Page 150 of Finding Redemption

She eyes us skeptically. “What’s wrong, Walker? Are you all right?”

“Walker? Hey, Ava. Riley,” Dad greets us all, making me fidget.

I rub the back of my neck, trying to dissipate my tension. “I need to tell you something. It’s been eating at me forever.” I sit down at the bar. “We just left the hospital. Reese was attacked at the crisis center. She’s all right, but she’s pregnant. About twelve weeks.”

“Oh, Walker. Are you going to try to work things out?” Mom sits beside me.

My chest tightens. “I hope so. I want to. I’m more positive than ever she loves me.”

“What makes you think that?” Dad leans over the counter, listening.

I shrug. “She told me so before she stormed away from me.”

Riley winks at me. “There ya go, player.”

I roll my eyes. “I know I’ve disappointed you both more than any of us. I’m sorry for hurting you both and the embarrassment I’ve caused.” I struggle, fighting the building tears.

“Walker, honey. We love you. No more and no less than your siblings.” Mom takes my hand, making me smile.

My breath hitches. “I need to tell you a story. One that Reese begged me to tell you. She’s the only other person I’ve shared this with.” My hands shake uncontrollably. I lace my fingers, fighting to hold them steady.

“You can tell us anything, you know that.” Dad studies me.

“It’s about Sallie.” I wipe away the tear escaping from the corner of my eye. “I knew she was being abused.” A shiver washes over me. My lips tremble.

“Walker?” Mom leans in. “We suspected it also.”

My eyes flash to hers. “No, there’s no way.”

“Son, has this bothered you all these years?” Dad walks around, sitting on the other side of me.

My body stiffens. “Yes, because I didn’t protect her. I witnessed it firsthand.”

“Sweetheart, we’re so sorry. We had no idea you knew anything.” Mom squeezes my hand.

“The fact is, Walker, being a parent is tough as hell. You worry every day if they’re hungry or if they’re scared. And when something happens, you know in your gut it isn’t right. That’s the hardest part.” Dad’s face looks worn as his brows furrow.

“We weren’t positive, but she kept showing up with bruises. She begged for you to come there instead of coming home.” Mom trembles, and Riley hands her a tissue. “I’m sorry you had to see that, honey. It must have been terrible.”

“We asked her several times. She denied it each time. When your child hurts, you feel the pain as if it’s it happening to you. The pain she must’ve endured weighed on me especially. I’m her father and I couldn’t protect her. I couldn’t legally do anything. She said he wasn’t hurting her.” Dad’s face looks weathered and worn as tears roll down his face.

“She acted as if she could do it on her own, like her love would save him. Bruises, small cuts, scrapes, hell even her hair was thinning. He was more than likely pulling her by it. I went up to see her one day, and I noticed a few bruises and decided to ask her point-blank.”

Dad shatters. For the first time, my father looks his age. Wrinkles crease his forehead, weighed down by his admission. As tears fill his face, there’s not a dry eye in the place.

“She told me she fell at work. I begged her, Walker. Told her I’d protect her. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. It’s like an addiction. Until they agree to get help, there’s nothing you can do. My hands were tied until it was too late. We lost her, and I blamed myself.”

Mom stands, moving next to him. She holds onto his arm like a lifeline. “We didn’t have a shred of evidence. There was nothing we could do. What’s worse, it would have been his first offense, so he would’ve been out before the ink dried. The laws are so much better now.” Mom holds my hand while holding onto Dad.

I bite my lip with worry. “I thought it was my fault. All these years, I kept it deep inside as it festered. Berating myself for not saving her. I should’ve told you about the day we fought. It might’ve changed everything.”

“More than likely, no. Again, the laws on domestic violence have come so far. They’re still not great but then, he would’ve still made bond.” Dad shrugs. My stomach rolls in disgust.

Mom’s brows pull low. “I can’t believe you’ve held this in all this time. Walker, it must have been a special kind of hell you’ve put yourself through.”

“It has been. The thought of letting you all down, especially Sallie, broke me.” I rub the back of my neck. “I thought if I could control every situation, I would save people.”

Mom sniffles. “Well, son. If you let her down, you’re not alone.”