Then He Came Back (Love From Austin Book 2)

by Chris Campillo

  Was she serious? What in the world could this woman offer at this point in her life?

  “Come on, Sue. Give her ten minutes. You can do that.” What the hell? Now Luke was in on it?

  Shaking her head at the ridiculous intervention, Sue plopped down on the couch and crossed her arms. “I’m all ears.” The woman could preach all she wanted, then Sue would get the hell out of there.

  Settling down next to her, Mimi was the first to speak. “Your father was a son of a bitch. Always had been in my opinion, but I know one thing. He loved you.”

  Sue snorted at the absurd idea.

  “He did . . . from the moment you were born. That’s the only time I saw any redeeming quality in the man. He never showed it openly, but you could tell by the way he held you. Never gave you any googly eyes or sweet words, but he was so gentle with you.”

  “It’s true, Susan,” her mother added. “The man wanted everyone to see him as a pit bull, but he was a softy when it came to you. I would be holding you, giving you a bottle, and he’d tell me to get him a beer. He’d act like it was a hassle, but he’d tell me to pass you over. When I returned, he’d tell me to set his beer on the side table, and then he’d keep on rocking you in that awful Easy Boy.”

  An ache started in her heart, in a place she’d blocked off long ago. “Don’t—”

  Her mother held up her hand, stopping her. “Things changed when you got older. It was obvious how smart you were, and that intimidated your father. As much as he loved you, he was scared that someone could know more than him, have power over him. That’s why he was so hard on you. He wanted to rule every aspect of your life, just like he did mine. And I let him.

  “When you showed up pregnant, the hardest man in the world was slapped with the reality that he didn’t have control over his girl. That he couldn’t make you live by his standards. He wouldn’t forgive your mistake. And look what he lost. He was stubborn and unforgiving, and he suffered because of it. We all suffered because of it. If I’d been stronger, I could have been a part of your lives all along. Honey, think about what life would’ve been like if he’d been able to move past all his bitterness.”

  Sue shook her head adamantly. “That man would’ve only been a toxin to my family. Trust me, Wes and I didn’t miss out on anything.”

  Mimi grabbed both of her hands. “But he did. Your mother did. They missed out on watching you grow into the remarkable woman you are. Watching Wes grow up. Can you imagine not having a chance to love Wes?”

  Her mother walked over and kneeled in front of Sue, cupping her cheek. “I lost so many years because of my fear. Your father lost everything because he couldn’t forgive, couldn’t move past his hurt. I don’t want that for you. I don’t want you to miss out on a life that could be filled with love and blessings. Laura has told me how Trey is dedicated to you and Wes. He’s a good man that loves you. Don’t let that go. I know you’ve been hurt. Too many times, by people that should’ve been there for you. And I can’t expect you to forgive us all. But if you can find any forgiveness in your heart, forgive that man. He deserves it. You deserve it.”

  Sue sat dumbstruck with what the tag team had delivered. Her heart was racing, the pain of being compared to her father still bitter. Despite his supposed love—something she still found hard to believe—she couldn’t muster any sympathy for the man. Yes, she’d “messed up,” though she’d never see her boy as a mistake, but it was Jim Brinkley’s fault he lost her, lost Wes.

  Her mother’s words pounded through her head. God knows, she’d hit the mark. It came down to forgiveness or loss. Forgiveness or loss. Trey had told her the same thing. If they were going to have any chance, she’d have to let go of their past.

  She stood up, slowly, allowing her mother time to move. “I’ve listened. I have. But I need to go now. I need to . . . I need to go.”

  “I’ll drive you home.” Luke grabbed her purse and walked her to the door. She should argue, but she actually felt dizzy, so she took his offer. Mimi and her mother said quiet good nights, and Sue was grateful that they didn’t press her for anything more.

  On the ride home, Luke respected her silence, but when she started to get out of his car, he stopped her. “I’m sorry about that back there. I know it was hard.”

  “You think?”

  “They love you. They want the best for you. I do, too.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Listen, I had my doubts about the man, but I think Trey is good for you and Wes. I’m not choosing sides on that damn college hornet’s nest, but the fact that the man is standing up, trying to help his son says a lot.”

  “Luke, you’ve hated every guy I ever dated. Now you approve of one? And you’ve spent, what, one afternoon with him? What gives?”

  Shaking his head, he laughed. “I see him almost every day. The guy’s been busting his ass on that damn pond for the last two weeks. He comes over as soon as you leave for work, with no hope from you, mind you. Each time I’ve questioned his intentions, he just says, ‘She’s going to get her pond.’”

  Oh, Trey. So much for being numb. Fat tears slipped out.

  “That guy fucked up royally all those years ago, and he didn’t deserve you. But the man I’ve witnessed in the last two weeks is worthy of you.” He settled back into his seat. “I’m not telling you what you should do. God knows, those sisters preached enough for a Baptist convention. I’m just giving you my take on the guy.”

  “I love you.” She threw her arms around her cousin. The man that had been there for her, as a friend, a brother, a co-parent for all these years, was still looking out for her.

  “Okay, okay.” He patted her back, no doubt anxious to end her emotional dump. Poor guy had never been a hugger. She gave him a break and got out of the car.

  “Thanks, Luke. You’re the best.”

  “I’ll always have your back, kiddo.”

  With that, more tears fell.

  “Good God, woman. Go to bed and get some sleep.”

  “I will.”

  Once inside, that’s exactly what she did. For the first time in weeks, she drifted easily into slumber. Who knew hope was a kick-ass sleep aide?

  Chapter 51

  Trey scanned the table. Wes and his friend, Ryan, were checking out the twenty-something girls in their short dresses and high heels—the stuff of teenage boy fantasies but not for him. Sue held his attention. In that blue halter dress, she’d grabbed a lot of interest. She didn’t seem to notice, though. She was leaning into Mimi, talking over the noise of the music.

  The Oasis Restaurant offered a great view of Lake Travis, but with the salsa band playing, it wasn’t much for conversation. Maybe that’s why Wes had selected it for his birthday dinner. This was the first time they’d all been together since she’d ended things. Wes must have realized if it were loud, it wouldn’t be awkward if his parents didn’t speak.

  She had arrived by herself and had spent most of dinner focusing on Wes. But Trey had caught her a few times, looking his way, and once, he could’ve sworn she’d smiled. He clung to that with hope.

  But then the band had started, along with a parade of guys asking her to dance. The nerve of the assholes pissed him off. Sure, she was seated as far from him as possible, and they hadn’t said two words since she’d arrived, but she was his. Before the jerks had a chance to escort her to the dance floor, he stared them down, letting them know they were sniffing at the wrong table.

  Some twenty-something obviously hadn’t gotten the bulletin, because he walked up to her with a cocky-ass smile on his face. When he leaned down to talk to her, Trey caught his attention. As the kid wisely backed up, she must have noticed the fear in the guy’s eyes and where he was looking. When she turned to Trey, a myriad of emotions flashed over her face, ending with a fire in her eyes and a sly smile on those sexy lips. Damn, he’d missed that woman. But then she turned back to the punk and mouthed, “I’d love to.” As they walked away, she turned to Trey and arched her brow, as if throwing him a challenge.r />
  He watched them head to the other side of the dance floor, as far from their table as possible, but he could still see them. He watched her body as she moved to the Latin beat, looking as confident in the dance as any woman he’d ever witnessed in Latin America. Sexier than any woman across the globe. Then, the idiot kid made the mistake of grabbing her hips. Like hell!

  It didn’t take a second for Trey to cross the floor and get to her side. “My turn.” He didn’t wait for the fool to step away. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the middle of the crowd. Despite her initial resistance, he moved her into the dance, grasping her hips without missing a beat.

  “That was rude,” she yelled over the music. “And presumptuous as hell. Where do you get off?”

  God, he loved that smart mouth. It might be the hottest part of this woman. “You used to like dancing with me.” He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

  “I used to like The Backstreet Boys, but that doesn’t mean I still listen to them. People change.”

  Did she realize she’d just set herself up? He spun her around and pressed up against her back. He lowered his head so his mouth was an inch from her ear. “That’s what I’ve been telling you.”

  She froze for just a second, but when he turned her to face him, she went right back to dancing. He should’ve known she wouldn’t touch that opening.

  Looking him up and down, she asked, “How’d you learn to dance like this?”

  “You like my moves?” He pulled her closer, relieved when she didn’t fight it. Surely, she could notice the effect her body created in him.

  She cocked her head. “They’re tolerable.”

  He loved this woman.

  “I never took you for a Latin dancer,” she said, giving him a slight smile. His chest tightened. She was in good spirits. Sure, it was Wes’s eighteenth birthday, a celebration, but Trey held on to a grain of hope that she was happy because they were together.

  “I’ve traveled around. Picked up some steps.” He winked, then moved his leg between hers and swiveled them down. Gotta love salsa. He’d have to chill a bit before he could walk off the dance floor if he didn’t want to embarrass himself or Wes or . . . shit. Mimi. He stepped back a hair.

  She gave him a knowing look. “Oh, I bet you did. I bet you also picked up your fair share of señoritas.”

  “Does that make you jealous, Ms. Brinkley?” he joked, but he hoped it was true. That she still cared. God knows, it still killed him to think about her with other men.

  “You wish.” She looked at him with a smug expression. “Aren’t you going to ask about my dance partners? How I learned my moves?” With that, she swung her hips, brushing against him, forcing him to hold in a moan. “Are you jealous, Mr. Harrison?”

  “Hell, yes!” He stopped dancing. “I deserve sainthood for not throwing that pretty boy off the balcony when he put his hands on you.”

  She glanced down at where he was holding her body. “But it’s okay for you?”

  “Damn right. You’re mine.” They locked eyes, their chests rising and falling too rapidly considering they were no longer dancing. He couldn’t do this in front of a crowd. “Come with me.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her off the dance floor. He wouldn’t let her go this time.

  * * *

  She followed closely as he led them away from the crowd. Being this close to him, feeling his tight grip had her pulse racing. She’d played it cool before, hoping it would drive the man crazy, hoping to see he still cared. She needed to tell him how she’d messed up. How she wanted him more than the past. With each step, her confidence grew. She knew what she wanted—a family with Trey. Loving him, trusting him, forgiving him. She’d thought she’d known what love was at sixteen, but she’d been clueless. Yes, it’d been love in a sense but based only on feelings.

  When they’d reunited, she’d thought she’d found love again. But there were limits. She’d allowed him only so much of herself. It was love with conditions. Now, she realized true love was a choice. Oh, the feelings were there, but they weren’t always warm and fuzzy. Sometimes people fucked up. Real love required forgiveness, and she’d made the choice to do just that, leave the past and move forward with this man. This wonderful man.

  They ended up on a narrow deck, where the view was mostly of the parking lot. No one was around and the music now just background noise. He studied her face but gave nothing away. He started to speak several times but stopped. Probably for the best. It was time to stick her heart out there. She’d never felt this vulnerable. But then, she’d never wanted anything so much.

  “I want you, Trey.”

  “What exactly are you saying?” He stood there, stoic. Definitely not drowning in loving bliss.

  “I want us to be together.” He didn’t say a word. The waiting was unbearable. “Well, are you going to say anything or just stand there like a damn fool?”

  A smile emerged on his face. Then, he laughed.

  Son of a bitch.

  “I was wondering what’d happened to you.” He winked. “I’m not used to you being so sweet and willing. I figured I’d have to threaten you until you came to your senses.”

  Shock turned to relief which turned to hope. But she couldn’t breathe easy until she had a full understanding of his intentions. Putting her hands on her hips and mustering the attitude he seemed to love, she snapped, “Care to enlighten me on these supposed threats?”

  “Why would I share my strategies when I have what I want?” His cocky grin shifted into a loving smile. “You say you want us to be together. Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”

  She nodded, sure of her heart. “Yes.”

  He searched her eyes. “How could you?”

  Tears clouded her eyes, but they were happy for once. “I realized being with you, loving you is more important than focusing on the past.” She took a deep breath and wiped the tears that were now falling freely. “You are so much more important to me.”

  He pulled her into his arms and squeezed tight. “God, I love you. I’ve missed you.”

  Clinging to him, too moved to speak, she gave thanks to God for this man and the future they’d share. After a bit, she composed herself. “You’re a good man. And a good father.” She smiled and caressed his cheek. “I want us to work together as parents . . . as long as you agree with me.”

  His face dropped.

  “I’m joking . . . sort of. You’re going to have to be patient, Trey. I’ve been the sole decision-maker for seventeen . . . hell, eighteen years. It’s going to be a hard habit to break.”

  “Hard for Sue Brinkley to give up control? No way.”

  She pushed on his chest. “We’re still making up here. You’re not supposed to be an asshole.” She couldn’t keep a stern look when he laughed. God, she loved this man.

  “Baby, Wes is eighteen.” He looked at her so tenderly. “He’s going to be making his own decisions. We’ll both have to sit back and watch.”

  She huffed. “You had to ruin the moment, didn’t you?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll hold your hand.”

  “Promise?”

  He smiled at her with that face full of love that always made her giddy. “Always.”

  “Good. Now kiss me.”

  And he did. Hot damn, he did.

  Epilogue

  They had reserved seats up front since Wes was valedictorian. Trey could’ve been in the nose bleed section and he still would’ve been ecstatic. He was here, at his son’s graduation, and they were officially a family.

  Hard to believe they’d been married for two weeks. He’d proposed on Mother’s Day, down on one knee next to that mother of a koi pond. Sue had cried pretty much the whole time, but Mimi and Wes were there, clapping. Even Luke had nodded at him and mouthed, “Don’t fuck it up,” which was as close to a congrats as he’d ever get from the man.

  When she’d accepted, he’d immediately convinced her a civil service would work until they could arrange the lavish wedding she deserv
ed. He wasn’t wasting another minute without making her his wife.

  The grand event was planned for August, right before Wes left for Europe. Yes, the three of them had worked out a compromise. Wes would travel the first semester and head to school in the spring. With time, she’d come to accept Wes would accomplish great things, no matter what path he took. At eighteen, their son—God, he loved that expression—had already accomplished so much, all without a father. But the thought didn’t sting anymore. Trey had finally forgiven himself for the choices he’d made and instead focused on what he could do for his son now.

  Looking around with gratitude, he watched the people who’d played such an important part in Wes’s life. Mimi was talking to Luke. Despite being a hard ass, the man would always have Trey’s respect for taking care of Wes and Sue. The feeling wasn’t reciprocated—rightly so—but they’d come to an understanding.

  He turned and looked for Sue. She’d gone to the ladies’ room, the second time since they’d arrived. Scanning the stadium filled with family members of the hundreds of kids who would graduate today, he wondered if she was searching for her mom.

  Despite all their history, she’d graciously invited Peggy to the graduation ceremony. Peggy had insisted on sitting in the crowd when they discovered Wes was only allotted four front seats as a student speaker. As she put it, those who’d had an influence in Wes’s life deserved that honor. Trey couldn’t argue that, and he was grateful he now had a claim to such an important role.

  Even though they’d gotten together several times, Sue still kept her mother at a distance. As she pointed out, she only had so much generosity. Of course, he knew better. Despite her hard front, the woman had a capacity for forgiveness that exceeded the best of the saints. He had no doubt she would eventually bring her mother back into her life.

  Mimi turned to him. “They’re going to start soon. Where’s Sue?”

  On command, his bride arrived and took her seat. She looked pale, and he wondered if she’d talked to her mom.