Page 72 of The Seal's Promise

“There was an envelope with divorce papers in the items retrieved from the crash. The documents only had one signature on them: Mom’s. I think Dad had been trying to convince Mom not to leave him.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I never bothered to look into it, because it didn’t matter. Nothing was filed; their last will was the only legal document that dictated what we should do. I became your and Levi’s legal guardians, and we split our inheritance three ways. With the lion’s share being the estate and the pier.”

“A divorce? But Mom and Dad never fought, they always seemed happy.”

Wes sighed and leaned back. “There were some cracks you probably didn’t notice at seventeen. But I was surprised to find the documents. I never said anything, because I didn’t want you and Levi to know.” Wes ran his hand through his hair and gritted his teeth. “Dalton, Dad didn’t lose control of the car on a road he’d driven a million times because you got into a prestigious college. The truck driver admitted he’d been drinking and drove over both lanes. He said he didn’t see the car until he hit it. And when he tried to stop, he skidded so far that he pushed Mom and Dad’s car over the bluff and the truck tipped over.”

Dalton’s hands clenched into fists. He could picture it all in his mind.

“It wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry I never realized you were carrying that lie around all these years. I was afraid to tell you and Levi about the driver because I didn’t want you to do something stupid, so I blamed the weather. Is this why you’ve stayed away so long?” Wes asked in a softer tone. “It wasn’t your fault,” he repeated.

Dalton’s throat was tight, and he felt the burn of unshed tears threatening. His mind raced back to that night. Had it been storming? Why was their mom leaving their dad?

“Dad wouldn’t want you to have any guilt over an argument. You were a teenager who thought he could conquer the world, and you sorta did. Dad would be really proud of you. I’m really proud of you,” Wes said.

Dalton let out the huge breath he’d been holding and swiped at the tears that spilled out. Years of guilt washed away with one conversation. Wes closed the space between them and gave him a big, brotherly hug.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Wes said again, his voice strained from emotion. Then gave him a few pats on the back. “You got any other demons you need to let loose?”

Then Wes pulled back and sat back on his workout bench as if he was exhausted.

Still swiping at his eyes, Dalton laughed and walked over to the window that faced the center of town.

“Nope, that was the only one that’s been haunting me,” Dalton admitted.

“Damn it, Dalton, we should have talked about this after Mom and Dad died. I didn’t know how to be a guardian or a parent. I still don’t. It’s a wonder Levi didn’t end up in jail or worse.”

Dalton turned to face Wes and could see the strain in his eyes. “You shouldn’t have had to leave your life in the city to then get a crash course on raising teenage brothers. It was a shit deal.”

“Yah, well, we did alright. I’m just sorry we never talked about that night.”

“Maybe Dad didn’t sign because they reconciled. Maybe Mom changed her mind,” Dalton said.

“Maybe,” Wes said, but he didn’t sound convinced. They both had enough memories of their mother to remember that she was the strong and silent type, but if she was pushed, she would come out swinging.

“Remember that time you were being bullied in middle school before you had your growth spurt, and Mom said that if the other kid swings first, you make sure you swing last?” Dalton asked.

Wes grinned. “Sage advice, and it’s definitely come in handy on more than one occasion.”

“Yah, she epitomized resilience.”

“Does this confession mean you’re staying in Sandy Point for good?” Wes asked.

“I figured I couldn’t stay unless I told you what I’d done. I needed your forgiveness.”

“You don’t need it, but I hope you’ll stay. And not just for Brooke Banks. This has always been your home.”

“I hate that that’s her last name now,” Dalton admitted.

“Well, there is one way to change it.” Wes laughed and got up to pull two beers out of the fridge.

Dalton’s heart skipped several beats at the thought of making Brooke his. He’d never considered marrying anyone until this moment, and he was surprised it wasn’t pure fear that settled in his stomach. It felt a lot more like hope.

“Wow, you must really be falling for her if you’ve come to confess and you aren’t running from the idea of getting married to your childhood friend.”

“I don’t think Brooke is interested in getting married again, but I’m not opposed to trying to change her mind.”

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