Page 57 of Under the Same Sky

Thorin grimaces. “What do you mean you’re a fraud?”

My eyes burn, my throat itches, and when the tears fall, I let them. “You told me I’m strong, and the truth is, I’m not, Thorin. So far from it. I thought I’d put everything behind me, but seeing my dad again, hearing what he had to say, I’m ashamed to admit that I want to give him a second chance, that I want to forgive him.”

Thorin folds his arms around me, and my body shivers. He helps me dress, dries my hair, and makes me some tea before settling next to me on the sofa. I spend an hour recounting the conversation I had with my dad, refusing to be numb. No good can come from that, and as hard as I tried to not feel anything, it’s just not who I am, or who I want to be. When I’m done, Thorin exhales loudly, and wipes his hand down his face, his brows furrowed in contemplation.

“Are you sure you want to give him another chance?” He asks quietly. There’s no judgement in the way he looks at me, or in how he asks me. But he’s concerned, and who can blame him. “Would you think me stupid if I said yes?” His opinion matters, but I also know he’s biased, subjective when it comes to my parents. But he also knows my dad isn’t the villain in my story, and for all I know, he could’ve been nothing more than a puppet. I never did ask him why he divorced my mom, but it might be a conversation worth having. In time. “Be honest with me, please.”

“Well, I find it suspicious that we just so happened to hire his construction company,” he says. “Don’t you?”

“No, I think that was just a fluke. I know my dad, he wouldn’t try insert himself in my life like that. When he said he wanted to be part of my life again, I think I believed him.” After crying, and soaking in the bath, I replayed what he said, and how he said it, in my mind, over and over again until I came to the conclusion that there was nothing but sincerity and regret in his words, his actions. In hindsight, signing those emancipation papers is the best thing he could have done for me, and the only way to get me away from my mom. Maybe I was remiss in thinking it was easy for him to do that, or that he did it as willingly as I suspected. He protected me by letting me go, but I can’t help but feel there’s more to the story, things I wasn’t privy to growing up.

“Ugh,” I groan. “There’s so much going through my head right now, I don’t know what I want, and that makes me feel weak. I don’t like feeling weak.”

Thorin brushes my hair from my face, brushing his thumbs under my puffy, red eyes. “You’re not weak, Reese, and wanting your dad back in your life doesn’t make you a fraud. It makes you human.”

I lick my lips, and swallow. “If I decide to give him another chance, will you be willing to do the same? Or at least try, for me?”

“I just don’t want you to get hurt, again. You’re everything to me, babe. So, for you, I’ll try.” Oh, this beautiful, wonderful man.

I lean my head on his shoulder, and allow his warmth, his strength, to seep into my bones, my marrow, my soul. “That’s all I’m asking for, Thorin. That you’ll try. And of he hurts me again, that you be there to piece me back together.”

He kisses my head, and inhales. “Anything for you. Always.”

“Can we still take Eli to see the horses, and have that picnic? I could use the distraction.”

“Are you sure? I thought maybe you’d rather stay in, and we could watch that show you’re obsessed with on Netflix.”

“That does sound good, but locking myself away for the rest of the day isn’t going to help me, it’s not healthy. I’d much rather spend some time outside, with you and Eli.”

“Okay.” He stands, and pulls me to my feet, giving me a long, lingering kiss. It soothes me in ways other things can’t, it tells me he supports me, and that’s what I need most. “Whatever you want.”

That’s what he gives me, a day with him, and Eli, and the horses, and a picnic under an oak tree. And long after the sun has set, and Eli’s been put to bed, Thorin touches me with care, loves me with devotion, and wordlessly promises me that whatever happens next, we’ll get through it together.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Thorin

He has to be here.

I look around Jameson’s, searching for a dark head of hair amongst a thick crowd of youngsters gathered inside. A few people pass, say their hello’s, and thankfully no one asks me for an autograph. I’m never intentionally rude to fans, or people from my hometown, but I’m on a mission. Since her dad’s arrival, Reese has been a little more subdued, and thrown herself into work, and her upcoming launch. We haven’t spoken about her dad again, I’ve given her space without her having to ask, but the truth is, I want to know Mr. Hayes’ true intentions. No one else finds it suspicious that his construction company just so happened to be hired, but Benji received a call from Andre, Mr. Hayes’ partner, said he’s letting Mr. Hayes take over because he has other projects to see to in Dallas. Awfully convenient, given the timing. Which is why I’m here. After my eyes roam the faces in the crowd, I spot him at a booth in the far corner, eating dinner while watching sports on the television mounted on the wall. The version of him I remember is a far cry from the man I see now, not that I saw him much growing up. And when I did, he usually remained quiet while his wife ranted and raved about something. He carried more weight back then—Reese is built just like him—but now he’s lean, and muscular, his hair peppered with grey and his skin less youthful. The man looks good, I admit, but the lines on his face, and its leathery appearance tell me he’s been through the wringer. Nevertheless, I sought him out for a purpose, and if Reese knew I was here, she’d be pissed. I asked Mya to keep her busy, though. That girl is as loyal as they come, and when I told her where I was going, she had no qualms keeping my secret. She wants to know why Reese’s dad is really here, almost as much as I do. Reese asked me to try and give the man a second chance, for her, but I want him to give me reason to.

I stop beside his booth. “Mind if I join you?”

He looks up at me with eyes so much like his daughter’s, and where I expect to find surprise, there is none. He gestures for me to take a seat. “Took you long enough,” he says, wiping his mouth. “Drink?”

He’s relaxed, and more astute than I gave him credit for. He was obviously expecting me, and much sooner, by the sounds of it. He’s only been in town three days, but hasn’t set foot on the ranch again, even though he’s taken over our construction.

“Whatever’s on tap is fine.”

He signals for the waitress, and orders two beers before pushing his empty plate away. He leans forward, and folds his arms on the table. From my vantage point, I can see parts of Reese in his features—his mouth, his eyes, his chin, his nose. In flat, she looks way more like her old man than she does her bitch of a mother.

“Name’s Walker,” he says. “We never really got introduced when you were in high school with Reese.”

The waitress brings our drinks, sashays away to another table. I take a sip, and hum, never breaking eye contact. When I don’t say anything, he continues. “You want to know why I’m here.”

I put my glass on the table, lean forward. Gotta give the guy credit, despite my size he doesn’t flinch. “I believe Benji when he says he had no idea it was your company we hired, but having you show up unannounced isn’t sitting well with me, especially now that you’re in charge and your partner was called back to Dallas.”

“I’ll be honest with you, Thorin, and whether you believe me is up to you. Andre was called back to Dallas, something went wrong on one of our job sites, and since it was his project, he had to handle it. Coming here wasn’t an easy decision, which is why I called your mom first, but since it’s my company, I had little choice in the matter. The tough part was deciding whether to see Reese, or not.”