Page 83 of Wildflowers & Whiskey

Fuck. My head can barely keep up with it.

“Reason I’m tellin’ you this now,” Wade says, voice quieter than before, “is because I don’t reckon things changed much.” His jaw shifts, teeth catching the inside of his cheek before he speaks again. “The investigator found her through conviction records. Drug offences with the same guy I found her with.”

There’s that hurt look on his face again, which makes me realise that if this is all true, she not only left me but him too. For the drugs, and for another man…

“Why didn't you tell me sooner?” I ask.

The question comes out rough.

“Because she was your mom.”

Simple as that. No grand speech. No defence.

“She'd already left, Son. Didn't seem right taking what was left of her away from you too. But I’ve realised that it might not have been the best decision. Spent a long time questioning if I did the right thing. And truth is, Son, I don’t know, but I’msorry. For all of it.”

That breaks something in me.

I look back down at the papers spread between us. At everything we’re building here.

Not just the school either—us.

Father and son finally figuring out how to stand in the same space without all the old distance between them.

“I…” My throat tightens, failing to produce any words. “Just… give me a minute.”

Wade nods immediately. I don’t know how many minutes go by before I finally look back up.

“Thank you for telling me,” I say, and I mean it in more ways than I know how to put into words, so I leave it there.

It all hurts still, but for the first time in my life, I have the whole story.

I am not naive to think the heaviness of the revelation is going to disappear anytime soon. But somewhere in the middle of all this, I realise I don’t want her number. Not right now. Maybe not for a while.

I’m the child in this story. She was the parent. For once, I ain’t chasing after love that should’ve come looking for me first.

Instead, I look at a man who let me hate him and blame him for everything, because carrying that was easier than letting me carry the truth.

And God, I don't know what to do with that.

But for the first time in my adult life, I’m thankful for him.

Thankful for my dad.

Chapter Thirty One

Maeve

I’m stuffed. Full of all the yummy food that Mrs. Mae cooked up today. I don’t know how she outdoes herself every day. I’ve never been so well fed until I came here. But the downside of the availability of delicious food is the food coma that comes after.

I’m in my room, doing absolutely nothing, lying across my bed with my kindle resting against my pillow. I’ve got zero intention of moving anytime soon.

In my defence, the book is getting to the good part—the enemies turning into lovers. Every book girl’s favourite twist despite knowing it’s coming.

Further in my defence, I was on the phone to Iris for a full hour before this, which counts as socialising with like a hundred people given how much she yaps. I got to hear all about the man she matched with online, and how she ended up sleeping with him on the first date despite him being “mid-looking.” According to her, if they are funny with thick thighs she is a weak human and falls. But she won’t be seeing him again.

So, I think I deserve to decompress with a book.

I'm three pages further into my chapter when the knock comes. I look up at the door, my e-reader clicking off when I press my thumb on the small button.