I don’t know if there’s a relationship to be had between Gareth and me, but I want to find out. If he’s open to it, I want Rhys to know that I’m his brother.
“You didn’t,” I assure her with a squeeze of my hand on her knee.
“We’re more alike than I realized.” She reaches for my hand. “Our parents aren’t perfect.”
“We’ll do our best to do right by our kids.”
Her head tilts. “Our kids?”
“I didn’t think I could be a father.” I pat my chest. “I didn’t know how long I’d live before I met you.”
Her gaze falls to the bandage on my chest.
“I knew I needed the surgery, but it was a risk I wasn’t willing to take.” I swallow hard. “The night before I collapsed, I had decided to go through with the surgery. I was set to book it, but fate stepped in and made it happen sooner rather than later.”
She looks to the ceiling. “Thank you, fate.”
“Thank you, fate, for bringing this woman into my life.”
She leans forward to press her lips against mine. “I love you.”
“I love you,” I say to her. “Forever, lilac. Forever and a day.”
Chapter 54
Liam
I’m bouncing off the walls in my apartment.
I’ve been home for a week. I’ve spent much of that time with my siblings and parents trying to work through our new reality.
I didn’t see a need to wait to address the elephant in the room.
I may not have Wolf family blood running through my veins but I’m as much a son to my mom and dad as their other kids.
Nicholas and Sebastian took the news of my adoption better than I expected. Nikita’s still processing and my mom went from vehement denial to begging me for forgiveness.
How do you forgive a person for giving you a life filled with love and support?
I thanked her over and over and promised her that I’d be her son until one of us takes our last breath.
My dad still can’t recall his drunken confession.
He’s sworn off everything but a beer on special occasions. That makes me wonder if there’s more secrets buried deep inside of him.
If there are, they are his to live with.
Gareth and I have talked twice since I made it home. We’ll meet up in
a couple of weeks to have dinner with Rhys.
My younger brother knows about the sacrifice our parents made for me.
They weren’t in a position to offer me anything but an uncertain future on the day I was born, so they put me into the loving arms of two people who were already raising three children.
I told Gareth I was grateful to him and Deidre.
He’s thankful that I’m willing to give him a chance to be a friend now.