Page 71 of Trouble Me
“Are you listening? I want to tell you something.”
Shane held his father’s stare. “Yes, I’m listening.”
“I was there the day you were born. You were the tiniest little human I’d ever seen. You scared the shit out of me, quite frankly. But your mother, she knew just how to handle you. She was never scared.” Alan smiled, his eyes going soft as he fell into nostalgia. “She was so beautiful when she held you. I loved her, heart and soul. But there were times I was an ass and made her cry. More times than I care to think about, actually. Being the passionate woman she was, she cursed me many times, before and after we got married, something that almost didn’t happen because of the high-handed Kavanaugh ego I managed to pass to my sons.” He rolled his eyes. “My point is this: if you love her, you make it right. No matter how many times I showed my ass to your mother, I made it right. And she forgave me. Now, I’m not saying it’s going to be easy for you. You have a few more complications than your mother and I had. But you’ll figure it out. And whatever you decide to do to make it right, I stand behind you.”
Shane stared at his father and read between the lines. If Alan stood behind him, that meant KVN did.
“Shane,” Alan said softly, “don’t deny yourself love just because you made a mistake before. Marlene was not the woman you were meant to fall in love with.”
“I didn’t even love her like a man should love his wife.” Even now, it shamed Shane to admit that little tidbit.
Alan nodded. “I know. That’s why I’m telling you. Don’t let what happened before ruin what you have now. Get past that. And make the other situation right, however that may be.” Alan patted Shane’s hand. “Go get her, Shane Connor. If you want that ending you didn’t get before, if you want her, you’ll find a way to get through the challenges. Every man needs the love of a good woman. When you find it, grab it with both hands and don’t let go.” He leaned his head back and smiled at Shane. “I love you, son.”
“I love you too, Dad.” Shane’s voice shook with emotion.
“I’m going home,” Alan whispered, a smile on his face.
The feeling of loss clawed in his throat. Helpless, all he could do was sit there and hold his father’s hand while he closed his eyes and sighed for the final time.
The surge was over.
Chapter 24
Time for New Memories
Emma didn’t know whothe hell kept ringing her doorbell, but she was going to kill them when she found out. She kicked the covers off and stomped down the stairs, muttering under her breath about shovels and dead bodies.
“Stop ringing the damn—” Her ranting came to an abrupt halt when she yanked open the door to find her front porch crowded with all six Reynolds children plus her Aunt Stella. Standing front and center was Noah.
“Good morning to you, too.”
She shoved the bed head hair out of her face and pulled the robe tighter around her, trying in vain to appear less of a train wreck. “Morning,” she mumbled.
Delaney, Mr. DIY himself, stepped next to Noah. He flashed that Hollywood smile that lit up the TV screen every week in a new episode and daily in reruns. “It’s freaking cold out here, could you let us in?”
“Yeah, sorry.” She stepped back to allow the clan of seven into the foyer, the cold air coming in with them. Shutting the door behind the crowd, Emma stood with her back against it. “What are you all doing here?”
