Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“Aubrey seems nice.”
He can’t keep the smile off his lips. “She’s amazing.”
“You’re different, Micah.”
“Yeah. She’s … she’s helped me think a lot about my life.”
“I think that’s a good thing. A great thing.”
“Yeah. It’s long overdue.”
His voice grows softer, and we stand in silence for a minute. Whatever he has to say seems to be stuck in his throat.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
He clears his throat and clenches his jaw, seeming to be working up to whatever it is he has to say. I stand back and give him the time and space to get it out.
“Well, the first thing is I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you and my dad,” he says. “I mean it. You guys are good together, and I’ve never seen him as happy as he is with you.”
“That’s a two-way street. I’ve never been happier in my life.”
“That’s good, Harlow. That’s really good.”
“Thanks.”
“So, listen…” He clears his throat again. “What I also wanted to say was that I owe you an apology and—”
“You don’t have to apologize—”
“I do. I owe you that much at least,” he says. “I treated you horribly. I was awful to you. I see and understand that now, and I want to say I’m sorry. For everything.”
His voice is slow and halting but rings with sincerity. My heart swells and tears well in my eyes for the thousandth time today, choking me with emotion. Unable to form anything resembling a coherent word, I throw my arms around Micah and pull him into a tight, warm embrace. And just like that, years’ worth of angst and animosity fall away.
“Thank you,” I finally manage to croak out. “That means a lot.”
“It’s the least I could do. But I promise that I’m going to make up for being such an asshole to you and my dad,” he replies.
I take his hand and squeeze it. “I think you already have.”
He smiles and lets out a breath of relief. It’s as if the thousand-pound weight he’s been carrying on his shoulders for so long has been lifted. He seems lighter. Freer. And his smile is easier and more genuine.
“Come on,” I say. “Let’s get back to the party. And I want to hear all about Aubrey.”
“She’s changed my life,” he says.
“I can’t wait to hear all about her.”
As we walk over to where Hunter is introducing Aubrey to the rest of his guys, my heart skips a beat in my chest as I watch him interacting with Micah. The wall between them has crumbled. The gap has been bridged. And they finally look like a father and son.
I didn’t know I could be any happier or that this day could get any better. But it has. And I know it’s only going to get better from here. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this bounty of joy, but I’m grateful for it.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
HUNTER
Five Years Later
I pace the waiting room floor, my heart in my throat and my stomach down in my shoes. Every time the door to the room opens, I look up, expecting to see Marcy or one of the other nurses stepping in to tell me what’s going on. And every fucking time, I’m disappointed. Like that old song goes, “The waiting is the hardest part.”
The door opens again, and Micah comes through, still wearing his turnout coat and pants. He walks over and gives me a hug, still smelling of smoke and fire. He sees me and laughs.
“You got kicked out of the delivery room again, didn’t you?” he asks.
“Fucking nurses said I was making them nervous.”
“I can see that. You’re making me nervous.”
“Laugh it up, funny boy,” I tell him but chuckle softly. “I can’t wait to throw this back in your face when you and Aubrey have one.”
“Bite your tongue, old man. We’re not there yet.”
I wave him off but laugh. “Just come from a scene?”
He nods. “Just a small electrical fire. No big deal. Cap said it was all right.”
“You didn’t have to come, kid.”
“The hell I didn’t,” he says. “Like I wasn’t going to be here for you.”
I clap him on the arm and give him a tight smile then start pacing again. Every nerve ending in my body jangles like an old set of keys, my gut so tight, it’s painful.
“You need to relax, Dad,” he says. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“I know, I know. I just … it’s fucking hard. You’d think it would be easier the second time around, you know?”
He laughs. “You’d think so.”
I turn and look at my son. We’ve come a long way these past five years. We’ve grown close and our relationship has never been better. For the first time in our lives, we really feel like a father and a son.