Page 71 of All You Need Is Love

“Yeah.” Marshall coughed. “Look, I really didn’t come to bust your chops, but—”

“No, no. You have every right. If I could do things differently, I’d tell those Blakestown gossips to … well, you get the idea. And then, if the environment had remained toxic, I’d have taken you and your mother and moved somewhere nice and tropical, far away from all the scandal and the people who told me I’d never amount to anything.” Dad paused. “That’s why I stayed after you left.”

“In Blakestown?”

His dad nodded. “As you know, I grew up there. What you don’t know is my family lived in the trailer park. Let’s just say people never thought I’d amount to anything. And then, with lots of hard work, I did. And that success—well, it became a god to me.” A tear ran down his weathered cheek and Dad didn’t bother to swipe it away.

The sight of that tear froze Marshall to his seat. When had he ever seen his dad cry? Not at Mom’s funeral. Not … ever.

“Son, don’t let anything become more important to you than love. If you’ve found it, then run toward it. God knows I wish I had.”

Marshall cleared his throat, eyes wandering to the ticking clock on the wall. “I don’t know if I have it anymore.”

“Then go and fight for it. Don’t sit around wishing.” His dad gestured around the room. “Otherwise, this is what your life will look like in twenty years. This is what comes of a life lived without love. A life lived with regret as the main ingredient.”

Marshall sighed. “Dad …”

He held up a hand. “Before you try to make me feel better, please know I’m not saying any of this to gain your pity. I know I don’t deserve a second chance. But you, Marshall … if you are like me in any way, I pray that it’s only the good parts—the me I was before I let greed and ambition take hold. The me I was when your mother was my sun and my moon, before I let other things draw my attention away. It’s not too late for you.”

Whoa.

If Marshall hadn’t already been sitting, he’d have dropped into his chair. The last ten minutes had cracked open everything he’d thought he’d known. He hadn’t expected this reaction from his father—not at all. No, he’d pictured coming here, saying his piece to a man even more hardened by the years, and leaving with the hope that forgiveness could be a one-way street toward healing.

But now … maybe there was still a chance for more. More than he’d dared hope.

“You’re right, Dad. It’s not too late.” Standing, Marshall rounded the desk and, hand flexing, placed his palm on his dad’s shoulder. “You say you don’t deserve a second chance, but none of us do.”

Marshall included.

“But that’s where love comes in, right?” He took another breath of air. Of sweet, sweet freedom. “I forgive you, Dad. And I’m willing to move forward if you are.”

Could things still blow up in his face? Could his father still betray him again? Hurt him?

Yes. Maybe even worse than he had before.

But Marshall couldn’t control the actions of others. All he could do was be the best man possible, like Tyler had said.

He just needed to figure out exactly what that meant, go and do it, and hope for the best.

And it started with letting love in.

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