Page 76 of The One for Me
“Honey, I’m home!” I call out as I open the door.
“That’s something I could get used to. You coming home to me every day.” Sean’s smiling face greets me as I enter the house.
“My thoughts exactly.”
His arms wrap around my waist, and he pulls me close. “You have a good day?”
“Yeah, Syd came to the office, I had an interesting phone call, and then I picked up pizza.”
“A phone call?” Sean asks.
“My dad.”
“And?”
I play with one of the buttons on the front of his Henley. “He wants us to come and talk with my mother.”
“What does your mom want?”
I shrug. “World peace.”
Sean lets out a throaty chuckle. “Yeah, I don’t believe that.”
“I don’t know, but Dad asked, and I have never really been good at saying no to him.”
His thumb rubs the area on my lower back. “I’ll do whatever you want. If you’d like to talk to her, then you should.”
“Does anyone ever want to talk to her? No. But I think it’s been long enough, and if we’re going to keep dating, I’d like to have my parents’ blessing.”
On the ride home from Jasper’s, I thought a lot about the call and what it all means. My mother and I used to be close. She believed in me, and I lost that. I made mistakes, but to her, they’ve been unforgivable. I’m tired of trying to make life easier for everyone else. The mistakes were made, the damage was done, and we’ve all found ways to go on with our lives, it’s time she does too.
“I’ve lived with not having said my piece for a long time. There are so many things I wish I had said to my father. I know it wouldn’t have changed anything, but it might have made me feel better about myself and the choices I made. I’m glad you’re going to say what you need to.”
My hand lifts to his cheek. “I love you, Sean Arrowood. You and your brothers have done beautiful things. You’ve done everything right. I know that you wish you could’ve said something, but he would’ve never heard you.”
“I love you too. I know that. So, I live to make my mother proud.”
“She would be. I know this in the very depths of my soul.”
All she ever wanted was for them to be close with each other and to be kind to others.
He gives me a kiss and then smiles. “I think she would be too, which is why I think that you should make amends with yours. Life is too short, and regret is the burden for the survivor. I would hate to see anything happen to your mother and you end up having to carry that or vice versa.”
I agree with him.
“You’re right.”
Sean grins. “Say that again.”
“Not likely.”
“Why? It’s easy, you just say, Sean, you’re right . . . as usual.”
“Sean, you’re an idiot,” I reply.
“Not quite correct, but I’ll let it slide this time.”
I roll my eyes. “How magnanimous of you.”
