When Forever Stays (The Forever Duet)

Twenty Six

TWENTY SIX

RHETT

The last thing I wanted to do was leave Dana behind. But this isn’t an ideal situation to make introductions between Dana, my son, and my son’s mom.

“RJ Hemlock?” Officer Bishop asks with a scoff after I give him my name.

“That’s right.”

“ID,” he says in a monotone before extending his hand.

I dig out my wallet, slide my driver’s license out, and hand it over to him. For the first time since I stepped up to the desk, the man looks up at me, but then he looks back at my ID. “This says Rhett Stryker.” I try not to roll my eyes like a teenager. “RJ Hemlock was my stage name.” Expecting this issue, I already have the contract to my apartment pulled up on my email and I show it to him. After a few moments of deliberation, he gives me a curt nod and hands my phone back to me.

“Oscar Davis was found trashing your apartment by the security guard at your complex. When he was placed under arrest, he kept repeating that the man who owned the apartment is his dad. Is that true?”

“Yes,” I say.

I grit my teeth as an odd mix of excitement and anger fills me. Excitement that Oscar finally acknowledged that I’m his father. Anger because the first time Oscar admitted to being my son was in front of a security guard while he was destroying my apartment.

We run through the motions, and I assure Officer Bishop that I have no intent of pressing charges and that I want to get Oscar out of here. After sorting everything out, I sit in the reception area and wait for Oscar to be brought out. I pull my phone out and scroll through my messages with Dana, and I can’t help but smile. Everything with her is both comforting and unexpected. It’s only been a day but I already miss her presence.

“I’ve been praying I’d find you here when I arrived.” Ashley plops down beside me, the dark circles under her eyes revealing the turmoil she’s endured.

“I told you I’d come,” I say.

“You did,” she agrees. “But I can’t say I’d blame you if you didn’t.”

Her statement has me raising my brows. “Oscar is my son. I’d die for that boy if I had to.”

Tears fill her eyes. “You’ve proven that.”

Carefully, I put my arm around her and pat her back, trying to infuse any kind of comfort I can. A few moments later, we hear footsteps before Oscar stands in front of us, staring down at us. I remove my arm from Ashley’s shoulders and stand.

Oscar has a look of disgust on his face. “You abandoned me when I was a baby?—”

Ashley cuts him off. “No, Oscar. RJ never abandoned us.” It’s clear the words pain her by the look on her face. It’s probably reminding her of our checkered past. The reminder pains me too.

“That’s right, he just never returned your phone calls. Because he didn’t want to take responsibility for his actions.”

My shoulders droop. “You were better off without me back then. I would have made a pretty crappy dad.”

“You were a crappy dad,” Oscar practically spits at me, then turns his head, looking away from me.

His words send a sharp pang to my chest, but I stand strong. “I deserved that.”

I look from Ashley to Oscar, praying God helps me find the right words to say. “Don’t get me wrong, I wish I could have known you from the very beginning. But I also wish I would have been a better person back then. I didn’t deserve you.”

I tentatively place my hand on his shoulder. “But that’s all in the past. And we can’t change the past. We can only try to be better in the future and leave our shortcomings to God.”

Slowly, Oscar turns back to face me, staring straight into my eyes, clearly checking to see if I mean my words. “Mom never said you were a Christian.”

“It seemed to me like you didn’t want to know much about me. So she respected what you wanted.”

Oscar looks between me and Ashley. “I guess that’s true.”

“I can’t change what I did or didn’t do in the past. But if it’s all right with you, I’d like for us to focus on the future.”

Despite not looking convinced, Oscar shrugs. “I guess we can try.”

We head over to my apartment, and Oscar takes several hours to clean up the mess he made with minimal help from me or his mom. Thankfully, he’s done no damage to my furniture. Once he’s cleaned everything up, I call my realtor to let her know it’s once again in showing state, and she tells me she already has a buyer ready to make an offer.

After Ashley and Oscar leave, I call Dana and update her on everything.

Dana’s response is one of understanding. “I’m glad you were able to get him out. But I know this isn’t easy on you. We’re praying for you back home. Take whatever time you need.”

“Thank you for understanding and the prayers. I need it. We all need it.”

“Of course,” she says with sincerity.

“I couldn’t ask for a better woman. I love you so much.”

After saying our goodbyes we hang up. Despite knowing she meant what she said, I have the intense need to be with her again. All while knowing I need to make sure Oscar knows I want a relationship with him before I go home.

The next day, Oscar, Ashley, and I go out to lunch and meet with my brother Caleb at a local diner.

There is some awkward small talk, but it doesn’t take too long for Oscar to open up to Caleb. Even though Caleb was afraid this unusual lunch would be uncomfortable, we are all able to fall into an enjoyable conversation.

“We should start hanging out some,” Caleb suggests. “I’d like to get to know my nephew. Besides, I’m way cooler than your dad.”

I roll my eyes, and Oscar laughs.

“It’d be cool to hang out with my dad and uncle,” Oscar says.

My heart sinks and Ashley sends me a wary glance. “Maybe that’s something that can happen a few times a year, but Rhett lives on Amber Island now. That’s why he’s selling his apartment.”

Oscar’s nostrils flare and he’s silent for several tense moments as things appear to click into place. “I thought you were just moving to a town nearby not across an ocean.” He narrows his eyes. “So you say you want to be a part of my life, and yet you want to live thousands of miles away from me. How am I supposed to believe you want a relationship with me?"

I raise my hands in a placating gesture. “This will be far from normal, but?—”

“But he has a life on Amber Island,” Ashley finishes.

Oscar points at his chest. “But he has a son who lives here.”

From out of the corner of my eye, I see Caleb’s attention bounce between me and my unconventional family.

I look at Oscar with all the sincerity I can muster and tell him, “I’ll have a place for you to stay, and you’d be welcome to visit anytime you want.”

“Really? You’d let me come stay with you?” I hear reserved excitement in Oscar’s voice.

Shrugging, I say, “I’m getting a new house built as we speak. I was hoping you’d want to come visit me regularly, so I made sure my house plan has a room specifically for you. You’ll even have your own bathroom. When you come over we can surf.” I rub the back of my head where it tingles, reminding me of the near-deadly situation I put myself in while surfing alone. “Or go golfing. I could teach you tennis too if you’d want.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Can you teach me how to play guitar?”

I crack a smile. “I figured that’d be a given.”

It’s clear by his expression he doesn’t completely believe me—and I can’t blame him—but I make it my mission to prove to him that I mean it. That I want my son in my life, no matter what.

The last three days with Oscar have been exactly what we needed. He’s stayed with me at my apartment and helped me pack up my things that I then sent to Amber Island. He’s become increasingly more open with me, something I’ve thanked God for countless times.

The buyer will move into my apartment less than three months from now which means I’ll need to crash with my brother whenever I come up to visit. Thankfully he’s on board with that and excited to connect with his nephew.

Our trip to the airport is full of jokes, laughter, and goodbyes. Oscar and I have started a relationship—something I’ve been praying for since I found out he existed. We’re in a good place right now, and I know that God will continue to bless us.

Ashley pulls up to the sidewalk at the airport. Other traffic bustles around us, but I can tell it’s more than driving nerves that have her clutching the steering wheel with white knuckles.

“I wish things could have been like this from the beginning.”

“Me too.” I shake my head and check the rearview mirror. Once I confirm Oscar’s wearing his headphones, I add, “As hard as this has been, it was meant to be like this. It all came together in God’s timing. I want to be the dad he deserves, there for him in every way possible.” I run my hands through my hair. “I’m so proud of how well you stepped into your role as his mom. Despite the random act of delinquency, Oscar is a good kid.” I turn to face Oscar, who’s taking his earphones out. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you better and I look forward to learning more about you.”

“Me too,” Oscar says.

I smile back at him and open my door. “This has been great. We’re going to do this again soon. Next time on Amber Island.”

“Sounds good.” He scratches the back of his neck.

Ashley and Oscar also get out of the car. Oscar grabs my suitcase from the trunk and plops it down next to me.

He surprises me when he pulls me in for a hug, and I firmly pat his back, swallowing down my emotions. “I mean it. I want to be a part of your life. I meant every word of that song.” My voice is raspy and full of emotion.

Oscar pulls back, looking confused. “How do you know I listened to it?"

“Then why else would you have gone to my apartment and trashed it?”

“You’re right, I did listen to it. Then I went straight to your apartment to talk to you.” He swipes under his nose. “Your real estate agent was there. She told me you were moving out of town and she was trying to sell your apartment.” He kicks at a pebble on the sidewalk. “So I snuck back in and trashed it, trying to get back at you.”

I nod. “Honestly, I can see why you’d be so upset.”

“I’m sorry,” Oscar says for the first time.

Ashley walks over to stand beside him and wraps an arm around his waist. “I knew when you were a toddler I’d be doomed once you became a teenager with your stubbornness.” She ruffles his hair. “I guess I should be thankful you waited until you were sixteen to throw your first tantrum.”

Oscar shakes his head, but a smirk is on his lips. Then he looks up and stares at me, and it’s like looking at a mirror into the past.

“I’ll call you when I make it back. And we’ll make plans for you to come down soon,” I say.

“Sounds good.” He pauses, then adds, “Dad.”

I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face or the tear that escapes. Then I pull him in for a strong hug and say goodbye to the son I recently learned existed and am beyond grateful to have.