“About?”
He watches Harper for a long moment, contemplating. “I’m waiting for the pregnancy test before I let myself get too excited. But I’ve been thinking… If we have a daughter, we’ll name her Clara.”
Harper gasps, smiling at him. “I love that idea. It’s perfect.”
“So do I,” I add. “Your mom would have loved it too. I wish she could see you right now. She’d be proud of you.”
Harper laughs. “I don’t know about that. I’m not living the life she envisioned for me.”
“She would definitely be proud,” Felix agrees with me, taking another sip of his drink. “If there’s one thing I know was true about your mother, it’s that she loved unconditionally. In her heart, all Clara truly wanted was for you to be happy.”
Harper nods, curling deeper into my arms. “You’re right. I hope I can be even half the mother she was.”
I kiss her temple. “You’ll be an incredible mother.”
Footsteps approach, crunching on the stone pathway. Dad is heading our way with eyes set on us. I’m notsure what he’s coming to say, but from the serious look on his face, it has to be something important.
“Jesus. Here were go,” Felix mutters. “Harper, you should return to the wedding. Let me and Tyler deal with whatever this is.”
Dad joins us, hearing the end of Felix’s words. “I’d like Harper to stay. There’s something I need to say to you all.”
Harper remains in my arms but turns to face Dad.
Felix pushes off the wall. “This wedding is hardly the time or place to discuss family issues.”
“I’m not here to start an argument. I’d like you to hear me out.”
Felix clicks his tongue, not believing a word out of our father’s mouth. I’m not sure I believe Dad either.
“All right. I’m listening,” Felix says.
Dad pauses, choosing his words carefully, then clears his throat, the sound tight with nerves. “The way I handled Paul Ferguson’s death… I was only trying to protect our family. I know I went about things in a bad way?—”
“Felix is right. This isn’t the right time,” I cut in, keeping calm but knowing I won’t remain this way for long if we dive into issues from the past.
“Tyler, I need you to hear me. It was wrong of me to ask that you lie to Harper and your brothers?—”
“You didn’t ask. Youforced. Fuck, I told you we’re not discussing this here,” I shout, groaning a second later, frustrated with myself for getting heated at this wedding. I take a deep breath, keeping Harper in myarms and forcing myself to be calm. “I was young and didn’t know any better. I was scared.”
“I know. I should never have put you in that position. Felix, when we argued on the phone a few weeks ago, what you said stayed with me. You were right. I knew you three were close after Clara’s death. I knew sending you to Westbridge and forcing Tyler to lie to Harper would damage that bond. Yet I did it anyway. Seeing you all together now, I realize the full weight of that decision and how it was a mistake. That was a traumatic period in each of your lives. Instead of helping you through it, I made it harder. I did a terrible job taking care of you all.”
I’m shocked to not only hear my father speak so openly about this but also admit his faults. My hands are clammy and my breath is uneven. I hug Harper tighter, only now realizing she too is hot.
“I know an apology can’t fix the past,” Dad continues, directing his words at each of us. “I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I’m incredibly sorry for all the pain I’ve caused. Asking for forgiveness isn’t fair. I just hope hearing me take responsibility might give you some small measure of peace.”
Silence stretches between us at the end of the speech, no one knowing quite what to say. I can hear my own heartbeat thumping in my ears. Felix, Harper, and I exchange a glance, none of us sure what to do with the apology we never thought we’d hear. I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive my father. But hearing him take responsibility is a start.
I gulp, finding my voice. “Thank you. I can only speak for myself, but I do appreciate the apology.”
“Agreed,” Harper adds.
Felix exhales a long breath while scrubbing a hand through his blond hair. He looks away from our father, out to the black night. I’m not sure what to expect from him. There’s tension in his jaw. I can sense his frustration.
Yet he surprises me by turning back to Dad and nodding. “Thank you.”
Dad gives a small nod of his own, the moment hanging awkwardly. It feels like the conversation might end here, but Dad shifts his weight, gathering himself. “I’d also like to make it clear that you all have my support now. Amabella’s too. She wanted to join me for this conversation but I thought it was important I speak with you alone.”
We thank him again. As soon as he returns to the wedding, Harper’s focus switches to me and Felix. “Are you both okay?”
