’s attention was drawn to my father who set the glass and butterknife down, his gaze meeting everyone at the table.

“I want to thank everyone for being here. These past few weeks have been a difficult time for myself and my family and at the same time, my heart attack has been a teaching moment for us all. I was blessed to have made a full recovery when, in all honesty, I probably should have died when my heart stopped beating. But I didn’t. I was given a second chance at this life and I intend to use it fully.

He looked to my mother as she wiped a stray tear from her cheek. With a tenderness I’d rarely seen from him, he cupped my mother’s cheek and rubbed his thumb along the edge of her jaw. I felt like a voyeur, witnessing such a precious moment between them, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away.

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