“Um, sure.” I take a seat beside him. “Mr. Benson, you are doing better right? You’re sober, going to AA, and working on your grief, right?”
He nods. “I was wondering if maybe you can talk to Jake and get him to forgive me. I’m glad he could fall in love with a sweet girl like you.”
I give him a smile. “I’m lucky to have him. I’ll try to talk to him.” I stand and go inside, up the stairs to Jake’s room. I knock and hear that voice that I love so much call me in. I peek inside, seeing him lay on his bed doing homework. When he sees me, he sits up. “What are you doing here,” he asks as I come to sit on the bed beside him.
“I need to talk to you.”
The smile fades as concern takes over.
I bump shoulders with him. “Hey, it’s nothing bad.”
“Well, what is it,” he asks.
“I was thinking and I have come to a decision.” I pause. “I love you more than I thought possible and I just felt that I needed to tell you.”
He smiles. “Sweetness, I’m so happy to hear that. I promise I’m going to do everything it takes to make you happy.”
I lean over and give him a kiss. “Well, there is one other thing I would like to talk to you about,” I say taking his hand. His eyes search mine and I forge ahead before I back out of my plan. “I think you should forgive your dad.” He sighs and lays back down.
“Jake, just listen to me. I talked to him outside.”
“You talked to him?”
“Yes. He’s doing better Jake. Why can’t you forgive him? Look at him now. He’s sober and he’s getting his life back. That counts for something and you need to forgive him. I really think that would further help him.” He didn’t say anything and after a minute, I sighed. “Will you just consider it? Please? For me?”
“I’ll think about it,” he says, pulling me to him. “You’re not going to leave now are you,” he asks after kissing me.
I give him what I hope is a sexy smile. “I was going to…do you have something else in mind?”
He chuckles, placing a kiss on my neck. “Oh, you know I do.”
I pull away from him and tell him, “Well, I’m sorry that I can’t stay.” I laugh at his fake hurt expression. “I’m not going to with people in the house. Maybe this weekend, though. I think my dad is working out of town.”
“I will be there.”
I give him a peck. “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.”
“I love you too Emily.” I stand up and go to leave.
Jake
After finishing my homework, I thought about what Emily said about my dad. He was doing better. I couldn’t deny that. He was starting to eat dinner with us, but it was awkward. I sighed. Maybe I should forgive him. But would it be a real forgiveness? I fell asleep thinking about it.
At lunch, I fill in Emily on what happened this morning. “My dad said that he wanted to take Drake out this weekend and spend time with him.”
“Really? That’s great Jake!,” she says.
I’m not so enthused. “I don’t know Sweetness. I don’t want him to start doing stuff with Drake and then just drop him again.”
“Have more faith in your dad, Jake. I have a good feeling about it.”
All I do is nod. We finish our lunch with small talk about school. “Sweetness?”
She glances up at me. “Don’t plan anything at all this weekend.”
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“Why?”