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“Sadie has the kindest heart of anyone I know. And I admire the way she walks through the world, like everything is possible and all you have to do is believe.”

I glance at Priscilla. She’s wearing a small smile, but the twinkle in her eye is all I need to know he’s won her over.

“She makes every day better. She makes me better. And I’d be the luckiest man alive to spend the rest of my life with her as my partner. Which is why I’m seeking your blessing to ask your daughter to marry me.”

“I hope your vows are as poignant.” I chuckle.

“Eli, that’s not how you’re supposed to grant him your approval,” Priscilla scolds, then says to Jonathan, “That was lovely. And I’m happy to hear you care for her as you do. But I do have to ask…”

Oof. Here we go.

“She is not perfect. Nor are you, or anybody, for that matter. How do you rectify your differences? What do you do, or plan to do, if she acts in a manner you don’t care for? Or chooses a life path you don’t anticipate? Because as wonderful as she is, she is often pointing in one direction while walking in the other.”

Jonathan smiles, recognizing our daughter’s eccentricities. I’ve been constantly entertained by the inner workings of that child. Never predictable. Always inquisitive. Sometimes precocious. But her quirks are what make her the one I love to take walks with in the park—she always spots something I never notice. Or sit next to during a movie—everything moves her to tears, happy or sad. And now I’m seated across from the man who’s seeking permission to care for and love her for the rest of their lives.

Or until their marriage ends. I would never put the pressure of forever on either of them.

“I respect her. And I don’t expect us to be the same or want the same things even five years from now. But I promised her to always be honest and communicate with her. I’m not perfect at it, but I’m getting better. And she’s patient with me. I want her to grow and become whoever she chooses to be. And I think it will make me that much better too.”

Priscilla clears her throat and takes a sip of her lemonade, hiding the shine in her eyes. She’s not easy to win over. But there’s something about Jonathan Reeves that’s earned a piece of her heart. I’m trying to be as open and trusting. As Jonathan just stated: I’m not perfect, but I’m getting better.

“I believe my husband would like to speak with you before we provide our nod of approval.” Priscilla stands, leans down to kiss my cheek, and whispers, “Don’t make me regret this.” I provide a tight smile as she walks away.

My wife’s straws of forgiveness are running out. I don’t want there to be an end to our forever. I love her more than anything. I’ve been earning my way back into her good graces since the night she saw the secret I kept from her spread on our kitchen table. Which is why she can never know the contents of this conversation.

“Let’s go for a walk.” I stand and gesture toward the garden. Privacy requires distance from the open window. So it’s best we move away from it.

I can detect his nerves—a bit of fear, agitation and impatience. After two decades working with criminals, I’ve developed a sixth sense when it comes to picking up on the emotions of my clients. With a few exceptions. Jonathan isn’t one of them.

I gesture to the lounge seating around the fire pit. Jonathan reluctantly lowers onto one of the curved sectionals, and I take a seat on the one beside him.

“Sadie’s good for you. Everything you said about her was from your heart, I can tell. And you’re good for her too. To put you out of your misery, we’re looking forward to having you join our family.”

Jonathan is still. It takes him a minute to process what I’ve said. Then he visibly relaxes. “Really?”

I nod with a chuckle. “Really. But don’t tell Priscilla I consented. She wants to be the one to provide our blessing.”

Jonathan smiles. “Okay. Then, uh… what are we talking about?”

I’ve been representing Jonathan since the first time he got in trouble in grade school for fighting. Samantha called me. She never wanted her son in the system. So I did everything I could to keep him out of juvie. But his temper always won out. Just like his father’s.

I tried to steer him on a better path. I’m not certain what kind of impression I made. He got in trouble less and less as he got older. Can’t say if it was maturity or Collin de-escalating a fight before it started—that boy can even talk Magda into helping her cook. He’s the only one she’ll allow with her in her sacred kitchen.

“We haven’t had an opportunity to talk about what happened at the end of your senior year.” He’s only just started returning to Hollis this past school year so he can visit with Samantha and Ryan, and when he isn’t with them, Sadie won’t let him out of her sight. “This is a long time coming.”

“Yeah,” Jonathan answers shortly, his defenses up. I deserve that. He has every right not to trust me.

“I’m sorry.”

He narrows his eyes, like he’s waiting for the caveat.

“I betrayed you and my daughter. And I am very sorry. I was wrong about you and what was happening in that house. I swear to you, I did not know he was still harming you. I made an assumption and acted on my fears. I should have come to you first.”

“What did you assume exactly? That he’d suddenly changed after ten years of beating me? I came to you that July with an envelope full of pictures and wrote down exactly what he did to me. You promised you’d help me get him out of our lives. But you didn’t. You got your position, and then did nothing.”

Stating the case is something I do well in front of a jury. I have a reputation for being persuasive. I’m tempted to do that now to sway him to see the circumstances as I want him to, but that would be just as dishonest as what I’ve told my children over the years to get them to forgive me.

“You’re right. I was hoping—blindly—that Hal had finally calmed with age. Especially considering he’s built a company that he cannot risk losing if he’s arrested. I thought I knew your father. I couldn’t bring myself to believe it was as bad as you indicated, even when you presented those pictures.