“But I have.”
“Reconsider while you can.”
“No need.” I shake my head. “You’ve gone too far.”
“Nonsense! You don’t need that woman, Michael,” he insists. “You should marry Elke, here, a far more suitable choice. You should listen to my advice…”
“The only suitable choice for any man is to marry the woman he loves. Have you ever tried that, Dad?” I can’t look at Candace. She can’t believe her marriage is anything other than it is, and if she does, if she loves this bitter old man, there’s nothing I can do about that.
“Michael! You’re throwing away your future over some scheming little bit of trash, some trollop trying to trap you…”
I close the distance between us in record time, and seize my father by the shirt collar. He looks alarmed and so he should, because I’ve never been this angry in my life. “You will never speak of Sylvia that way again,” I say to him, my voice low. The room is so quiet that I don’t think anyone is even breathing. “If I’m very lucky, she will be my wife.”
“You’re a fool,” my father whispers.
I shake my head. “Not anymore.” I turn to Candace, who is ashen. “I apologize for interrupting your dinner,” I say. “Don’t worry about me ever coming back.”
“Michael!” my father roars as I stride out of the room. “Michael! You come right back here and apologize to everyone.” His voice rises when I don’t even slow down. “How dare you interrupt a family meal in this manner? How dare you speak to me this way? How dare you be so impertinent? How dare you abandon your life’s work fornothing?”
I glance back once. “I’m not the one who dared too much.” And then I walk out of the house and slam the door behind myself, catching a glimpse of a startled Mrs. Taylor hiding in the hallway.
I’m leaning on my truck when I take the phone out of my pocket. “I hope you heard that,” I say quietly.
“Mike,” Sylvia whispers, and there are tears in her voice. “Mike, I love you.”
“I love you, Sylvia.” I say as a shudder of relief rolls through me. It’s done. It’s resolved. Sylvia never lied to me and my instincts were right all along. I needed Sylvia to clear my vision, to help me find a way to a future. I can only think of sharing every moment of that future with her is the perfect resolution. “I love you.”
“I know,” she says and I hear the smile in her voice. It makes me smile. “Come to the studio,” she says and I don’t need to be invited twice.
I’m putting the truck into gear when someone taps on the window. It’s Abbie, and I lower the window. “Please, Mike, get me out of here. He’s going to have a meltdown and I don’t need ringside seats this time.”
Fair enough. “Where to? I’m going downtown.”
“Perfect,” she says and climbs in. “You can drop me at Cameron’s on the way.”
“Welcome home,” I tease as I pull out of the driveway and Abbie shakes her head.
“BC never looked so good,” she admits with heat. I reach over and take her hand, giving it a squeeze and she squeezes mine back.
42
SYLVIA
Sierra and I are waiting for Mike, hand in hand, in front of the café. I’m awed by what I heard, what he said and what he’s done, all in defense of Sierra and me. My heart leaps when the headlights of the truck come around Big Red. Sierra’s grip tightens on mine. I know I’m shaking and Sierra is crying silently.
Mike chose us.
I feel foolish for ever thinking he might do otherwise.
I’m so proud of him for speaking his mind, for standing up to his father. For defending us and our right to be in his life.
It seems like a hundred years before Mike pulls in to park in front of the café. His truck is facing the wrong way, but no one cares. He gets out of the cab and opens his arms, and I fling myself at him. He catches me close, breathes my name into my neck, and crushes me against his chest. His heart is pounding against mine and I have no words to express my relief.
Just his name.
I feel him lift his head and turn to Sierra. I follow his gaze. She looks so young and vulnerable that I can’t take a breath.
“I thought you were going to help me work on my hugs,” Mike says gruffly and extends his other hand. She comes running and barrels into him. He catches both of us close and holds us tightly. I feel Sierra’s hot tears and put my arm around her waist, clinging to both of them in the best hug of all time.
