I smile. That much is true. No matter what happens, at least I’ll have Nate at my side. At least I’ll know that when he’s at my side, I’ll never be alone in the world. And with our baby growing inside me, I have our child too. I have a family now, my chosen family. No matter what my dad decides to do, at least I won’t lose everything. But I’m praying that he sees things from my perspective. I’m praying he at least tries to understand where I’m coming from. If he can manage that, then we can build something beautiful all together, as a family.
The boat comes to a stop and the other passengers get off. My phone buzzes and I see it’s a text from my dad, saying he can’t wait to see me, and I feel guilt stab at my heart.
I don’t think he’s going to be so pleased to see me when he finds out what I’ve been up to in his absence. Maybe in his shoes, I’d feel upset and angry, betrayed too. Who knows. But I know that I’d also try and understand. I’d want my daughter to be happy. And I am happy. Happier than I’ve ever been.
It’ll stay that way so long as my dad supports me.
But it seems less and less likely to me. As the final passengers disembark, Nate gently tugs me toward the ramp that will lead us to shore. I’m trembling, and my free hand instinctively goes to my stomach, like I’m trying to protect my baby from what’s about to happen. I don’t want my child to feel the anguish I’m going through. I want to protect them from it all.
I can barely even protect myself.
But Nate’s hand is mine, and that’s all I need. I know that he’s going to protect me from anything that comes our way. I’m not ready for this at all, but I let Nate lead the way, and it helps a little. He makes me feel capable of the impossible. That’s what I’m going to cling to as we face my dad.
I catch sight of him all too soon.
He’s standing alone on the dock, squinting his eyes to try and spot me coming. I catch the moment his eyes lock on me and I want to run away. I want to get back on the boat and sail away forever. Because when I see the hurt in his eye, the realization that I’m holding hands with his best friend makes me feel like the worst person in the world.
“It’s going to be alright,” Nate whispers. “I promise you.”
But it doesn’t feel that way right now. I try to catch my dad’s eye, but he’s deliberately looking away from me now like he can’t even bear to look at me. Of course, he was going to react this way. He was never going to be okay with what we’ve done.
“Dad…” I whisper, about to rush forward to go and greet him. But before I can even move, I watch him turn his back on me. He doesn’t look back. He doesn’t falter. He just begins walking away, like he’s leaving me behind for good.
It’s like he saw a stranger walking off the boat and let me go without a second thought. I want to call his name, but it seems to get lodged in my throat.
And in my chest, I feel my heart shatter.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Nate
I feel anger surge up inside me as I watch Tara’s father walk away from us. Why is he being such a coward? He hasn’t even heard what we have to say and he’s abandoning his daughter? Doesn’t he care that she’s the happiest she’s ever been? Doesn’t he care that I’m the reason for that?
I know what’s running through his mind. He thinks I’ve corrupted his daughter. To him, that’s the only explanation for what’s happened. Just because his friend has fallen for a girl twenty years younger than him, who happens to be his daughter. Just because she feels the same way I, her father’s best friend, feel about her…why does that have to be so wrong? We both want this. We’re both happy.
Why can’t he be happy for us?
“This is ridiculous,” I grunt, rushing down the ramp and pulling Tara with me. “We’re going to talk to him.”
“He clearly doesn’t want to talk to us.”
“I don’t care. He hasn’t even given us a chance to explain ourselves. He’s acting like a child. He needs to grow up. This has been going on for too long, Tara. You’ve lived in fear of his reactions for your entire life, and now I can see why. Well, I’m fixing that right now. He doesn’t get to hurt you and control you like this anymore.”
I break into a jog forcing Tara to keep up with me as I tug her along. Still, she doesn’t try to break away from my grasp. I don’t know what’s running through her head right now, but it can’t have been easy watching her dad walk away from her like that. But I won’t allow him to get away with that.