I watch her and then hear Brady from behind. “Are you going to read it?”
Liv must have told him about the letter from Nate. I haven’t been to see my father in years. Liv goes more than any of us. While I don’t talk about it much, I may have more hatred for my father than I did my mother. Only recently, after making many of my own catastrophic mistakes, have I given thought to forgiving him.
“Not yet,” I answer, spinning to face Brady.
“You should.”
“Not here.” He presses his lips together. “What? Say it . . . You think I should?”
“I think today’s a day to let go of the past, and Nate helped me do that once.” He walks away, leaving me to decide.
Fuck it! Let’s see what my father has to say. I sit back at the wedding table and unfold the letter.
Aidan,
I don’t blame you for not coming to see me. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about you. I want you to know how sorry I am for not being a better father. Of the three of you, I know it was you that discovered the truth. I should have come clean. Instead, I let you carry the burden and that was wrong. I failed you and I hope one day you can forgive me.
Liv tells me you’re getting married and you have a son. You were always a kind and thoughtful child, and I know despite everything, you’ll be a great husband and father. I’m proud of you, son. You’re a better man than I and you deserve happiness.
Take care,
Your father, Nate
I wad the paper in my hand, fisting it tight. Anger and hurt, combine with a genuine sadness I hate feeling. I want to hate my father and hold an eternal grudge, but I can’t. After everything that I’ve done, I finally understand my father. I know why he covered up for my mother, why he couldn’t tell her no. He loved her. Right or wrong, foolish or not, it didn’t matter. Loving her was insanity, but we don’t get to choose. Once love latches on, we will do anything to keep the person of our affections. I did.
“You okay?” Liv asks, filling the seat next to me.
I nod. “Yeah. Thanks for this,” I say, holding the balled up letter.
“Thank him, someday . . . when you’re ready.”
“I love you, Livvy.”
She lowers her head on my shoulder. “Love you too, bother.”
The Hunter children are survivors. Brady and I found love, and I hope one day, my sister can too.
“Here comes your bride and I have to find Tori,” Liv says before kissing the top of my head.
I round the table and pull Peyton into my arms just as the announcer calls for a father/daughter dance. Phil whisks Peyton away from me. I can’t hear what Phil says to Peyton while leading her across the dance floor, but the smile on her face assures me whatever it is makes her happy. Once the song ends, Peyton returns to my side as the DJ announces it’s time for the mother/son dance.
How the fuck can I dance with my mother? And how in the hell did the wedding planner screw up the details? The stab of anger through my chest has me balling my fists, but then the DJ requests Peyton join Javier on the dance floor. The anger transforms to pride. Thanks to Peyton, Javier won’t ever know the pain that crushed me moments ago. He’ll have all the mother/son moments he deserves.
“Did you plan this?” Peyton asks, her eyes welling with thick tears.
I shake my head. “No. I assumed you arranged it.”
“Mom.” Javier pulls on Peyton’s arm. “May I have this dance?” he asks all gentlemanly, as though he’s been practicing.
Those tears now race down Peyton’s cheeks as she takes Javier’s hand and follows him to the dance floor. Javier performing the waltz perfectly tells me he’s definitely been prepped for this moment. I turn my head in time to catch Liv and Tori huddled together slapping fives. I’ll have to remember to thank them later. Of any gift we’ll receive today, this is the one we’ll always remember.
It was hard enough holding back tears when my wife and son danced together for the first time as mother and son, but when Tori and Liv stand to give a shared toast, I know I’ll be reduced to a blubbering mess.
Tori starts. “Tug, I mean Aidan. On behalf of your family, we want you to know how proud we are of you. We always knew you’d find someone willing to put up with your crap.”
The crowd erupts into hysterics and I release the breath I’d been holding. Maybe I can escape without crying like a baby.