Smiling at the memory, he watched the last of the leaves disappear into the barrel. It had been a long time since he’d recalled a happy event. He’d been angry with his dad for so long that he hadn’t allowed any of them to stay around much. Now he wondered if he should have.
This brought back his thoughts about Meg’s family forgiving her because they loved her. She’d be heartbroken if they didn’t. Is that what he’d been doing to his dad; causing extreme pain? Yeah, it was. He hadn’t forgiven his father even though his mom and sister had.
But like Meg, Michael Shaunessy had made a stupid mistake, an error in judgment. He’d immediately fessed up to the sin and begged forgiveness. Mom had certainly been very angry and hurt and it had taken some time before their relationship was free of strain and awkwardness but she’d done it. She loved him and he was sorry and he’d tried to show her every day since how he felt. He’d promised to never make that mistake again. Love had won out.
Except where Chris was concerned. He hadn’t yelled at or punched his dad like he’d wanted, but he’d given him the cold shoulder and basically refused to speak to him for the past five years. Maybe it was time to take a page from his own book and give himself the advice he’d been giving Meg for a while now. If you love someone enough, you forgive them. You give them a second chance.
His mother moved behind him and stared out the window as her husband picked up some broken twigs. She laid her hand on his arm and her eyes grew sad.
“You need to forgive him, Chris.”
“I know.”
Her face turned up in excitement and happiness radiated from her eyes. “Oh, honey, you don’t know how much that will mean to him. You have no idea how much it kills him to think you don’t love him anymore and have no respect for him.”
Recalling all the times Meg had talked about her family and the fear she tried to hide thinking they’d hate her for what she’d done, he decided he had to make amends. What he’d done to his dad all this time sucked.
“To what do we owe this change of heart,” his mother asked curiously.
He gave a tiny smirk and his mother’s eyes twinkled.
“Or should I say who? What’s her name?”
Narrowing his eyes, he stared. How did mothers know these things? “Why are you certain it’s a her?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him the look. The one that saidmothers know everything.
“Her name is Meg. She’s the woman I told you about that helped us with this last case.”
Mom gazed carefully at him and guessed, “You fell in love with her, didn’t you?”
His chuckle had no humor in it. “Yeah,” he admitted, “I did. But I’m not sure exactly how she feels about me. I won’t see her again until the trial but I’m hoping that once that’s done, and I don’t have to be professional anymore, we can figure things out. I just hope what she feels for me isn’t some silly fairy-tale crush that will wither and die with real life.”
“Oh, honey, I hope so too. But if she can get you to actually get over your anger at your father then she must be something special. Tell her what’s in your heart. No woman would be able to refuse you. You’re irresistible.”
“That’s what I kept telling her,” he answered smugly.
Mom laughed and carefully swatted at him so as not to bother his injury. “Oh, you. Now why don’t you go out and talk to your father. Get everything over and done with before you come in for dinner. It will be nice to have us sitting down at the same table and everyone actually speaking to each other.”
He went out to the back porch and took a deep breath. It was time to man up. He walked over to where his father stood.
“Hey, Dad.”
His father looked up, surprise and something else on his face. Pain? Had he caused that?
“Chris. I didn’t realize you were coming home. Does your mother know you’re here?”
Nodding he said, “Yeah, she’s making a big dessert for tonight. Hope it’s okay if I stay for dinner.”
“Of course it is. You’re always welcome here.”
He hadn’t always made his father feel welcome here though, in his own home. He shifted his feet, shoved his hands into his pockets then looked up clearing his throat.
“I’m sorry.”
Confusion crossed his dad’s features. “For what? What happened?”
“I’ve been such a jerk.”
