Page 119 of Bria and the Tiger
His father reached out and squeezed his hand for a moment. “Look at me, son. What happened to me wasn’t your fault.”
“It was.”
“No, it wasn’t. I’m sorry that your mother made it sound like it was. I understand why she did it – she’s terrified she’s going to lose you like we lost Jonah – but it wasn’t right of her to do that to you. My heart attack had nothing to do with you.”
“You were stressed because of what I was putting you through,” Jace said. “Mom told me that -”
“Your mom is afraid, and sometimes when a person is afraid like that, they’ll do and say anything to keep the people they love safe. When you brought Bria to your cousin’s engagement party, both of us could see what it was. We could smell your love for her. It scared your mother badly. I knew that it scared her, but I never thought she would tell you that what happened to me was your fault. It wasn’t. I had a heart attack – a mild one – because of a number of reasons.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? It was a real shitty thing to keep it from me.”
“Yeah, it was and I’m sorry we did. But I was completely healed from it within a week and you were going through a rough time. I didn’t want to make it worse and neither did your mother.”
“How is your health now?”
“Really good. No problems and like I said, healed completely. I’m worried about you.”
“You don’t need to be.”
“So you and Bria are still together then?”
“No.”
His father sighed. “If you love her, you should be with her.”
“I can’t. If it doesn’t work out -”
“If it doesn’t work out, then we’ll deal with it.”
“Mom doesn’t want me to be with anyone right now. She thinks I’m not ready and the idea of me dating Bria terrifies her.”
“Yes,” his father admitted, “it does. But that’s her issue, not yours. I know you love your mother, but you can’t live your life for her or for me. You have to do what makes you happy. It isn’t right that we tried to bend you to our will, and tried to make you be alone, because we figured it was the best way to keep you safe. I’m sorry we did that to you. I hope you can forgive us and start living your life.”
Jace didn’t reply and his father leaned forward and took his hand again. “Your mother will be upset, but I’ll help her get through it, I promise. I told her that I was going to encourage you to date Bria.”
“What did she say?”
“She cried, then she growled and tried to bite me.” His father grinned. “Then she apologized for trying to bite me and made me a sandwich.”
Jace smiled and his father squeezed his hands. “She’ll be okay, son. I promise you. It’ll take her a while to get used to the idea, and maybe we won’t be having you and Bria over for dinner anytime in the near future, but she’ll accept it sooner than you think. She’s a good mother who only wants what’s best for you. She’s just afraid.”
“She doesn’t have to be. I’m good. Being with Bria makes me even better.”
“Then be with her.”
“I think it’s too late,” Jace said. “I broke her heart. She said she understood, and that she didn’t hate me, but I’ve been hot and cold with her the entire time she’s known me. Why would she believe me now?”
“You gotta try, kid.” His father stood before bending and giving him a rough kiss on the forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I know. Now go out there and get your girl back. But can I give you some advice?”
“Sure.”
“Shower first.”
* * *
