Chapter 43
Chapter Forty-Three
Derek
M e: Dinner and drinks tonight? 7 at The Tap?
I type out a quick text to Teddy. A moment later, my phone buzzes.
Teddy: Perfect. See you there.
We haven’t talked since he brought me the envelope of proof, and I need to purge all of this craziness.
“The kids will be fine with me tonight,” June says, patting me on the back. “You need to get out of this house for a bit before you go crazy and stay here as a hermit forever.”
“A hermit has its upsides.”
“It doesn’t.” She laughs. “I’m glad you reached out. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten quality time with the two of them.”
“Eric is just excited you promised him apple pie.” I chuckle. “We miss having you here daily.”
“My stomach especially does,” Casey calls from the living room. “Dad does not cook as good as you do.”
June laughs as I shake my head.
“Ungrateful,” I joke.
“I’ll spoil these babies rotten. You go do what you need to.”
“Thanks, June.” I laugh before I say bye to the kids and make my way outside.
She’s right. I need time outside of the house and away from the stress of everything, if even for a bit.
I push open the door to The Tap twenty minutes later, our favorite local bar where the lighting is dim, the food is comforting, and everyone minds their own business—a rare thing for Hicks Creek. I spot Teddy immediately, already seated in a booth near the back with a beer in front of him. He waves me over, a small grin on his face.
“Glad you could make it,” he says as I slide into the seat across from him.
“Glad you’re here,” I reply, signaling the server for a drink. I hesitate for a moment before meeting his eyes. “It’s been a rough few days.”
Teddy nods, his expression softening. “I heard. You’ve been through a lot, and I get it. You’ve had the world thrown at you.”
I take a sip of my drink, the cold bitterness grounding me. “You really came through.”
He raises his brows, looking curious. “What’d you find out? You met with Mike, didn’t you?”
I sigh, running a hand over my face. “Where do I start? They have tried to sell the orchard to that company and even forged my signature, I guess.”
“What?”
“Mike found a copy that the company was trying to file, and the girl in the circuit clerk’s office noticed that it wasn’t my signature. She was the clerk who filed the paperwork for the sale Sharon did, removing the Livesays from the deed. She told them she needed to make copies and had someone call the sheriff. When she went back to David and Nora, she told them it looked like the signature wasn’t right and would need me to come in. They got belligerent.”
“Is that when the sheriff showed up?”
“Nope. Lena came in to calm them down and blurted out that the orchard wasn’t theirs and showed them the deed. She tried to stall them, but they took off before any deputies arrived.”
“And that’s why they came back to burn the place down?”
“I think. They’re not talking now. After Nora admitted to being tied to the arson, they’re keeping their mouths shut.”
“But it wasn’t David you chased.”
“No, I wonder if it’s tied to that Oakmont Holdings,” I say.
“It’s possible. I’ve heard they’re pretty shady.”
“I’m glad Sharon took the orchard from her parents, but she only did it so she could sell to the resort company. I’m still struggling with how I feel about it.”
“That’s a tough blow, I’m sure.”
“I know I wasn’t a great husband. I wasn’t always present because of the farm and…maybe, maybe she thought selling it would change things.”
“You treated her like a queen from what I could see. However, I’ve been told farm life isn’t for the faint of heart.”
“It’s not. We have a good staff now, but it wasn’t always this way. Now that I’ve got everything implemented that I wanted to, I’m able to spend more time with the kids and be present. I guess she couldn’t wait for that.”
“You’ll never understand it, so don’t try to wrap your head around it.”
“You’re right. I think I’m just numb. They really…they tried to catch the orchard on fire and didn’t give two shits that the kids were in the house.”
“They’re not good people.”
“No, they’re not. At least I don’t have to deal with them anymore or pay them royalties. There’s so much more important stuff I should be focusing on now.”
Teddy nods, taking a long sip of his beer before he looks at me seriously. “Speaking of important things…are you going to apologize to my sister?”
I blow out a breath, guilt twisting in my gut. “Yeah. I…I know I need to. I’m the biggest idiot for the way I treated her. But honestly, Teddy, I don’t even know where to start.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “Admit you were wrong and that you’re a jerk. It will go a long way.”
I manage a weak smile. “It’s true. I’ve been trying to work through all of this—the betrayal with Sharon and the realization that I didn’t know the people I thought I could trust. It’s a lot to handle, but… that’s no excuse for how I treated Amber. She didn’t deserve that.”
He nods thoughtfully. “Sounds like you’ve got it figured out, then. So what’s holding you back?”
I don’t respond right away. I can’t stop thinking about Amber—how she looked the last time I saw her, hurt and confused, waiting for me to at least acknowledge her. I’d been so wrapped up in my own mess that I hadn’t thought about how my behavior would hurt her. All I can think about now is how much I miss her and how empty it feels without her presence in my life.
“I don’t know,” I finally say, my voice quieter. “I was so angry, so wound up in my own bitterness. And I…I pushed her away because it was easier than facing the fact that she’s been nothing but good to me.”
He looks at me, something understanding in his gaze. “Derek, she’s got a big heart. If you’re honest with her, she’ll hear you out. You’re not the only one who’s been hurt here. She knows what it’s like to go through something messy and painful. And from what I can tell, she’s crazy about you.”
All this time, I’ve been so focused on my own pain that I ignored what I had right in front of me. I’d let my anger cloud my vision, and in doing so, I’d hurt the one person who’d been a steady, unwavering presence in my life. And now…all I want is to make things right with her, to be worthy of the kindness she’s always shown me.
For the first time in a long time, the fog around my heart clears, and I know what I need to do. Amber deserves better, and I’m done letting my pain dictate my life. She’s shown me what loyalty looks like, and if I have any chance of fixing things, I need to show her the same in return.