Page 35 of Forget Me Not
“Go after her, Drake.” I turned to find my mother standing in the doorway. “That girl has never stopped loving you, and I suspect she never will. This is a shock to all of us. The pain will pass, but only if you show her the love in your heart. Your dad and I will take Danny out for ice cream—to give you two time to hash this out. Can you tell her something for me?”
“Yes.”
“Let her know Megan called and checked in on her. She doesn’t know what happened, she thinks Mackenzie and you were on a trip.”
“Thanks.” I started up the steps and paused. “Tell Danny I love him, and I’ll fix this.”
“I know you will. Now go. Make her see your heart.”
I turned and hurried up the steps, pausing at the door to the spare bedroom. I could hear her sobs through the wooden barrier, the sound driving another nail into my heart.
“Mackenzie? Kenz?” I slowly opened the door.
Mackenzie was curled up on the bed, turned away from me. Her body shook with her cries as she let her emotions rein control.
“Baby.” I kicked off my shoes and climbed in beside her, pulling her body taut to mine. “I’m so sorry.”
Her whimpers grew louder as she let her emotions go in my arms. I held her, afraid to let go and lose her for good. She shook with each gasp between cries, making me hurt with her.
“I prayed for this,” she sputtered. Her voice hoarse from crying.
“Prayed for what?” I pressed a kiss to her head.
“You. I prayed for you. Every night. A part of me always hoped you were out there and one day you would come home to me. And now...” She rolled to face me. “You're here.”
“I’m here and I’m not going anywhere again.”
“Is this real?” Her hand cupped my face. “You look different, yet it’s you.”
“Once I shave my beard and take out the contacts, you’ll see—its me.”
“That’s it. Just contacts and facial hair?”
“Mostly. My body is different too. I’m not the same scrawny kid you fell in love with.”
“The body is nice, though.” She laughed, and it sounded like music to my ears.
“Can you forgive me?”
“I don’t know, Drake. It hurts so much.”
“Don’t ask me to leave. Please.” I laced my fingers with hers and kissed her knuckles. “I’ll do whatever you need, but don’t shut me out. I want to know you and Danny. I’ve wasted ten years; I won’t waste anymore.”
“Danny was so excited to tell me you were alive.” She forced a smile. “I wouldn’t ask you to go. I don’t want you to. I just need…” Mackenzie closed her eyes.
“What do you need?”
“You. I think I just need you.” She opened her eyes and held my gaze. “And that scares me. I should be furious about your betrayal. But all I can think is that God is giving me what I asked for.”
I leaned forward and captured her lips with mine. “I love you, Kenz. I never stopped.”
“Forget me not… you said that right before you left and never came back. And I didn’t.”
“Didn’t what?”
“Forget you.”
I crushed my mouth to hers, claiming her in a searing kiss. The past, present, and future collided in that moment. I knew, without a doubt, that I was home.
