My chest constricts, and it only gets worse with the meaningful look she gives me, wordlessly begging me to understand.
Oh.
Oh,God.
“Kade called his dad?” I choke out through a pained sob.
She nods. “He does. Often.”
My hand presses to my chest, but the ache just grows and grows, the room spinning with every throbbing, twisting breath.
I stare at the phone for a long time like if I look hard enough or from the right angle, I’ll be able to see Kade staring back at me, telling me what to do.
“Did you…” I wet my dry lips, hands shaking. “Did you listen to them?”
“Just the first few,” she murmurs, face contorted. “Just to make sure he was okay. I was scared. So scared, Georgia.” Her head shakes. “Kade was so adamant about never talking to his dad. Never finding a way to connect. It’s all I wanted for him. To find a way to just forgive himself. And when the phone rang and his name popped up, he was in such a dark place, so distant.”
Tears stream freely now from both of us and she stifles a sob with her hand.
“I… I thought he was sayinggoodbye.”
“Oh my God,” I croak, entire body revolting even the mere idea of Kade not existing. “Bea.”
She wipes her tears with a napkin and pats my hand. “He’s okay, and that’s not why he called.”
“Then… why?”
“For you, sweetheart.” Bea slides the phone across to me. “Call when you’re ready. Listen. They’re his love letters to you.”
Silence fills the space between us, both of our attention and thoughts riveted to the phone, to the men it represents. The loves of our lives, both gone, but in different ways.
She can’t have her love anymore, and I…
I hope like hell it’s not too late for me to get mine.
To get my one chance at a family. The only chance I want.
The thought batters against something inside me, knocking loose all the ideals I’d hung my hopes and dreams on. Abby wasright. I came to Heart Springs looking for answers, for roots and a family, and I found it. Just not in the way I’d planned.
And as the weeks turned to months, and my six-month contract and leases were ending, I stopped wondering about where I came from and started dreaming about where I’d end up.
I’m still curious. I think I always will be, but… for now, maybe I just need enough to lay it to rest.
“Bea,” I whisper. “My family. Was it… was it bad?”
Her lips purse. “Your mama was beautiful. Kind. Just a girl had a hard life who ran as far as her feet could take her. It was a tragedy. A quiet one.”
“It always is,” I murmur.
She cocks her head. “Would you like to hear the rest?”
“Maybe someday. But for now, I’m okay.”
Bea stands and kisses the top of my head. Her hand smooths my hair, the gesture achingly maternal.
“You are,” she says. “And you will be. I promise.”
“Bea,” I blurt, pointing to the phone. “Does he hate me?”
