Page 34 of Sweet Redemption
“Son. Don’t let her go.”
Son. Jesus, when was the last time he called me that? “I don’t know if I should. She was adamant she had to leave. Her work—”
“All excuses. Do you honestly think she left for work? I saw the pained look in her eyes when she left. She’s hurting for you and from you. I know that look well. It’s the same look I saw in your mother’s eyes. Now that she’s gone, I will never get a chance to show her—prove to her that I loved her and was sorry for everything I put her through.”
Tears I never know him to have started to fall. I leaned toward my father and wrapped my arms around the man I thought I hated, did hate for the longest time, but who was now crying in my arms. Genuinely broken down, folded over and wept for the loss of my mother.
Bryce and Beth came around and wrapped their arms around us, giving him comfort and support. Several minutes went by before Markus Landry Sr. got a hold of himself, before he spoke straight to me. “It’s been too long for you to stay away, Markus. I—we want you back with us, where you belong. Come home.”
I stared at Bryce, who was nodding in agreement. “Come home.”
It was a decision I had to carefully mull over, but right then I knew I was too damn tired of thinking. “Yes. I’ll come home.” Though, with Charlie, letting her go was the only thing I did right. Because once I settled back down in Chicago, I’d get her back.
