Page 24 of Mercy Lake

“Mister, were you going to steal me?” Austin pitched my way.

Shit! Abort, abort.

That’s when Alexis noticed she had company. Almost in slow motion, I could see the colour drain from her face as her eyes meticulously tracked up and down my frame.

I wasn’t even breathing. How could I?

My ex-wife I still loved above all others was standing in front of me… with her son.

I had come a long way in the past four and a half years, working hard on myself, trying to find fulfilment after drowning in my depression for so long.

Soon after Everly left town with her picture-perfect family, I went thermonuclear. I channelled all my pain and suffering into destroying her and everyone connected to her lies.

Why did she deserve to move on with her life when she had so thoroughly decimated mine? A strong sense of injustice took hold, and I turned ugly, harsh and utterly cruel.

I stalked her,obsessedover her, fully consumed in exposing her lies and broadcasting her sins to anyone who’d listen. I didn’t care about the collateral damage, willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to inflict the same hurt that she caused me.

Nothing I did was enough. Would never be enough. However, after six months of that toxic behaviour, my family decided to step in as I was so mentally and physically unwell. At that point, I was regularly drinking myself into a stupor, barely getting my shit together enough to go to work.

My parents practically wrestled me in the car every time they drove me to the therapist located a couple of towns over. I’m ashamed to say I fought like a toddler in the beginning… Until I got so tired of fighting, I just gave in.

For a while, my dad drove me to and from my sessions, sitting sentinel right outside the door to ensure I didn’t run my ass out of there. Liam, my younger brother, took it upon himself to drag me out of the house whenever possible. Hiking, biking or even for a quick bite to eat alongside his son—my nephew—who was the bright star who dragged me out of that miserable, dark place.

They never let up, relentless in their delivery.

My family weren’t big on communication, however, their actions always showed their care, their love.

It was a slow progression, but I finally got to a place where I could actually look myself in the mirror without feeling disgust. And so, my healing journey began.

Over the years, I had been promoted to the head of the physiotherapy department, pouring all my energy into my passion, the work I loved. I was closer than ever with my family, especially my nephew. That spoilt shit was the spitting image of Liam, and took advantage of that wattage smile every chance he got.

I was… content. Reconciled to the modicum of happiness I was able to steal for myself.

Recently, though, my family had been on my back about moving on, to accept my actions and maybe be open to finding someone. What they didn’t understand was my inability to commit to another.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t let her go.Never.

Now, with Alexis abruptly thrust back into my world, old, dangerous feelings began to stir just at the sight of her, and I knew I was fucked.

She had ason. Probably a husband.

And yet, I didn’t seem to care. I wanted her—still. After all those years.

The alarming revelation jolted me back to the present, and my mouth was moving before I could stop it.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.Shit!That sounded way to brash.

“We came in overnight. My dad, he—he had a stroke.”

“Phil? Oh, Lex, I’m sorry,” the old nickname flowing out without my knowledge.

Then, she sniffled, holding back emotion. Above anything, I wanted to pull her into my arms, protect her from it all. But that wasn’t my role anymore.

Austin stared at me. “Do you know my papa?”

I winked. “Sure do. Your papa is one of the strongest men I know. He will get through this.”

And like all kids, the questions kept going. “How do you know him?”

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