Page 93 of Force of Nature

“Dad,” I start, but he cuts me off before I can say more.

“There’s a reason I agreed to help Thad. In a way he reminded me a little bit of myself when I was younger. When he first came here he was so withdrawn. He barely spoke. Hardly came out of his room when he wasn’t working. He kept to himself and that was fine by me. He worked hard and stayed clean and that was all I asked of him. But then you came home,” he pauses. “I watched you two together. Saw the way he looked at you. The way he came to life before my very eyes. I don’t know what happened between you two, but whatever it is I hope you understand that he is not his addiction. Thad is a good man who deserves the chance to prove that he’s more.”

“Maybe someone should tell him that.” I frown, realizing that all this time my father was assuming it was me who ended things. “I wanted more. I practically begged him for more but he said he couldn’t see a future with me.”

“When did he tell you this?”

“When he came to North Carolina. It was shortly after he moved out.”

“Laken.”

“It’s okay, Dad. Really. I just want to move past it. Focus on my career. He made his choice and that’s that.”

“Sometimes we have to fight for the things we want, honey.”

“I’m not going to fight for someone who’s made it perfectly clear they have no desire to fight for me.”

“For what it’s worth, I truly believe that he loves you. Maybe he’s scared. Maybe he’s not quite ready to forgive himself for everything he’s done. Whatever it is, I’m sure he’ll eventually realize his mistake.”

“Well, I’m certainly not going to wait around until he does.” I cluck my tongue to the roof of my mouth and guide Cocoa around. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, Dad. I really do. But he made it clear where he stood and I’ve made my peace with that,” I say, knowing I’m not anywhere close to finding peace.

“Okay.” He nods once before turning Sheldon around and lining him up next to Cocoa. “What do you say we head back and I take you to town for ice cream?”

“Ice cream?” I question.

“Why not? We used to always go get ice cream together.”

“Yeah, when I was like ten.”

“And.” He grins, the action reaching his eyes. “You’ll always be my baby girl. No matter how old you get.”

“Fine.” I huff playfully. “But only because I’ve been dying for a mint chocolate chip milkshake for weeks.” I smile before squeezing my legs together, causing my horse to move forward. “Race ya to the house,” I call over my shoulder seconds before Cocoa takes off in a full blown run, leaving my father and Sheldon literally eating our dust.

—-

“So I heard Dad talkedto you.” Chris steps up on the front porch and slides down onto the porch swing next to me.

“About? You need to be more specific than that.”

“Thad.” He gives me a knowing look.

“Dear lord, can no one in this family keep things to themselves?” I whine, throwing my hands in the air dramatically.

“Relax, he didn’t say anything to us. I overheard him talking to Mom.”

“And what exactly did you hear?”

“Not much really.” He shrugs. “I think he’s worried about you.”

“Why would he be worried about me?” I question, honestly a bit confused.

“Because he can see what everyone else can, Lake. You haven’t been yourself since you got here. What’s going on?” He nudges his shoulder with mine.

“Like you have to ask,” I grind out, crossing my arms over my chest as I lean back against the swing.

“He loves you. You know that, right?”

“If I have to listen to one more person tell me he loves me I think I’m going to lose my freaking mind,” I all but scream out in frustration. “If he loved me so damn much he would be here.”

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