Because of You

by Lafortune, Connie

“I wanted to thank you in person for giving me Erin’s number. I called her this morning. ” God he looks like crap. “She confessed that I was Brady’s father. ” I just nod because I really don’t know what the hell to say.

  “I’m actually glad that I had a chance to talk to her. She was very informative. When Brady was killed, it had been on the news and in the papers for several weeks; that’s how Kathy figured out he was mine. ” He must sense my agitation as I pop my knuckles. “She’s been blackmailing your mom for the past few years. ” Wow, I didn’t expect that.

  “Scott, I don’t see how this really affects Riley and me…” He puts a hand up to stop me.

  “Kathy tried to blackmail me too, but I told her no effing way. That’s the reason she sent the letter to Riley; I wouldn’t pay her a cent and Erin stopped her payments a few months ago. I know this doesn’t change how I treated Riley all these years, but I want to show you this—proof that I do love her. ” With a shaky hand he passes me the folder.

  I can’t believe my eyes when I thumb through the pages. He changed his will and he’s leaving everything to Riley. The house, money, stocks and bonds, the only other asset is the law firm and that would go to his partner. She won’t accept any of this; all she wanted was a chance to get to know a father that abandoned her all those years ago.

  When I check the left hand pocket of the folder I can’t help but suck in a breath.

  Oh. My. God.

  Glancing up at Scott I see tears coursing down his cheeks. My whole body breaks out in chills. When I look back down at the paper I’m holding in my hand, my eyes focus on the original date the document was drawn up. December 10, 2001. Three weeks after Scott walked out on Riley and Kathy, he had every intention of adopting her.

  “Kathy wouldn’t sign the papers; I offered her a very large sum of money to do so, but she refused. What I don’t understand is why she would treat her own flesh and blood like she did; she was such a good mother when I lived there. I can’t forgive myself for what I put Riley through and I certainly don’t blame her for hating me. I hate myself. ” He scrubs his hands over his face. When he looks at me I can’t help feeling sorry for him.

  “Scott, when did you plan on telling her you weren’t her father? Clearly you had the new adoption papers drawn up a few weeks ago. What happened?” Closing the folder I hand it back to him.

  “It never seemed like the right time—circumstances were not on my side. You of all people should know all the shit that Riley and you have been through. I waited too long and now it’s too late. She won’t have anything to do with me. Hunter, I appreciate you taking the time to let me share that with you. It was important to me. ” When he extends his hand I suddenly get a very crazy idea.

  “Why don’t you come upstairs with me, Scott? Show her the folder and let her decide what she wants to do instead of us making a decision for her. You’ve already lost one child, can you really afford to lose another?” Slinging my arm over his shoulder, we take a few deep breaths before climbing the stairs.

  Riley

  I started packing up the apartment while he was at work. I’m hoping he thinks it’s a great plan. So by the time he came strolling through the door with Scott in tow, I was exhausted. To say I was angry would be an understatement—I was livid. It’s apparent to both of them by the scowl that appears on my face, I’m not happy. Did Scott not hear me yesterday? Nothing he could possibly say would make me change my mind—not now—not ever. Until he calls me Riley bear, and the walls come crashing down.

  Now I’m lying on the couch with a cool towel pressed against my forehead. When I open my eyes I see Hunter’s cerulean eyes inches away from mine. Scott’s hovering over his shoulder, concern creasing his brow. “Baby, are you okay?” He leans in, his warm lips replacing the towel that was just there.

  “I’m fine, really. ” Sitting up slowly, I glance up at Scott. He looks exactly the way I feel—lost.

  “Scott, maybe you should come back another day. When Riley’s feeling better, give her a few days. ” Hunter grabs my hand, lacing his fingers through mine as he sits down next to me.

  “No, whatever it is you came to tell me do it now before I change my mind. ” He nods his head once as he hands me the folder he’s been clasping.

  Hunter’s arm slips around my shoulder, pulling me in, his other hand caressing my cheek. My eyes connect with his. “Remember, you’re not that frightened six-year-old girl any longer. You turned into a loving, caring, and forgiving woman and you did this all on your own. ” When he leans in to kiss me, a whispered “I love you” tumbles from his lips for my ears only.

  Taking a deep breath I open the folder that changes my life forever.

  The next few weeks were chaotic, as school was starting soon and Hunter and I were moving. Dad insisted that Hunter and I move into the “big” house while he moved into the apartment. He’s at the office more than he’s home anyway, so I guess it was a win-win situation. It’s great to have Rosie as our personal chef and housekeeper, but I insist on helping her out as much as I can. Paul’s still driving me wherever I need to go, but Hunter promises me I’ll get my license soon.

  When Ashley called to let me know her grandmother passed away, I felt helpless. I wanted to be there for her so much, like she’d been there for me all those years. Within a few hours, Hunter had our bags packed, our flight and hotel room booked and Paul was driving us to the airport. Our reunion was bittersweet under the circumstances, but we were able to spend a few days together after the funeral. Hunter had thought of everything.

  I wasn’t worried about running into my mother while I was home, because Erin had enough evidence to have her arrested for blackmail. Unfortunately, by doing so her husband found out after all these years that Brady wasn’t his son and asked her for a divorce.

  It’s the last weekend before school starts so all three of us, Hunter, Dad and I are going on a road trip we’d been talking about for a few weeks now. After everything we’ve all been through over the summer, it seemed appropriate—we all need closure so we can put the past behind us and move on with our lives.

  Everyone’s lost in their own thoughts, making the drive too quiet. I steal glances at Hunter every once in a while; he looks passive. But when he catches me staring at him, he grabs my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist. He knows what that does to me.

  When I gasp he can’t help smiling. “You okay?” He’s always putting my feelings above his own.

  “More than okay. How about you?” I thread my fingers through his.

  “I’m fine. ” He winks at me. “We’re almost there. ” For a split second I see the sadness in his eyes, then it’s gone. He takes a deep breath before focusing on the road once again.

  We take the same exit as we would if we were going to the cottage. This time we bear right instead of left, heading into the city. I’ve never been to this part of town so when he drives through the gates I’m shocked that we’re already here. Dad climbs out of the backseat as Hunter comes around to open my door. I feel the butterflies doing somersaults in my stomach as he guides us down the path to our destination. The bouquet of flowers I’m clutching tightly in my hands is wafting in the breeze and releasing its sweet fragrance.

  When Hunter stops at the edge of the path I look up to see a beautiful boy laughing and looking back at us. We walk a few feet across the grass and stand directly in front of Brady’s headstone. Hunter sits on the grass and reaches out to touch his brother’s face. That small but significant gesture has me sobbing like a baby. Dad puts his arm around me as I hear him sniffle. When Hunter begins to talk to his brother I want to fall to my knees and ask God to take me and give Brady back to him.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t come by as much as I used to, but I’m sure you’ll understand when I tell you the reason why. I met a girl and fell madly, deeply, head over heels, crazy in love with her. Her name’s Riley and she came here with me today. ” When he glances up at me I fall to my knees beside him, placing the flowe
rs in front of me.

  While he’s staring into my eyes he continues talking. “Brady this is Riley; she’s going to be my wife one day. I haven’t properly asked her yet but I’m pretty sure she’ll say yes. ” My heart’s beating so fast I feel like I’m going to face plant. Did he just ask me to marry him in a roundabout way?

  “There’s someone else here today. You remember Scott?” He turns to look at my dad who’s already fallen to his knees on Hunter’s other side. “I don’t know how to explain this to you but he’s more than just a friend. He’s actually your biological father. I won’t go into details—you’ll have to trust me on this one. The thing is he would have been a better dad for you than the one you were stuck with. I’m sorry, bro. ” Now Scott’s bawling into his hands.

  “I came here today to say goodbye. We all did. We need to put the past behind us and focus on our future.” I look up when I hear Hunter chuckle. “Remember when you asked me how much I loved you, and I told you to count the stars and multiply it times a million? I was wrong—I should have told you to multiply it by a billion, because that’s how much I love you. ” He puts his arms around the both of us and we say goodbye to the beautiful laughing boy.

  Epilogue

  Four years later

  Hunter

  Riley stands on her tiptoes so I can give her a kiss for luck before she takes her place in line. She looks amazing in her cap and gown and I’m crazier about her now than the day we met.

  Slowly walking backwards so I can capture this moment on my cell phone, I catch Riley as she blows me a kiss. A huge grin spreads across her face. Reaching my hand in the air I pretend to catch it before tucking it in my shirt pocket. She giggles. I’m horrified when I suddenly bump into someone and my eyes widen as I turn around to give them my apologies. When I glance back at Riley I shrug my shoulders. She’s clutching her stomach because she’s laughing so hard, and she’s so damn beautiful.

  Now I cross the expanse of lawn in a quest to find Scott. He went ahead to find us a few good seats close to the makeshift stage, because Riley requested tons of pictures, stating she won’t remember a thing. I just settle in my seat when Pomp and Circumstance begins, cueing the graduates to start their journey to the stage. Hearing that song reminds me of my graduation three years ago and everything we’ve been through since then.

  My dad did divorce my mother after the truth about Brady came out, but they still run the company together claiming it’s a partnership, not a marriage. She tried to contact me several times over the years to beg me to forgive her. When I didn’t answer my phone or text messages, she stopped calling. I can’t forgive her for hurting the people I love—Brady, Riley and even Scott. He never had the chance to know his son and a part of me thinks Brady would still be alive if she had just been honest with Scott.

  Riley decided to sign the adoption papers after going to therapy with her dad. She came to realize that it wasn’t fair for him to give up his life to save hers. He wasn’t in love with her mother and it would have been wrong for him to stay for the sake of the “child. ” After all, it was only a few years ago when we made a pact to put the past behind us and move on.

  She hasn’t had any contact with her mother since she moved to South Carolina and that’s fine by me. To quote Riley’s exact words, “I don’t feel sorry for her; she got what she deserved. I lived in my own prison for years and now she knows what it feels like. ”

  I officially asked Riley to marry me on our first Valentine’s Day. She said she had to “think” about it. She gave me her answer as I was making love to her later that night. It was Yes, Yes, Yes. I can’t help smiling when I think about it because I thought she was caught up in the moment. My bad.

  When it was time to decide where we would have the wedding I went online and browsed the fancy country clubs in the area wanting to surprise her. Imagine my surprise when she told me she wanted to get married on the beach, in the exact same spot we had all our bonfires. It was the most thoughtful and perfect wedding present she could have given me since this day is supposed to be all about her. So on Friday, June 30th as the sun sets in the brilliant sky Riley Hamilton will become my wife. Afterwards, when we’re having our first dance as husband and wife I know there will be a special someone peering through the blanket of stars, sending his love times a million.

  TLandauer@a-p.com