Redemption
Page 31
Jason raised one side of his mouth in contempt. “That’s awful. I’m glad your dad shot that piece of shit.”
April nodded, her mouth turned down. “I can’t even imagine what those poor girls went through. My dad said they’re going to search Cody’s property. He thinks the bodies are buried there.”
“How are you doing with all this?” Jason asked.
April lifted one shoulder and looked down. “I have a recurring nightmare where I can’t move, and he cuts off my hands. We don’t need Jung to analyze that dream.”
“Are you talking to anyone?”
April raised her gaze. “My mom’s making me see a trauma therapist. She’s nice. I saw her yesterday.”
“Good.”
“What about you?”
“I’m fine.” He broke eye contact for a beat.
“Are you sure?”
Jason fidgeted in the bed, adjusting his blanket. “I sometimes have flashbacks to my time in prison. I’ll see something or feel something, and it takes me back. This has brought some of those memories to the forefront.”
April nodded again. “That must be hard. I’m sorry.”
Jason shook his head. “Don’t be. I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time. That’s all because of you.”
April smiled. “I’m glad you feel that way. I want us to have a relationship. Do you think you’ll stay in Loganville?”
“I’d like to.” He chuckled to himself. “I used to hate visiting this place when I was married to your mom. Now … I could see myself living here. You’re here. It’s nice to be treated like a hero, even if it’s misplaced.”
She reached over and placed her hand on top of his. “If you hadn’t been there, I’d be dead. You’re a hero in my mind.”
“That’s nice of you to say, but you’re the hero. You’re the one who risked everything for me. You believed in me, when nobody did for twenty-one years.” His voice wavered. “That meant more to me than you can imagine. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Dad.”
Jason was stunned. She’d never called him dad. She rarely even used his name.
April retracted her hand. “I’m sorry. That was weird, wasn’t it?”
Jason shook his head again, his eyes glassy. He turned his hand over.
April placed her hand in his.
He squeezed his daughter’s hand and said, “It’s not weird at all. I’m honored.”
Chapter 108: Twenty-One Years Too Late
Michelle knocked on the open door to his hospital room. She wore skinny jeans and a blousy top. Her brown hair was in an updo, wisps of hair framing her face.
“Come in,” Jason called out, sitting up in his bed.
Michelle approached the bed tentatively, her head bowed. She forced a smile. “Hi.”
Jason stared at her face. She had crow’s feet and laugh lines, but she was still so beautiful. “This is so strange.”
“I know. You must …”
Jason gestured to the chair next to his bed. “You can sit, if you want.”
“Thanks.” Michelle walked around his hospital bed and sat in the chair. “You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here.”
“I didn’t have much time to think about it.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure you’d even talk to me, after what I did to you.”
“Why are you here?”
Michelle wrung her hands in her lap. “I wanted to thank you for saving April’s life.”
“I think that was more Danny than me.”
“That’s not what he said. He said, if you hadn’t been there, he would’ve been too late. So, thank you.”
Jason nodded. “You’re welcome.”
Michelle took a deep breath. “I um, I also wanted to apologize to you, knowing that there’s nothing I can ever say to … fix what I did to you.” Tear welled in her eyes. “I can’t imagine how much I must’ve hurt you.” She wiped the corners of her eyes.
Jason didn’t respond for a long moment. He swallowed hard and said, “Back then, this was all I wanted. You meeting with me face-to-face. I thought that, if we met in person, you would see that I was telling the truth.”
Michelle sniffled. “I don’t think it would’ve mattered. I was too influenced by the people around me to think for myself. You deserved better. I’m truly sorry.”
Jason blinked, and a tear slipped down his face. He wiped his eyes discreetly with his index finger. “I regret not wanting to have children with you. If I had listened to you that Christmas night at your parents. If I hadn’t worn that condom, none of this would’ve happened. You and I would be married, and maybe we’d have other kids too.”
“I don’t doubt it. I’m sure we would’ve been happy.”
Jason exhaled. “But we can’t go back.”
She nodded. “You’re right. We can’t go back. We can only move forward.” Michelle sat up straighter in her seat. “I know April’s twenty and can make her own decisions, but Danny and I want you to be in her life. You’re welcome in our home for family get-togethers. Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays. All of it. I know your family isn’t welcoming to you.”
Jason shook his head. “I can’t imagine Danny’s on board with that.”
“He is. We’ve already discussed it. That’s why I’m here.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m happy to show up to neutral places, like her college graduation or her wedding, if I’m invited, but I don’t think I can be a part of your family like that. I don’t think I can watch what could’ve been. There’s too much …” He looked down.
“I understand. If you change your mind, you’re always welcome.”
He nodded again.
“What will you do now?”
He raised his gaze. “I don’t know, but I feel like I have a second chance on life. I plan to take advantage of it.”
If you enjoyed this novel, … you’ll love Cesspool.
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Would you become a criminal to do the right thing?
Disgraced teacher, James Fisher, moved to a backwoods town, content to live his life in solitude. He was awakened from his apathy by a small girl with a big problem. James suspected Brittany was being abused and exploited by his neighbor. He called the police but soon realized his mistake, as the neighbor was related to the chief of police.
Most would’ve looked the other way. Getting involved placed James squarely in the crosshairs of the local police. James lacked the brawn or the connections to save himself, much less Brittany. The police held all the power, and they knew it. But that was also their weakness. They underestimated what the mild-mannered teacher and the young runaway would do for justice.
Buy Cesspool today if you enjoy vigilante justice page-turners with a side of underdog.
Adult language and content.
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For the Reader
Dear Reader,
I’m thrilled that you took precious time out of your life to read my novel. Thank you! I hope you found it entertaining, engaging, and thought-provoking. If so, please consider writing a positive review on Amazon and Goodreads. Five-star reviews have a huge impact on future sales. The review doesn’t need to be long and detailed, if you’re more of a reader than a writer. As an author and a small businessman, competing against the big publishers, I greatly appreciate every reader, every review, and every referral.
If you’re interested in receiving my novel Against the Grain for free and/or reading my other titles for free or discounted, go to the following link: http://www.PhilWBooks.com. You’re probably thinking, What’s the catch? There is no catch.
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Sincerely,
Phil M. Williams
Gratitude
I’d like to thank my wife for being my first reader, sounding board, and cheerleader. Without her support and unwavering belief in my skill as an author, I’m not sure I would have embarked on this career. I love you, Denise.
I’d also like to thank my editors. My developmental editor, Caroline Smailes, did a fantastic job finding the holes in my plot and suggesting remedies. As always, my line editor, Denise Barker (not to be confused with my wife, Denise Williams), did a fantastic job making sure the manuscript was error-free. I love her comments and feedback.
Thank you to my good friend Barry for his invaluable legal knowledge. Any mistakes regarding the legal system were mine alone. Also, thank you to my big brother, Chris, for his help with prison life. For the record, he used to work in a prison. Again, any mistakes were mine alone. And lastly, thank you as always to my mother-in-law, Joy, one of the best nurses on this planet. She is always gracious with her time and extremely knowledgeable about all things medical.
Thank you to my beta readers, Sue, Ray, Saundra, and Matteo. They’re my last defense against the dreaded typo. And thank you to you, the reader. Without you I wouldn’t have a career. As long as you keep reading, I’ll keep writing.