Ryan's Love - C.A. Harms Page 0,47

seat and finally turned to look up at me. I could see the faint scar above her eye where she had to have stitches. The skin was still reddened but looked like it was pretty much healed. Her nostrils flared, and her eyes pooled with tears. Of course I immediately felt sick at the idea I had upset her. But when she spoke, her words floored me.

“Please don’t push my dad away because I’m having a hard time accepting him moving on. I’m trying, Amber, I really am.” Her voice trembled, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry I made things hard for you. I’m trying so hard. Please believe me.”

I was up out of my chair and kneeling next to her before I had time to think about it. I twisted her to face me and looked up at her. “Olivia, understand something. I do not blame you. I don’t feel as if you purposely sabotaged my and your father’s relationship.” I sat back on my legs as I tucked them under myself. “Sweetie, you have the right to feel and express those feelings. You were terrified and for good reason. Losing your mother was such a tragic loss. That’s something you will never get past. Please don’t apologize for being scared.”

My own eyes clouded with unshed tears. “I just couldn’t be the cause of turmoil between you and your father. You needed time to heal, and me being in your father’s life was only making things harder. I refused to be the one that drove you two apart.”

Her chin quivered, and she sniffled and placed her hand over mine, which I’d rested on her knee. “What if I promise to stop being so stubborn? What if I say I can handle it, that I want you and my father together?” Her words felt more like she was begging rather than questioning. “After my momma died, he changed. He was so sad and lost. I remember the nights I would lie in my bed and hear him sobbing in the next room. He would try to hide it, but I could see the devastation written all over his face.”

I swiped away the tear that had fallen down my cheek as she carried on. The idea of Ryan in pain was torture.

“But when he met you, I got a glimpse of him being happy again. I admit it hurt seeing him smile because of another woman. I had never imagined him loving anyone other than my mother.” More tears fell from her eyes and dripped onto our joined hands. “But now he’s so distant and sad. He sits out on the back deck, staring off at nothing, and the look on his face breaks my heart. I know I caused it.”

“Hey, you didn’t cause anything,” I told her, but she only shifted in her chair, which forced me to stop talking.

“I did.” She sniffed. “I acted like a brat to gain his attention. I made poor choices to make him angry. All I had to do was tell him I was scared. I know he would have listened. He’s always listened to me. We’ve always been close.”

“That’s why I stepped back, sweetheart. Your father’s focus needed to be solely on you and him. The two of you needed to heal, and the only way you could do that was together.” Her tears were killing me. She was so young and obviously had a heart of gold. And among all her own hurt and confusion, she wanted to come here and try to make things right for her father.

“I’m almost positive my father is in love with you.”

I looked at her, trying to control the shock I felt from her statement. “He deserves happiness because he’s the greatest man I know. I want to see him smile and hear him laugh again.”

I don’t know what possessed me, but I lifted my hand and wiped the tears from her eyes. “You make him happy, Amber.”

She shrugged. “You brought back the guy he was when my mother was alive. I know you’re not selfish. You let him go for my sake. You didn’t have to, but you walked away, and you did that for us.”

I knew words would fail me if I attempted to speak, so I only nodded. This sweet girl was tearing up my insides,

“You love him, don’t you?” she asked.

We both stared at one another in silence. Unsure of how much time had truly passed, I finally nodded.

“There