rubs the top of my hand and demands I take deep breaths.
“You don’t have to,” he assures me, squeezing my hand tight. “You can make the decisions here. This isn’t about fate, Charlie. This is about you understanding that life will deal you a card, and sometimes it’s of the lowest kind, and it forces you to make the best of a situation. You’re already better than you were by knowing you needed to call me. You’ve proven what you can accomplish, what you can get through if you believe in yourself and accept what is. Now you’re faced with a crossroads, so what road do you take? Do you take the easy route and run and hide as fast as possible, or do you take the long winding road? In the end, the possibilities are endless.”
Just like that, he places the ultimatum in front of me.
This is my decision, but I know I have already thrown fuel into the fire, and although I’m living this nightmare, Lex’s nightmare is ten times worse. The pain I forced on him is of pure hatred, and why would I do that to the one person I love more than life itself?
“I’ve said things… things to hurt him.”
“But you still love him?”
“I never stopped,” I whisper, bowing my head.
“Charlie,” he says softly. “Choose your destiny and never let go of that. One day this conversation will be history.”
“How do you know that will happen?”
“Because if you really want something, I mean like really want it, you can have it. You just need to find the willpower and strength. Look at the end picture and stop focusing on the pain you’re feeling right now.”
I manage a small smile, knowing he’s right. I’ve done this before, resurrected myself when I thought it was the end. And I’d made promises to my grandmother, to him—the promise to live my life to the fullest.
“I can’t thank you enough, Dr. Edwards, you know… for what you’ve done for me. I mean, my life… you know… I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”
“It wasn’t me, Charlie. I have my faults, too.” He lowers his head, toying with the wedding band on his finger. “You reached out and needed my hand to lead the way, but the walk, the journey, you did that all by yourself. Thank yourself, Charlie, not me.”
Leaning over, careful not to spill our beverages, I hug him tightly. Despite what he just said, my gratitude toward him can’t be ignored. Everything I am today I owe to him. The only way I can repay him is to move forward, find a better place, be that better person. I’ve been given a second chance, and now a third.
“Remember what I said…” he reminds me as I pull away, “… this is your choice, your decision, your destiny. You want something… then you go for it.”
I nod, understanding what I need to do to fix this catastrophe I created. It’s going to be the biggest fight of my life, but if what he says is true, if I look at the end picture, I won’t go down without a fight, without placing every morsel of hope, every bout of faith, every ounce of trust in us.
“Have you spoken to him?” I ask, hesitating.
Dr. Edwards purses his lips. “Yes.”
“Oh…”
“He’s not in a good place, Charlie.”
Of course, he isn’t in a good place. Neither would I be if I found out the woman I love is having a baby with someone else. And just like that, it clicks.
I’d walked a mile in his shoes, feel the pain of knowing exactly that. When I found out he was having a baby with Samantha, it hurt beyond comprehension. But I wasn’t even given a chance to do anything before he disappeared out of my life. No explanation. No goodbye.
“Dr. Edwards, there’s one more thing… I need… a favor.”
“Charlie, you know you can ask for anything.”
“I need… I need you to do a DNA test…” I trail off, ashamed this is even an issue.
Some things are worth fighting for.
When your heart won’t stop loving, then it’s not ready to give up. He doesn’t judge or pity me. Instead, he chooses to understand and once again guide me along the right path. We say our goodbyes, but I turn back one last time because I need to say it again. “Dr. Edwards?”
He turns around to face me, his strikingly handsome looks on par with his son.