Epilogue
Samuel
Seven years later
“Are you sure you want to do this, Parker?” I ask as I look into her eyes and search for a hint of doubt. I don’t see any, but I know she’s nervous. “We can leave right now.”
“No, I want to do this. It’s time.”
“I’ll be by your side the whole time. I’m not going anywhere.”
She smiles softly as she nods. “I know.”
I take her hand in mine, and we walk into the nearly empty restaurant and make our way to the back. I’d specifically asked for a private room today, and we all wanted to be on neutral ground. When the manager of the restaurant comes over to greet us, we keep the chat brief, and he shows us to our room. As soon as he opens the door, I see Parker’s father stand up from the table.
I feel her hesitate for just a second before she takes a deep breath and we walk toward them. There’s not an embrace or a tearful moment, but there is a calm in the room as we all take a seat.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet me,” Louis says.
I squeeze Parker's hand under the table, and she nods. “It’s been a long time.”
“Too long.” There’s regret in his voice, and I’m glad to hear it. “But I want to make this right.” He takes a deep breath and looks directly at Parker. “Your husband was right, even all those years ago when I didn’t want to see it. It took me destroying my life and having to live the consequences of it to see it.”
“I heard Mom left you.” Parker’s voice is even and strong, and I’m so fucking proud of her.
“Yes, last I heard she was remarried to someone, and they were traveling through Europe.”
“Why did you want to see me? After all these years, why now?” Parker squares her shoulders and squeezes my hand back. “Do you need money?”
“No,” he answers quickly. “Your husband has done enough. More than he ever should have.”
When my wife cuts her eyes to me, I clear my throat. “I did pay off his debts the first time I offered.”
“You never said anything,” she says softly.
“I asked him not to,” Louis answers for me. “I knew I fucked up, and I wanted to prove to you that I could be a good man. Maybe not a good father, but a good enough person that you wouldn’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you.” The words are automatic, but I believe her. Parker doesn’t have a hateful bone in her beautiful body.
“I did all the things that Samuel said I should do. I went to therapy, I got help for my addiction, and I’ve stood on my own feet for the past five years. Since then, I’ve volunteered my time and tried to give back. It’s not enough, but it’s a start, and one that I hope can help bridge our divide.”
“I’ve had people watching you,” I say, and Louis nods as if expecting this. “But you’re not lying. You’ve been doing everything I asked, and I can see that you’ve made an effort to change for the better.” I look at Parker and then back to him. “It’s up to my wife if she’ll let you back into her life, but it’s up to the both of us if we decide to let you near our children.”
I can see tears form in his eyes as he dips his head and begins to nod. “I understand.”
“There’s a lot of healing that needs to happen,” I offer, and I feel him look up as I face Parker. “As a father, I can’t imagine my life without my children, so I know what you’re missing with not having Parker in your life.” When I turn to him, I see he’s looking right at her. “And she’s more incredible with every day that passes.”
“The father I was to you has been my biggest regret. I’d like a chance to do it differently.”
“Can we start with this?” Parker asks. “I’d like to get to know who you are now, versus the man I knew you to be. Can we start here, and then take the future as it comes?”
“I’d like that very much,” Louis says, and he swallows back tears.
“Thank you,” Parker says to him and then looks over at me. “And thank you.”
“For what?” I ask, and she smiles.
“For always having my back, even behind the scenes.” She leans forward and kisses my cheek before pressing her face against mine. “For loving me enough so that I never went without,” she whispers in my ear.
“I love you,” I answer softly as I lean back and smile at my wife. “Why don’t we have some lunch?”
“Sounds perfect,” Parker says, and Louis agrees.
It’s late in the evening by the time we make it home, and the sitter has already gotten the kids to bed. After I lock up and check on the kids, I make my way to the master to get ready for bed. Parker is already there sitting in the middle of it wearing one of my old T-shirts.
“You okay?” I ask, and she nods. “It was a heavy day.”
“I just can’t believe how different he was. How much he changed.”
“I think some time and perspective can do that to an old man. And being alone.”
“I can’t believe my mom left him, but she was always in it for the money.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think I am,” she says slowly, and then her smile grows. “You’re a pretty wonderful husband, you know that?”
“I’m glad you think so.” I reach under the bed and pull out the box I’d stashed under there earlier today. “Because I got you something.”
“Our anniversary isn’t for a few more months,” she teases as she takes it excitedly from me.
“You’re wrong; our anniversary is today.”
“But this isn’t the day we met.” Her nose scrunches up in the most adorable way.
“It’s the anniversary of the day I got your package in the mail.”
Her eyes widen as she looks down at the box. “You didn’t!”
“Oh I did. It’s charged up and ready to go.”
She squeals as she rips it open and pulls out a new vibrator. This one is red and shaped like a rose. “How do we even use this?”
“Lie back and let me show you,” I say as I turn it on. She places her finger over the little hole in the center of the petals, and her eyes widen in shock.
“Is that going to suck on my—”
“You’re damn right it is,” I say, pulling her legs out from under her and tugging at her panties.
“God, I love you,” she breathes as she spreads her legs wide and waits patiently.
“I love you too, sweet girl.”
THE END!