CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Easton
Palisade’s porch light was on when I pulled up at eight. Through the front window, I could see her father on the couch with Casey, the two of them watching something on TV. Normal. Peaceful. Everything in the past two days hadn’t been.
I sat in my truck, trying to organize my thoughts. What was I about to say? Hey, I’m about to tank my career for you. Hope that’s cool? Or maybe I’m still angry about the years you stole, but I love you anyway?
None of it sounded right.
I got out of the truck before I could overthink it anymore.
Palisade opened the door before I could knock, like she’d been watching for me. She looked exhausted. Her hair was in a messy bun; she wore yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt, no makeup, with dark circles under her eyes.
She’d never looked more beautiful.
“Hey,” she said softly, stepping aside to let me in.
“Hey.”
In the living room, Coach Honors looked up and gave me a nod. Casey was curled against his side, already in her pajamas, eyes heavy with sleep.
“Dad,” Casey said, perking up when she saw me. “Grandpa and I are watching a movie about penguins.”
“Yeah?” I crouched down next to the couch. “Which one’s your favorite?”
She pointed at the screen. “The baby one. He keeps falling down, but he gets back up.”
Something in my chest twisted. Of course, that was her favorite.
“That’s a good one,” I said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You being good for Grandpa?”
“Very good,” Coach Honors confirmed. “We made popcorn and everything.”
“I’ll be outside talking to your mom for a bit, okay?” I told Casey. “But I’ll come say goodnight before I leave.”
“Okay.” She was already refocusing on the penguins.
Palisade grabbed a jacket from the hook by the door. “We’ll be on the back porch, Dad.”
He nodded, his expression knowing. “Take your time.”
The back porch was small, barely big enough for two chairs and a side table. The November air was chilly enough that I could see my breath, but Palisade didn’t seem to notice. She leaned against the railing, arms wrapped around herself.
“So,” she said, not looking at me. “What did you want to talk about?”
Might as well rip the Band-Aid off. “They suspended my captaincy today.”
Her head snapped up, eyes wide. “What? Because of yesterday?”
“Because of yesterday. And the pattern they say they’re seeing.” I leaned against the railing beside her, not quite touching. “Greg called it sending a message.”
“Oh God, Easton.” Her voice cracked. “I’m so sorry. I know how much that meant to you.”
“It’s temporary. Supposedly. But we both know what ’temporary’ means.”
She turned to face me fully. “What can I do? I’ll talk to them. I’ll explain that you were protecting Casey.”
“That’s not why I’m here.” I cut her off gently. “I’m here because I need to tell you what I’m going to do next.”
She waited, those green eyes searching my face.
“Management wants me to issue a statement,” I continued. “Something that apologizes for the ’incident’, acknowledges the photographer’s concerns, and basically admits I was wrong to handle it the way I did.”
“That’s ridiculous. You were protecting our daughter.”
“That’s what I said. But they don’t care about that. They care about optics. Image. Liability.” I pulled out my phone and showed her the statement they’d prepared. “This is what they want me to say.”
She reads it, her expression darkening with each line. “This is bullshit. It makes it sound like Casey was an inconvenience. Like you regret defending her.”
“Exactly.” I slipped the phone into my pocket. “So, I’m not signing it.”
Palisade’s eyes widened. “You’re not?”
“No, I’m issuing a different statement. One that tells the truth.
That Casey isn’t a secret I kept; she’s a daughter I didn’t know about.
That you’re not a gold digger, you’re a woman who made a choice out of fear.
Casey is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m not apologizing for defending her. ”
She stared at me, speechless.
“It’ll probably cost me more than the captaincy,” I continued. “Greg made it pretty clear that if I don’t play ball, there will be consequences. I might not have a job after this season. My reputation will take a hit. Endorsements will probably dry up. But…”
“You can’t do that.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Easton, your career—”
“Is not more important than Casey knowing her father chose her. That you know I’m not ashamed of either of you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “But you’re still angry at me. You said so yourself. You haven’t forgiven me for keeping her from you.”
“I haven’t,” I admitted. “And I don’t know if I ever fully will. But that doesn’t change what I need to do tomorrow.”
“Why?” She was crying now, tears streaming down her face. “Why would you sacrifice everything for someone you’re still angry at?”
I took a step closer, closing the distance between us. “Because anger and love aren’t mutually exclusive, Sadie. I can be furious with you for the choices you made and still choose to defend you. I can grieve the years I lost and still fight for the years we have left.”
“I don’t deserve that,” she said. “I don’t deserve you defending me after what I did.”
“Maybe not. But Casey deserves a father who puts her first. Who shows her that love means sacrifice. Who doesn’t let her grow up thinking she’s someone to be hidden or apologized for.”
Palisade covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking. I pulled her into my arms, and she collapsed against my chest.
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry for all of it. For keeping her from you, for the years you missed, for this entire mess.”
“I know.” I held her tighter, resting my chin on top of her head. “I know you are.”
“Then why are you doing this? Why are you risking everything?”
I pulled back enough to tilt her face up to mine. “You want the truth? The real, messy, complicated truth?”
She nodded, searching my eyes.
“Because I’m in love with you,” I said. “Still. After everything. Despite everything. I’m in love with the woman who disappeared seven years ago, and I’m in love with the woman standing in front of me now.
And I hate it. I hate that I can’t just be angry.
I hate that I can’t walk away. But I can’t.
Because you’re not just Casey’s mother. You’re the woman I want to build a life with, even though you drive me crazy, even though I’m still processing the lies, even though every rational part of my brain says I should protect my career first.”
Palisade stared at me, fresh tears streaming down her face. “You… you love me?”
“Yeah, Sadie. I love you. I’m furious with you, and I love you. And tomorrow I’m going to stand in front of cameras and make that very clear to everyone watching.”
“Because of Casey,” she said, and there was something brittle in her voice. “You’re doing this because I’m Casey’s mother.”
“No.” I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me.
“I’m doing this for you, Palisade Honors.
Seven years ago, you were the first person who made me think maybe I could be more than what my father raised me to be.
Watching you with Casey makes me believe in the family I never thought I could have.
When I think about my future, you’re in it.
Not just as a co-parent. As the woman I love. ”
“You’re still angry,” she said.
“I am. But I’m also in love. And I’m learning that sometimes you don’t get to wait until everything’s resolved to make the big choices.
Sometimes you have to choose while you’re still angry, still hurt, still figuring it all out.
And I’m choosing you. Us. This messy, complicated, imperfect thing we’re building. ”
She reached up, her hand trembling as she touched my face. “I’m in love with you, too. I never stopped. Even when I convinced myself I didn’t deserve to be, even when I thought you’d hate me forever, I never stopped loving you.”
The distance between us disappeared. Our lips met in a kiss that tasted like tears and promises and unspoken words. It wasn’t gentle. It was desperate, hungry, full of all the anger and love and fear we’d been holding onto.
When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard.
“I don’t know how to do this,” Palisade admitted, her forehead pressed against mine. “How to be loved by someone who’s still angry at me. How to trust that you won’t change your mind.”
“You’ll figure it out, eventually.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead, gentle and brief. “When you do, maybe you’ll stop looking at me like you’re waiting for me to leave.”
“Old habits.”
“Then we’ll build new ones.”
I pulled back reluctantly, already missing her warmth. “I’ll call you after I issue the statement tomorrow. Let you know how it goes.”
“Will Casey see it?”
“The whole world will see it.” I managed a tired smile. “But especially Casey. That’s kind of the point.”
Palisade nodded, wrapping her arms around herself again. “Be careful, Easton. Once you say it publicly, you can’t take it back.”
“I know.” I headed for the door, then paused. “Sadie? I meant what I said. About working through this together. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Even if you’re still angry?”
“Even then.”
I left her standing on the porch, went back inside to say goodnight to Casey, and headed to my truck. Tomorrow, I’d issue the statement that would either save my family or tank my career.
Probably both.
But for the first time since I’d discovered Casey existed, I felt like I was making the right choice. Even if it was a hard one.