Page 99 of Always Be Mine
“Dammit, Dad.” He shook his head. “This is all your fault.” He kicked at the turf and inhaled sharply. “Why couldn’t you just believe in me? Did you really think I was such a terrible father that I needed help?”
The anger he’d been suppressing bubbled up and threatened to spill out.
“And if you really thought I couldn’t do it on my own, why wouldn’t you just tell me? Why wait until after you’re gone to throw this at me? Do you know what that’s like? To know that the one man you thought had your back unconditionally didn’t actually believe in you at all? It’s like a dagger to the heart, Dad. And now I’ve gone and fucked it all up anyway. So everything youthoughtyou were doing, I hope it was worth it. Because now it’s all gone. Your legacy. The inheritance you left us. The house. The business. Meri’s future. It’s gone. Because you didn’t believe in me.” Hot tears streamed down his cheeks, but he swiped them away. “Worse…she’sgone, Dad.”
Craig sank to his knees and dropped his head in his hands.
“She’s gone.” He whispered the words and let himself feel the loss for the first time. “And that’s not your fault. It’s mine. Maybe you were right not to believe in me after all.”
“You’re wrong, you know.”
Craig lifted his head at his little sister’s voice but didn’t bother turning around.
“He did believe in you.” She knelt on the ground next to him. “Probably more than any of us. And he thought you were an amazing father.”
“No.” Craig shook his head. “He didn’t, Kat. That’s why we’re here.”
She sighed and sat back on the ground.
“Why are you here?” Craig finally turned to face her. He hadn’t told anyone he was going to the cemetery. Hell, he didn’t even know himself until he got there.
“It’s the last Wednesday of the month,” she said, as if that cleared it up.
“And?”
“Dad and I had a date on the last Wednesday of the month.” She shrugged. “We usually just went for coffee or a walk to talk and catch up. I guess I’m having a hard time letting it go.”
“So you come here once a month?”
She nodded, a sad smile on her face. “It makes me feel closer to him.”
“I didn’t know.”
She shrugged again. “I’m surprised to see you here, though. Is it helping? Talking to him, I mean?”
Craig shook his head and looked back to the smooth marble headstone. He traced the letters with his eyes. “No.”
Kat didn’t respond right away, but after a moment, she said, “Dad would have loved Lucy.”
Craig stared at his sister.
“He would have,” she said. “She’s smart and funny and cute.” She lifted an eyebrow. “And she loves you and Meri.”
“She doesn’t?—”
“She does.” Kat looked so sure of herself. “You know how I know?”
Craig blew out a breath. “Tell me.”
“She never would have left if she didn’t,” Kat said simply. “Think about it. If she didn’t care, if this was just a job to her, she’d still be here. But she’s not, because she’s hurt. And the only reason you get hurt is because you care. She loves you.”
“Wow.”
“Wow good?”
“Just, wow.” Craig shook his head and let his sister’s words sink in. “I love her too, you know?”
“I know.”
