Page 67 of Make Your Save

The part of me that would have continued to hang on to the anger and negative feelings gets pushed to the back of my mind. There’s no way to move forward or to forgive and grow while hanging on to any of that. Beau still has a lot to prove, but if he doesn’t get a chance to do that, there’s no room for any growth. All it does is provide an impossible roadblock for him and his healing.

“Hadley is down the street right now with Lucy,” I tell him, my voice soft as I glance at the door. “Let me text her and see if she wants to talk to you at all.”

I pull out my phone, noting the time and that we need to get going soon anyway. I open my messages app and find Hadley’s name at the top.

Rowan

Are you ready to go?

Hadley

I’m ready whenever you are.

Rowan

I’m ready now.

My brother wants to talk to you, but I can tell him no if you’re not comfortable.

Hadley doesn’t respond at first but then her message comes through.

Hadley

That’s fine.

I’ll meet you at the car.

I look up at my brother. “She said okay.”

Hope passes through his gaze as he drains the rest of his coffee. I rise to my feet and he follows suit, leaving his mug at the small station they have by the trash cans. His footsteps are even and I’m able to get a better look at him while he’s standing up. He’s filled out and has a healthy amount of weight. My brother looks better than I’ve seen him in years and just from talking to him, I already have a good feeling about him.

Hadley is waiting by the car with Lucy when we get there. I walk up to her, my eyes meeting hers as I take the stroller from her. “I’ll get Luce in the car while the two of you talk.”

She stares up at me, her eyes searching my face as a gentle smile lifts her lips. “Okay.”

Hadley walks past me, stepping up to my brother, and I turn my body to watch the two of them for a moment. There’s a healthy amount of space between them and my brother starts to talk, a string of apologies falling from his lips. I catch some of his words as I lift Lucy and the carrier seat from the stroller and get her secured in the car.

In a way, I know the two of them need this moment. Hadley may forgive him and she may be over him, butthere’s something about an apology that helps as that final piece of closure.

I fold up the stroller and slide it into the trunk of my SUV before walking over to where my brother and Hadley are. Instinctively, I step up to her, wrapping my arm around her lower back as she leans into me, pressing her body against my side.

“Thank you for your apology, Beau,” Hadley tells him, her voice tender and filled with so much kindness. “I know that was a very dark point in your life and I don’t hold any of it against you. Honestly, I don’t think we were ever supposed to be in a relationship together, so I have no ill feelings toward you for that not working out.” She lifts her head, her hazel eyes meeting mine. “Some doors have to close for others to open.”

Beau looks back and forth between the two of us. “I know I still have a lot to prove to you both, but thank you for today. I have every intention of making things better between us and I look forward to building a healthy relationship with you,” he says, looking directly at me.

“In forgiveness, there’s peace,” Hadley says, her eyes shifting back to Beau. “I think we all needed this today.”

“I agree,” he says quietly as he tips his chin at her and looks at me.

“Do you want to see your niece?” I half blurt the words out, almost regretting them until I see the way my brother’s face softens. It transports me back to simpler times when he still thought I was the coolest person.

“I’d love that.” He smiles, looking back and forth between Hadley and me. We all move to the car and I pull the door open for him to look inside at her. “Oh my goodness, look at her. Thank God she’s not as ugly as you,” he jokes, glancing at me as he laughs. “Hello, Lucy. I’m your uncle Beau.”

He takes another moment or two, talking quietly to Lucy before standing back to face Hadley and me. “Thank you for sharing her with me,” he says softly. “We’ll talk soon?”

“We will.” I incline my head at him, my arm releasing Hadley as she walks over to pull Beau in for a hug. He looks at me over her shoulder, a look of contentment in his expression as he holds her for a brief second before releasing her.

I step closer to him, holding my hand out to him as Hadley watches the two of us. “Drive safe and let me know when you get back home.”

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