Chapter 47
Kaden
Seven days have passed since my dad and Hope’s parents reconnected, ending thirty-seven years of silence.
They’ve kept in regular contact ever since, and Frank has even invited my dad over whenever he wishes—for a barbecue, or simply to share a bottle of whisky together, just like the old days, he had said.
This is exactly what my father needs to reclaim some of the peace and happiness he lost so long ago. At least now, I can see him truly living and enjoying his life, rather than being trapped in a shed out the back of his house for all hours of the day.
They’re still making up for lost time, and though their lives have changed in countless ways, some things remain comfortably familiar.
Just like last night, when Dad picked Frank up in his classic Jaguar.
The energy and expressions on their faces as my dad pulled out of the gates were both amusing and heart-warming, like two teenage boys taking their first car for a spin after getting their licenses, and reliving the carefree thrill of their youth.
For a moment, it felt as if nothing had ever come between them, as though their friendship had always stood the test of time. It was the first time I had ever seen my father so happy—so unburdened, as if nothing weighed on him: no worries, no stress, just pure, unadulterated joy.
Today, however, the mood is a little more sombre. It’s the first time my father will be visiting his ex-wife’s gravesite at the Wattle Grove Memorial Park. He carries a fresh bouquet of pink chrysanthemums, remembering how much she loved them, as Hope guides us towards her aunt’s burial plot.
A few minutes later, we’re standing on a wide stretch of land, the lone headstone less than a few feet away from us, the rest of the section still empty, waiting to be filled.
“My aunt is the first to be buried here. It’s one of the newer lots in the cemetery, and one that my parents have reserved for our family—as morbid as that might sound.”
The patch of grass is soft and lush, the area impeccably maintained, and the headstone itself is beautiful—Carrara marble with a grey granite base, bearing the name McPherson in big bold letters—her marital name.
As we step closer, the inscription on the stone comes into clear view.
In loving memory of Amber Janine McPherson.
March 30, 1957—June 26, 2018.
A beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, and aunt.
Loved beyond words, cherished beyond measure, remembered for eternity.
Releasing a long, heavy breath, my father leans down and carefully places the flowers beside the headstone.
His back is to us, so I can’t see the expression on his face, but just as he tries to straighten, he suddenly falls to his knees with a soft thud, as if all his strength has abandoned him.
He presses his forehead against the base, his hands gripping the earth beneath him.
The broken sounds that escape him next are utterly heartbreaking—silent sobs that swell into wailing, as if he physically cannot control his cries.
His body shakes with the force of his grief, and all Hope and I can do is stand back and watch, giving him this moment to release it all: years of heartache, pain, sorrow, and loss.
“I’m so sorry, Amy,” he sobs into the grass. “God… I’m so, so sorry.”
Hope tucks herself beneath my arm, her hand fisting into my shirt as she tries to muffle her own cries against my chest. I pull her closer, holding her tight, and press tender kisses to the crown of her head.
Our hearts break alongside my father’s as he whispers his apologies over and over.
In all my years, I have rarely seen him cry—not at the birth of my brother, Dylan, not when two of his friends died in an accident, not even when his own parents passed away.
The only time I have ever truly seen my father break is when it has something to do with the woman whose headstone he now kneels before.
Dad slowly lifts his head and leans back, settling onto his haunches. His shoulders sag forward, and his breathing is uneven and shaky from the force of his sobs, but somehow, he keeps himself upright.
“Forgive me for being late—it took me longer than I ever expected to get here. But I’m here now, and I promise I’ll visit again and again, so we can finally catch up on all the years we’ve lost.”
My father lowers his head, drawing in a sharp, ragged breath. Hope looks up at me with a sad smile, knowing we’re witnessing something truly beautiful between my dad and her late aunt. Even if she’s no longer physically here, we know she’s listening—wherever she may be.
“Was it you who pulled a few strings so that Kaden and Hope would find each other, or was it simply the work of Lady Destiny? Because whatever cosmic force brought them together, I will be forever grateful. It led me back to you—and back to your family. But it also gave my son the kind of happiness he once believed he didn’t deserve to feel again.
“And Hope, she reminds me so much of you. Sometimes I can even see that same fierce spark in her eyes, the very same I used to see in yours. She is as beautiful and kind-hearted as her aunt, as her mother, and I can’t wait to get to know her better.”
Hope closes her eyes and nestles her face into the crook of my neck, listening to my father speak with such deep yearning and affection. It’s a side of him I’ve never seen before, almost as if I’m looking at a completely different person—the real him, the man who once belonged to his Amy.
“What I really wanted to say—what I’ve waited thirty-seven years to tell you—is that I’m sorry.
I miss you, and I want to thank you for the wonderful life we shared.
For showing me what it felt like to be truly loved and cared for.
Even though it never worked out for us, I always knew that we were exactly where we were meant to be. ”
He pauses briefly, his next words catching before he clears his throat and continues.
“I’ve seen your family, and the beautiful life you’ve built.
I’ve never seen you look so genuinely happy.
And that makes me happy. It’s all I ever wished for you.
As for me, I have two wonderful boys who grew into men I’ll always be proud of.
They’re my whole world, my reason for living, and I only wish that they could have met you when you were still here. ”
My father glances over his shoulder, his eyes meeting mine, and for a brief moment, we share something unspoken, something profound, something meaningful. He was never one to express his feelings, but for the first time in my life, I truly feel the depth of his love.
“Wherever you are—wherever God has led you—I hope you’ve finally found peace.
I hope you’re no longer suffering, no longer in pain.
Most of all, I hope you’re sitting back with a big smile on your face, enjoying all the wine and cheese your heart desires.
Because you, my dear, have so much to celebrate.
You lived the life you’ve always dreamed of and became everything you always wanted to be—a wife and mother.
“I will miss you, but more than anything, I will always remember you. Rest peacefully, my darling. I will see you soon.”
Lifting two fingers to his lips, he then gently presses them against the small photo of Amber embedded in her headstone. He slowly rises and with small steady steps, makes his way back to us. The moment he reaches us, Hope and I wrap him in a tight hug.
“I love you, Dad,” I whisper to him.
“I love you too—both of you,” he says, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek, and then to Hope, who smiles up at him.
He pulls back, and tucks his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
“Ready to go, Dad?”
He looks back at the headstone, then at us once more. “Yeah, I am,” he says, nodding slowly. “I got what I came here for.”
“And what’s that?” Hope asks softly.
He lets out a soft sigh, and seconds later, a slow, warm smile spreads across his face.
“Closure,” he murmurs, his voice low and steady. “I finally got closure.”
Hope
After dropping Troy back home, we collapse onto my couch, exhausted by the heaviness of everything that had just unfolded.
It was a raw and deeply touching moment watching Troy finally receive the closure he had so desperately needed, especially after all these years.
My heart ached for him, yet at the same time, it swelled with warmth.
He had loved my aunt with every fibre of his being, and the first chance he ever got to see her again was in a cemetery.
I can’t even begin to imagine what that kind of experience would feel like.
“That was pretty intense, huh?” Kaden says, leaning his head back as he stares up at the ceiling.
“Yeah, it was. But there was something so beautiful about it too.”
“I think this might be the push he needed to finally start reflecting on his future, and the kind of life he wants with my mother. Whether that means staying in a loveless marriage or finally walking away.”
“Was it always that bad?” I ask, genuinely curious. “I mean, your parents have been together for so long—surely there has to be some love there.”
“I don’t think there ever was,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “If there had been, I never saw it or felt it. They married out of convenience and obligation—because they were pregnant with me. But their hearts had never belonged to each other.”
I shake my head, unable to comprehend how two people could choose to remain in a marriage that makes them so miserable. “It’s so sad. I could never live like that. I’d rather be single and alone for the rest of my life than be with someone who doesn’t truly love or appreciate me.”
Kaden sits up and reaches for me, guiding me onto his lap. My hands settle on his shoulders as he holds my gaze.
“You’ll never have to worry about that with me. I’ll always make sure you know how I feel about you.”
“And how do you feel about me, Kaden Nicolas Grant?” I tease, lightly tapping the tip of his nose with my finger.
His gaze drifts from my eyes to my lips, and then back again.
“I feel like the happiest and luckiest man alive when I’m with you.
I feel hopeful and excited about the future because I know you’ll be by my side through it all.
I feel wanted, cared for, and truly appreciated, like I can be myself and you’d still accept me as I am.
You make me want to keep challenging myself, to be a better person than I was yesterday. ”
His hands tighten around my hips, his striking green eyes holding mine captive as he speaks his next words. “But more than anything, Hope… I’ve fallen, madly and completely, head over heels in love with you.”
“Kaden,” I whisper, struggling to swallow around the lump in my throat.
He quickly shakes his head, stopping me from continuing. “You don’t need to say anything, baby. I just wanted you to know how I really felt about you.”
Cupping his jaw, I lean down and press my lips to his, pouring every ounce of emotion into the kiss.
“I know I don’t have to say anything back, but I feel like I need to.
Because, Kaden, what you don’t realise is…
I’ve fallen for you too. Even when my mind tells me it’s too soon, my heart already knows what it wants.
It wants you—every single part of you, the good and the bad—because all of it has made you the man you are today.
I’ve never been more grateful to have someone like you in my and Zac’s life.
And to finally call you mine, feels fucking fantastic.
I love you, Kaden. More than I ever expected to. ”
The smile that slowly spreads across his face sends a soft flutter through my chest.
“I love you too, angel. More than you could ever know.”
He grips the back of my neck and seals his mouth over mine.
His kiss is intense, deep, and all-consuming, leaving me feeling dizzy and breathless.
The moment he pulls back, and our eyes meet, I see it all there—hope, excitement, happiness…
love. And when he kisses me again, and again, and again…
something stirs deep in chest—something I haven’t felt with a man in a very long time.
Home.