Chapter 30 #2
“You will if you really love me.” Hurt flashed in those rich orbs, but I could do nothing to soothe it.
He needed to do this on his own. I tore my eyes from him and looked at my family.
“There are things he’s about to tell you that could do damage to his family and business.
Nothing goes beyond this room. Understood? ”
“Fine,” Cash grumbled as the others nodded.
My mother gestured to the loveseat. “Sit, both of you.”
I pulled Gabe to it, sitting next to him.
Leaning forward, I picked up the glass of scotch that sat on the coffee table and handed it to him.
It had been my only ask of them aside from having them listen.
He looked at it, then at me, a sad smile forming.
He had told me how he’d turned to it when he’d left me, using it as his crutch to get by, and something told me he would need it today.
He took a swig, then leaned forward, elbows on his knees, looking down at the scotch as it swirled in his glass.
“Everything?” he asked again, peeking back at me. And I saw something in him he never showed. Fear. He didn’t want to go back to the memories, but they were the foundation of everything that had touched my life.
“The truth,” my father said. “And then I’ll decide if I want you anywhere near my daughter and my grandson.”
Anguish slashed Gabe’s face, and my heart ached at the same time it danced in the knowledge that his love for me and Reid was real. Strong enough to crush him if he had to leave us.
He dragged his hand through his hair and talked.
Starting from the beginning, the abuse, the devastating suicide, the pact with Liv, her insistence that he block me and erase his ties to me the day she had answered the phone, all the way to the day in the lobby.
The same day he’d taken down his father, and I had stepped back into his life.
By the time he finished, his glass was empty, my cheeks were wet, and silence hung over the room. His story was a powerful one, and my family needed to hear it if this was ever going to work.
Cash leaned forward, rubbing his hand down his face. I knew he’d expected excuses and nothing like what Gabe had just given him.
“I remember when your father checked in that week,” my father said, finally breaking the silence. “And you.”
Gabe’s sight slipped to my father.
“You went into the sitting room where Tori was coloring.” I couldn’t stop my gasp. “He was pissed when he realized you had moved. It’s his reaction that always stuck with me. I had known the name the minute I saw it and figured he was checking us out to propose a buyout.”
“I remember that day,” my mother agreed, taking his hand. “We were nervous for months because he had a reputation for being hostile when he wanted a property.”
“My mother loved it there, but he would never let her come back.” He rubbed his neck, and I rested my hand on his forearm.
“He dragged you out of that room where you were with Tori and smacked you so hard as he walked you down that hall that I said something to him.” My father’s eyes grew sad.
“I’d forgotten all about it until just now.
I’d never seen a father treat his child like that.
You hear stories and see the news but…to see it.
” He wiped his eyes. “I told him if I saw him do it again, he could find someplace else to stay. Your mother was with him. I knew it wasn’t my business, but you were so young, and Tori was so upset by it. She cried all night.”
My head was spinning. Gabe and I had met when we were children, and I’d never known, the memory lost like a melting snowflake.
“No wonder your father didn’t want you marrying me,” I mumbled.
Cash sat back, his focus intent on Gabe, as Brandi rubbed his shoulder.
“So,” Cash said, “you left to protect my sister and my family. And if you hadn’t…”
“He would have had the excuse to take the resort that he’d been waiting for. A reason to break his promise to my mother.”
“A promise she had him make because she knew he would turn his anger on me for standing up for you,” my father added.
The pieces of a puzzle I hadn’t known existed fell into place.
I rose, leaving everyone in the silence that settled over them, and grabbed the scotch from the kitchen. Returning, I filled Gabe’s cup and took a long drink, trying not to cough since I wasn’t a hard liquor drinker.
“God, how do you stand this stuff?” I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
“Years of practice,” he said, snatching the glass from me and finishing it.
“So…,” said Brandi. “Does that mean he’s staying?”
She was so sweet it was hard not to smile. The complete opposite of my brother with his overbearing temperament.
“Yeah,” my father answered, and the anxiety that had been building since Cindy put the idea in my head and Gabe accepted fled my body. “Gabe, I’d like a few minutes with you.”
He nodded and rose as my father gestured for him to follow.
Cash stood and stepped into his path. The two had a moment that caused my tension to return before Cash held his hand out.
“I still hate how you hurt her, and I hope she’s making you work to get her back, but if that’s her choice, I’ll stand by her.
” Gabe took his hand. “But don’t think I won’t make you work for it, too.
You weren’t there to pick up the pieces and put her back together. ”
“Neither were you,” I heard Cindy say. “I was the one who was there in the beginning, wiping her snotty nose and telling her she still looked pretty even though she has a really ugly crying face.”
“Shut up, Cindy,” I said as she sauntered over to me and gave me a big hug.
“The kids are playing dress-up in your room. Hope you don’t mind. Your prom dress has seen better days.” She cringed, then walked over to Gabe. Holding her arms out, she said, “Hey. If anyone had asked me last night if I’d be happy to see you, I would have punched them.”
“Don’t worry, Cash has already done that for you,” Gabe said, rubbing his jaw.
She gave him a hug, which he returned with some hesitation. “You hurt her again, and they’ll never find your body.”
“Warning noted,” he said, clawing his hand through his hair.
“Come on, Gabe. Let’s talk.” My father gestured for him to follow. After giving me another glance, Gabe trailed him.
“When you said he had a story, I thought it would be a bunch of bullshit excuses,” Cash said.
“So did I,” added Cindy.
My mother came behind me and gave my shoulders a squeeze. “Our Tori is smarter than that. I knew it had to be something big to get her to take him back.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Mommy, what does this say?” Reid and Shelby came running down the hall, a slip of paper in Reid’s hand.
I took it from him and unfolded the note. My hand flew to my mouth, tears flooding my eyes. “Where did you find this?” I managed.
“In the big white fluffy wedding dress,” Shelby said.
A sob came out as I stared at Gabe’s writing. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you, but if I stay, I will. Ti amer? sempre, luna mia.
Cindy took the note from me as the tears continued. He had left me something, and I’d never known, locking it away with my heart and my wedding dress all this time.
“Is that Italian?” she asked.
I nodded.
“What does it say, Tor?”
“I will always love you, my moon.”
“Luna mia,” said Reid, taking my hand. “That’s what Gabe calls you.”
I stooped down to him. “My moon.” I sniffed as his tiny hand wiped away my tears.
“Don’t be sad, Mommy.”
I took his hand and kissed it. “I’m not. These are happy tears.”
“Because Gabe is with us.”
I laughed, hearing my brother’s chuckle behind me. “Exactly.”
“Why does he call you that?”
I pulled him into my arms and kissed his head, my heart healing more as I said, “Because I’m his light in the darkness.”