Page 59 of Under the Same Sky

“Of course, what’s on your mind?”

“Why’d you never tell me you’ve been talking to Walker Hayes?”

She goes quiet for a beat, and I hear her sigh. “How’d you find out about that?”

I tell her everything, and when I’m done, she clicks her tongue on the other end of the line. “Thorin, that man has been through hell, and when he called me, there was no way I was going to tell him to stay away from his daughter. Whether Reese wants him in her life or not is her decision. She forgave you, didn’t she? So why is it wrong for him to want to try and make things right with her? We raised you better than this, you are in no position to cast judgement.”

That stings, but she has a point. “He told me about Mrs. Hayes,” I tell her.

“Honey, that woman was a piece of work, and I don’t, for a single second, believe Walker meant any harm to Reese. He made his mistakes, but we all do that. He’s no less deserving of a second chance than you are, Thorin. Remember that.”

“I’m just worried she’s going to get hurt again, Mom. We’re finally in a good place, and I don’t want Walker to screw things up. Reese has been through enough.

“Thorin,” she clucks, and I can tell she’s not pleased with me right now. “You can’t protect her from everything, but you can be supportive, and let her make this decision on her own. Has he told her about her mother, yet? I know he wanted to.”

“No, but we’re on the way to the ranch now. I figured if he doesn’t tell her now, he’ll just chicken out and leave again. Am I making a mistake?” I stop in front of the ranch gates, open them with the remote and then drive in, parking in front of the main house. Fletch’s new truck is in the driveway—he said he was tired of sharing with Benji and Carson—which means he’s here. Probably visiting Mya.

Ugh, one thing at a time.

“Only if it feels wrong, baby.”

“It doesn’t, but I don’t want Reese to hate me after this.”

“She will never hate you. She might be a little mad, but she’ll know it’s coming from a good place. You’ll call me tomorrow, and let me know how it goes?”

“Yeah, I will. Thanks Mom, I love you.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

I end the call, climb out my truck, and wait for Walker to follow me to Reese’s house. Without knocking, I walk in, and find Reese curled up on the sofa with Eli next to her, fast asleep.

“Hi, I was wondering—” She stops talking when she sees her dad behind me. “Dad?”

I close the space between us, and lean down to whisper in her ear. “I need you to trust me, okay?”

“Okay?” She stands, looking between me and her dad. She purses her lips, and crosses her arms across her chest. “This feels like an ambush, Thorin.”

Well, damn, I guess it is. “Just…listen to what he has to say, and then you can be mad at me.”

“I’m already mad,” she murmurs, her brows drawn low. “I thought we agreed I needed time.”

“We did, but there’s a lot you need to know, babe. Just hear him out.” Before she can argue with me, I pick Eli up. “I’m going to give you some privacy.” I kiss her forehead. “I’ll be in the bedroom if you need me.” I look over at Walker, and nod once before leaving the room, praying that I made the right call. I sneak around the corner an hour later, and exhale in relief when I see Reese hugging her dad. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. You have to know I never stopped loving you.”

Definitely the right call.

I startle awake when Reese climbs into bed. I have no idea what time it is, and when I turn on the bedside lamp, Reese’s face is wet, her eyes red, and puffy, but I see no sadness in the depths of her blue eyes.

“I want to be so mad at you right now, Thorin, but…” she pauses, swallows, wipes her face. “Thank you.”

“Come here.” I reach for her, and she comes willingly, curling herself into my side and resting her chin on my chest. “He told me everything,” she says, her voice hoarse. “It was never me.”

“No, baby, it wasn’t. You still mad at me?”

She cups my cheek, and touches her thumb to my lips. “I was, but not anymore. I am curious though, why’d you go looking for him earlier?”

I move onto my side, and intertwine my legs with hers. “I wanted to know why he came, the real reason. Guess I wanted to make sure he wasn’t planning on hurting you. Bringing him here was a spur-of-the-moment decision, though, and I know I was risking you being mad, but I’m glad I did. After talking to him, I realized he was hurting, too, and if there was even a remote possibility that hearing the whole truth, that what your mom did to you was never about you at all, would help you, it’s a chance I was willing to take.”

“It’s a lot to take in, but I’m glad you took that chance. As hard as it was to hear, the truth makes me feel lighter somehow, and now I know I was wrong to think he walked away from me so easily.”