Chapter 28 #2
She did not know if she and Philip had a chance. She could not say if Philip wanted them to. But she knew that no chance would be given if Philip was unable to do the bare minimum and forgive his brother when he was quite literally begging for it.
The past, as wretched as it was, needed to stay in the past. The future was where Iris had been looking of late, and that future started with a clean slate of forgiveness. And once it was found, then maybe she could heal. Philip, also.
“Philip, listen to your brother,” Iris spoke up.
Her announcement seemed to shatter the wall which stood between the two brothers, having them both lean back in surprise as they looked at her.
“Iris…” Philip’s expression softened as if he was only just now seeing her. “I… this doesn’t concern—”
“Don’t you dare say it does not concern me,” she cut him off.
“For better or worse, I am a part of your family, which makes Robert as much a brother to me as it does to you. And that he has come to you, his older brother, to apologize…” She widened her eyes at Philip. “The least you can do is listen.”
“I have listened.”
‘No,” she said. “If you had listened, you would have heard what he had to say. You would have considered his words—you would have understood their meaning. Yes, Robert has wronged you. He wronged me too, I might remind you. But where you were unable to forgive, I was happy to do so.”
Philip was frowning. “You were?”
“Of course I was,” she said with a sigh.
“And it’s not because I am not angry with what Robert did.
I am not about to forget it. But it takes a certain type of man to ask for forgiveness, however late it might come.
Just as it takes a certain type of man to give it.
” She raised an eyebrow at him, hoping her meaning to be clear.
“You want Robert to change? You want him to be different? How can he possibly be that, if you won’t forgive him for his mistakes? ”
“But… everything he has done…”
“Is in the past,” she pleaded. “Which is where they belong. Your brother wants a second chance and if you do love him like I know you do, you’ll give it to him.
Even if it means accepting that you too have made a mistake—and before you say that you have not, know that to be a lie…
” Her expression was pleading, and she could see it working with effect on Philip’s stubbornness.
“Everyone makes mistakes. We all err. But it is how we come back from those mistakes that matters. And…” A smile next, shared with both brothers.
“And that we have someone there to help us move on. Someone willing to forgive…”
She could see her words resonating with Philip. More than that, she could see him realizing the subtext to them. As much as this was about him and his brother, their own mistakes were no different. Just was their need to forgive them.
“I am sorry, Philip,” Robert said finally. “I have done so much wrong. More than I should be forgiven for. And if you do not wish to, I understand. I just want you to know that I am sorry. For everything.”
“And if I don’t forgive you?” Philip asked. “What then?”
Robert considered and then shrugged. “Well, that will be your mistake now, won’t it. But don’t worry, I’ll happily forgive you for it.”
The joke had the needed effect of forcing a smile from Philip’s lips that was soon joined by laughter. Philip shook his head and groaned. “You… I’m going to regret this.”
“For once, I don’t think you will.”
Robert stepped forward with his arms held wide and Philip embraced him. And then, for a few seconds, the two brothers hugged through their history and found forgiveness without the need to say it.
And Iris watched on.
As the silence built, she felt her heart begin to race. Now that Robert was dealt with, she was forced to wonder at the true reason that Philip had come here. Or if his reason might have changed, now that he was willing to forgive.
The brothers parted, smiling at one another.
“Thank you,” Robert said. Then he looked to Iris. “And thank you, Iris. I don’t deserve it, but you have no idea how much this means to me.”
“You are welcome.”
Philip cleared his throat. “Robert, you and I still have much to speak of. But if you do not mind, I didn’t come here to talk to you.” He was focused on Iris, his expression severe and unreadable.
“Right. Yes.” Robert cleared his throat. “I will just be going.” He was quick then to hurry across the garden and from sight.
And that left Iris and Philip alone for the first time since she’d left him.
For days now, she had convinced herself their parting was for the best, that it had to happen because they could not work together.
But to see him here now, before her, and after what she had just witnessed… it was all a lie.
Iris still cared for Philip. In fact, she was starting to suspect that she loved him, for what else could it be? How much pain she had felt? The sorrow that had followed her? The inability to move on? Yes, it had to be love, and it was just now that it hit her.
But how she felt was irrelevant, and that was the scariest thing of all. In the end, what might happen between them would come down to Philip and what he was willing to admit… if he even wanted to. The future was still uncertain, to be defined fully in the next few minutes.
And Iris, her heart racing, hope daring to peak its head out like the sun rising of a morning, dared to dream…