know that doesn’t justify forgiveness. I haven’t earned it, but I’m hoping you’ll give me a chance to.”
I force out a laugh. “Are you serious? Nothing has changed. He is always going to be my biological father. And you’ll only ever see him when you look at me.”
“I was stupid,” he tells me, his voice firmer. He grips my chin, tilting my head up until I’m looking at him. “When I look at you, Black is not on the list of things I see. I see a beautiful, kind, loyal, heartbroken woman. I see the woman I’m deeply in love with and regret hurting.” He stops, leaning in further. “I know what happened on that bridge.”
I duck my head, ashamed. I should have known someone would tell him. “Please don’t.”
“It wasn’t just your mum you were grieving that day, but what I did to you.”
I grip his leg, vehemently shaking my head. “It wasn’t your fault. I was scared. I had just lost my mum, and I was alone.”
He wipes at my tears once again. “You are an extraordinary woman, Evie Wilson. My life would be a darker place without you in it. Please promise me you’ll never do anything like that again.”
“I won’t,” I choke out, before swallowing past the lump in my throat.
“I’m going to go, to give you some time alone,” he tells me, and panic begins to rise in my chest. I don’t want him to go.
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Look at me,” he demands softly, and he waits until he has my attention before continuing. “I want to be with you. You are it for me, Evie, and I was so wrong when I said those cruel things to you. If you think you can forgive me, then come to The Ginn Inn. I’ll wait an hour for you. If you don’t show up, I’ll take the hint that you want to be left alone.”
I grab his wrist when he goes to get up from the damp ground. “What about Andrew?”
“He’ll never come between us again. He doesn’t exist for us.”
I nod, letting him leave. I need to wrap my mind around it all. I never blamed Wyatt for the things he said to me. They were warranted for my deceit. But can I truly believe he has forgiven me and can look past Andrew being my dad? I don’t know. And losing him again is something I know I won’t cope with.
“Are you okay?” Rebecca asks, taking a seat on the ground beside me.
“I’m not sure,” I admit.
“If it’s any consolation, I believe him. They all love you, Evie.”
“But is it real?” I ask, tears gathering in my eyes.
“As much as I hate him for what he did to you, I can’t lie to you. I do think it’s real and that he’s being sincere.”
My mind drifts as I stare down at the hole my mother’s coffin was lowered into. “He wants me to go to him within the hour. They’re going to The Ginn Inn.”
“Are you going to go?”
Tilting my head, I gauge her reaction. “What would you do?”
“Honestly? If you hadn’t been how you were for the past two weeks, I’d have said no. But that’s me. I’m a stubborn bitch and would make him work harder. But for two weeks I’ve watched you wither away. I’ve been worried sick that I wouldn’t be able to pull you out. Really worried. Within minutes of being around him, there’s a spark back in you. I want you to keep having that.”
“What happened to not needing a man to make you happy?” I lightly tease, trying to crack a smile. I’m just not there yet.
“You don’t need Wyatt to make you happy. But you aren’t going to be happy until you talk to him.”
“When he ended things, a part of my heart left with him,” I tell her, my gaze drifting into the distance. “Then Mum died, taking the other. I feel hollow inside, Becca, empty, and I don’t know how to fix what’s broken.”
“I do,” she whispers, taking my hand in hers.
“How?”
“Go to him.”
For a few moments we sit in silence, finding solace in the peace and tranquillity.
“Why don’t we get out of here?” she asks.
“I’m going to stay awhile longer. I’ll meet you at The Ginn Inn in just under an hour.”
Her brows crease. “I can wait with you. I don’t think you should—”
Squeezing her hand, I force out a smile. I can see the worry and stress I put her through. I hate