Second Chance at Forever (Forever Book 2) (34 page)

“Jackson, I didn’t do anything to your grandfather but speak with him. Before you try and convict me of crimes you think I have committed, will you listen?” He silently nodded.

I started, “You must understand that this week has completely changed my life, and many secrets to my past were revealed to me. You and I knew two very different sides to Phillip Reed. My father was extremely controlling of me while growing up. Any independent amount of thinking that I managed to do, he was threatened by it. When I legally became an adult—your age as a matter of fact—his dominance increased beyond extreme heights. He wanted to, and most of the time, managed to control every decision I made.”

I continued, “Jackson, my entire outlook on life and my future changed the minute I met Reese Mitchell. I came to life when I met her. She gave me light in my life in areas that were dark and unforgiving. I was Phillip Reed’s only son, and I knew not cross him within reason. With Reese in my life, I had this level of confidence that I waved in front of my father like a victory flag, never knowing that it also enraged his hatred for her. Foolish in my thinking that I could go up against my father in my younger years, when I took over at Reed Global, that all changed. I was the one that held the power, and the roles were reversed. Little did I know that I was still secretly being deceived and betrayed. To learn that men I trusted and respected like Grandpa Henry hurt me to levels I can’t even begin to explain to you.”

I went on, “When your grandfather came to visit with me before he died, as you remember it was your birthday, but it was also the anniversary of your mother’s passing. It is a bittersweet day for me, as you well know. Even after all of these years, it still pains me that Elizabeth is gone, and you celebrate one more birthday without her. To see my father on this day completely derailed me. He was going on about how sorry he was for not being the father I deserved, asking me many personal questions. I wasn’t prepared for this, and I lashed out at him. His visit resurrected many hurt feelings that I kept to myself. For you, Jackson, I never wanted to show you my personal pain, so I buried those feelings along with your mother.”

I said, “My father was forcing me to say the words, and when I did, it only proved what I have always known: that my feelings for Reese, have never changed. I had no idea where she was in the world and how she was living her life, but I still loved and yearned to be with her. I felt sick to even be thinking of her on the same day I was still grieving for your mother. I shunned your grandfather and made him leave. He said his goodbyes to me, and I did the same. I never could predict that would be my last time spent with him.”

“Did you ever really love my mother?” Jackson asked. His question was justified, but as it needed to be answered, it still felt like a piercing stab through my heart.

“Yes. I did son.”

“You loved Reese more?”

“Jackson, how I can explain it to you when I don’t understand it all myself? No matter what I say, you still are going to be looking at me with hurt in your eyes. I can’t bear the thought knowing I’m the one that has put it there.”

“Just be honest with me, dad! Tell me the truth. Make me understand this.”

I took a few breaths and calmed my heavy beating heart. “The love I had for your mother was based on our friendship. All your grandparents were close friends with each other. Our families were connected by our social circle and by your grandfathers’ businesses. Elizabeth and I were children when we met. I spent every summer in the Hamptons, and so did Elizabeth. I called her a tag along and teased her relentlessly. She was tough and never gave up. She followed me everywhere, and then she rightfully put me in my place one day, and we were best friends ever since.”

I explained further, “As we grew up, somehow her feelings changed for me, and she fell in love with me. She confided her feelings to me one day, and when I tried to kiss her, it didn’t feel like fireworks to me. Your mother wanted more, but I never did. We remained friends, and then in my senior year at college, my world changed with the first sight of Reese. I simply fell in love, and wanted to be with her. Your mother knew how much I cared about Reese, and eventually gave me her blessing. Jackson, what I’m about to tell you will be very painful to hear, but if you want the truth then I will continue on.”

“Please, dad, I can handle it.”

“I thought I had it all figured out. I was going to graduate college, take over Reed Global, marry Reese, and ride off into the sunset. That fantasy never became a reality where Reese was concerned. My father had been threatening her for a while, and she kept me in the dark to his manipulations. When I finally discovered what he was doing, I had confronted and embarrassed him in front of our family and friends. I thought it was over, but I was so wrong. He drove Reese out of my life with lie after lie and continued to threaten to hurt her until she finally submitted to his demands. She was to leave me and never return to me…not ever. What I didn’t know at the time is that she was pregnant with my son…my first child, Jackson.”

I looked to my boy and tried to assess his reaction to this revelation, but all he did was sit there with a stoic expression on his face. He gestured to me to continue.

“Never giving up to try to reconnect with me, Reese tried to see me several times, but again, my father and his bullies stopped her. The stress was too much for her to bear, and she was completely separated from her friends, family, and me. She tried one more time to see me, but he didn’t stop her this time. Reese, overcome with sickness, sadly lost our child. A child that I never knew she was carrying. You see, Jackson? Every single detail I disclose to you will only bring more pain. I can’t be the one to do this to you.”

“Dad, it’s not you. This was grandfather, and if I’m ever to understand anything about this, then I need to know everything.”

“Fair enough. The rest you pretty much know already. Your mom saved me. I was drowning in my pain and misery. She kicked my ass back to the land of the living, and she helped me begin again. We became closer friends, then lovers. When Elizabeth told me that she was pregnant with you, something in my world just shifted on its axel. I was working in California, learning how to be the mogul my father wanted me to be, and now I was going to be a father. I was shocked to say the least, but never ever regretful of you Jackson, please believe that. I needed a few days to process the news, but Elizabeth left me, and with the grace of god, fate stepped in and gave me the push I needed to begin my new life with your mother. I never lied to her, Jackson. Elizabeth knew I cared for her, but loved another. Your mother had unconditional love for the both of us and never worried. She believed that in time, our love would grow into something more, and we would have the life she always wanted with me.”

I continued, “As I live and breathe, Jackson, we had our happily ever after. I married your mother with the full intention on forever being with her and raising you and any other children we might have had. I couldn’t wait to be a father and loved your mother for giving me the greatest gift that I could ever receive. Elizabeth gave me you, and for that…I am forever blessed and thankful.”

Jackson and I were both crying now. I had never allowed myself to really feel Elizabeth’s loss until now. My son fell into my arms and released his own pain and loss. We stood there for I don’t know how long until he gripped my shoulders to look at me.

“I love you, dad. I’m so sorry.”

“Jackson, you don’t have anything to be sorry for. Why would you say this?”

“I’m sorry for taking Grandpa’s side. I judged you before hearing your explanation. I had already made you to be the villain in this story, when clearly you were the victim.”

“Jackson, your mother was one of the kindest and generous people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and loving. I have to believe that she is looking down on us and wants me to be happy. I got my miracle on the day you were saved. Fate stepped in again and gave me another chance with Reese. Jackson, I have to take this chance with her. My father cheated me out of my future with Reese, and now I’ve been given another chance. Please, my son, allow me to have it.”

“I won’t stand in your way.”

“You will never be in the way, son, I promise you that. You will always be my first priority.”

“Can you answer me one more thing, dad?”

“Anything.”

“What about Grandpa Henry? Where does he fit in all of this?”

“Jackson, I can’t.”

“Dad, you promised. Please tell me.”

“Jackson, I’ve already said way too much than I ever wanted to. My father is gone, and I will never be able to make him pay for what he did to me, and to Reese. As for your Grandpa Henry, he also played a role in this deception. For you, Jackson, and only you, I made the decision to spare him.”

I explained, “Phillip left me papers proving that Henry was his partner in all of this mess, the one calling the shots. Henry has been misguided for many years now, and when Elizabeth died, I believe he felt that was his rightful punishment. Discovering all the missing pieces to the puzzle, my first thought was to seek revenge, but then you asked me not to. To see you look at me the way you did, hurt me more than you know. The two men that are responsible are Phillip and Henry. The visit to Arizona was to confront him with all that I knew.”

I said, “He came clean Jackson, and his biggest concern is not losing his one link to his daughter, and that is you. My relationship with Henry is over, but you’re a man now and can make your own decisions with the people you choose to have in your life. As long as Henry keeps his distance and doesn’t interfere with my affairs again, I will forever keep my promise to you.”

“He’s my grandfather. I can’t just cut him out of my life, dad.”

“Agreed. He is your grandfather, and he loves you very much. Your relationship with him is yours and yours alone. You just need to understand that whatever will be, I cannot have any part in it. Some things in life cannot be forgiven or forgotten. Henry Townsend is now my enemy, and nothing more.”

“Where does that leave me, dad? Am I your enemy now? Because I love him. A few hours ago he was just my grandpa. The same grandfather who I have loved my entire life. Now he’s your enemy? What the fuck?”

“Jackson! First of all, you’re my son. I love you beyond anything else in my entire life. Don’t ever question how I feel about you. For the first time in all the years that I have been your father, you have pierced my heart more than any
enemy
has done before. Why? How can you ever doubt me? I have never given you a reason to ever question me before? I just don’t understand it. You wanted the truth, you got the truth. As painful as it is to hear, it’s my life he fucked with all those years ago, and I will never forget what he did to me. They not only hurt me, but they hurt Reese and your mother, Jackson. I’m the one that has to carry this now, and live with their sins, or I can choose to cut it the fuck loose. I take choice two. I will not let my father, or Henry, ever have that control over me again.”

I went on, “My father got off easy by dying. Your grandfather Henry is getting a pass. Do you want to know why? Because of you! And my love for your mother. I don’t ever want to see you look at me like the way you looked at me earlier today. I don’t deserve it, son. Now I have told you everything, and my feelings toward Henry are my own. They don’t have to interfere with yours. It is up to you on how you want to move forward with all of this new knowledge you now know. Please, Jackson, do not make me feel guilty over that man. He is dead to me, and this is the last time I ever wish to discuss him again. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes.”

I turned away from my son to exhale the much needed breath that I had been holding since embarking on this fucked up conversation. Dammit! Dammit! I hated this, and I hated them for causing this rift between Jackson and me. The plane was silent, and I turned back to once again see my son in tears. I didn’t think my heart could be shattered anymore than to witness my son hurting. I took him in my arms to comfort him.

Jackson said, “I’m so sorry. Dad, please forgive me. I don’t even know what ever drove me to say what I said. I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Jackson, look at me.” I held his face in my hands and begged him to open his eyes and look at me. He did, but clearly he’s full of regret.

“You. Are. My. Son. And I love you with all of my heart. You never have to ask for forgiveness from me. I will love you unconditionally until I take my last breath.” He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly until he had no more tears to shed. I gestured to him to drink some water and sit with me. Our conversation was far from being over.

“I promise you, Jackson, everything will be alright.”

“I don’t see how, dad. What about Riley? And how she feels about my dad being with her mom? This is all like an
E: True Hollywood Story
, if you ask me. You can’t make this shit up.”

“Well my son, it is very real, and it happened to me. Let’s get home and return back to our lives. In a matter of weeks, you have a prom and a graduation to look forward to. I’m sure you want to have Riley be your escort.”

“Yes, that was the plan, but I don’t see how that’s even possible now.”

“Have faith, Jackson. A wise woman many years ago told me never to give up on faith and love. I didn’t believe her then, but I sure as hell do now.”

“Who was the woman?”

“Lila Mitchell. Riley’s great grandmother. She is an amazing woman with the kindest heart. She had given me a family ring to present to Reese whenever I was ready to propose to her. After Reese left me, I tried and tried to return the ring back to Lila, but she always refused. She always told me that true love will find her way back to me, and never give up. I still have that ring to this day.”

Jackson looked at me and said, “I guess she was right. You finally have your second chance with Reese. You two can have the future you always wanted to have. I hope I can have the same chance with Riley.”