Page 43 of Objection

“I’d love that, Ma. Absolutely.”

“Good.” I heard the smile in her voice, and it made me smile. “I will see you this weekend then.”

“I . . . I can’t wait.”

It took me a second to lower the phone from my ear after she ended the call.

“You good, princess?” Kaos asked as he walked into the room.

Smiling, I blinked back my happy tears as I stood and hugged him. “I am absolutely great.”

Kaos

Thanksgiving

Pride filled me as I watched my parents interact with Serenity, Taylor, and Yolanda. Yolanda had been coming to Rose Valley Hills every weekend for about six weeks. I loved seeing Serenity and Taylor be like little girls with their mom all over again. Even if Walter never came around, it meant the world to me that Yolanda was no longer allowing his ego and stubbornness to keep her out of her daughters’ lives. They were thriving here without her, but they’d been significantly happier now that she was coming around.

As if Yolanda felt eyes on her, she looked around the room and smiled at me. I took a sip of my cognac as she headed in my direction. I believed she had a good heart and the right intentions. Unfortunately, she let her desire to be loyal to her husband drive a wedge between her and her daughters temporarily, but she was finally making things better.

“Hey,” she spoke, as if we hadn’t been talking sporadically throughout the day.

Smiling, I set my drink on the round high top bar table. “Hey.”

“Um . . . Walter is here. Well, not here, but in Rose Valley Hills.”

“For what?”

Her eyes rolled as she said, “He said he didn’t want to be alone today.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “You about to head out to meet him?”

“Actually, I was wondering if he could come here. He promised to apologize and be on his best behavior. I believe his humility took so long because I condoned his behavior, though that wasn’t my intention. Now that I’m coming to visit the girls and making it clear I don’t agree with the way he’s been treating them, he says he wants to change.”

“What he says and what he does are two different things. I don’t mind him coming if he’s genuinely going to apologize, but I won’t show him the same grace I did back in Jasper Lane.”

“I understand, and I promise, he will be on his best behavior.”

I nodded my agreement and told her she could give him the address. This was the last place he’d show his ass if he tried that slick shit.

About forty minutes passed before the doorbell rang. As Mama mentioned not expecting anyone else, I headed to the door. As soon as I opened it and saw him, I saw the difference in him. He might have had the strength to live without his daughters, but the lack of his wife had already started to take a toll on him.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” he said.

“Happy Thanksgiving.”

“I wasn’t the most welcoming the first time we met. For that, I apologize.”

“Apology accepted, but if you’re here to disrespect my woman or my little sister—”

“That’s not what I’m here for,” he promised, lifting his hands in surrender. “I’ve seen the error of my ways and I’m here to apologize.”

“Alright,” I agreed, opening the door wider for him to come inside.

I led him to the sitting room where everyone was gathered before dinner. Serenity’s mouth dropped and Taylor almost spilled her drink. Covering my mouth to keep from laughing, I led Walter over to my parents first. After introducing them, we went over to the girls. My arm wrapped around Serenity as she stared at her father.

“Girls . . .” Walter started, looking from one to the other. “I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting. My feelings were hurt because you all were leaving me, the family, and our businesses. Businesses that I take pride in keeping as the Monroe legacy. Add my ego and stubbornness to that, and I’ve been a fool. I didn’t know how to express how I felt—”

“Your feelings being hurt is no excuse for your bad behavior,” Serenity interrupted him to say, “but I know putting aside your pride to come here and apologize took a lot, so we can try to restore our relationship, but it’s definitely going to take some work.”

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