Chapter 38 Not This Time #2
“Thank you for that, Dad. I’ll talk to Ethan. I’m not saying he’s going to be rainbows and unicorns after this, or not for a while, but he’ll come around.”
“He will if you lay the law down with him like you did me.”
Another twitch of her father’s lips, telling her he was relaxing and maybe, just maybe, there could be hope for a better relationship between them too.
“I plan on it.”
She left the hospital an hour later, then went to Ethan’s condo. He was working from home. He’d let her know when he texted last night telling her to take the day off.
It wasn’t like she could surprise him since she couldn’t get into the building, so she sent him a text and he met her outside.
Rather than go to his place, she walked toward the benches by the Harborwalk looking out into the ocean.
To her, the place where it started it for them all over again. The run where they began their personal journey.
“How is your father doing?”
“Much better,” she said. “I asked why he wanted me here. I needed to know and believe him. He was honest.”
“What did he say?”
“That when he found out about the cancer, he realized all the wrongs he’d done to me. He wanted me here for him but also for me. It blended together. I would have known he was lying if he didn’t admit that.”
“Are you mad over that?”
“No. I thought I would be, but then I told myself that sometimes you need something like this to happen in your life to make your way toward the betterment of your future. I was more angry he didn’t tell me he was sick.”
“Did you ask him why he didn’t?”
“I did. Once we cleared the air we talked some more. He didn’t want to bother me with it.
Or stress me out. The cancer is early stages and from what I read and what he said, it might never grow.
Why put your body through the stress of treatment if it’s not needed?
As long as he’s on top of it, I’ll be content. ”
“What about his heart?”
“He’s been less stressed. Or so he said. I really think him not being honest about things with me added to it more.” She mentioned that to him and he nodded his head. That was good enough for her.
“So now what?”
“He apologized for a lot of things. It’s going to take time, but I think he and I can get to a good spot. He’ll apologize to you too. Just like I’m going to.”
“You don’t need to,” he argued.
“I do. I was upset with my father and took it out on you. In the moment, you were supporting me. Protecting me. Standing up for the woman you loved. But what I saw was one more man in my life stepping in and telling me I can’t handle something.
That I don’t know what is best for me. That I’m going to make another mistake. ”
“Never,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve never thought that of you and never would. I’m not your father.”
She saw the hurt look in his blue eyes and hated that she’d put it there. “I know. That’s where I’m wrong and I’m not afraid of admitting it. Just like I know my father and I can come to some understanding and a place that works for us, I’m positive we can too.”
“Even if you think I’m an overbearing, controlling ass?”
She laughed and laid her head against his shoulder, then reached for his hand, their fingers threading together.
“Even then. I love you, Ethan. Make no mistake there. We’ll fight because people in love do.
It just means I’m not afraid to voice my thoughts.
I never used to fight with other men before.
I let them walk all over me and when I had enough, I just ended things. ”
“I want you to speak your mind. I want you to tell me when you’ve had enough,” he said earnestly. “Because I don’t want you walking away. I know what we’ve got can be great. In and out of the office.”
She laughed. “I think you’re right. And we already know we can do a great job separating them.”
“And you still want to,” he said. “I’m sorry if I’m pushing you. That’s wrong of me also. What happened yesterday is exactly the reason you want to keep it quiet. Just how quickly it escalated.”
“I’m sure your father isn’t happy.”
“He’s not thrilled. More with me and Norris and not you. He’s team Nora right now.”
She smiled. “It’s nice to have people on my team.”
“You have more on your side than you’ll ever know,” he said. “I’m the first one there. I hope you realize that.”
Her chest tightened, her pulse stuttering when she saw the sincerity in his eyes.
“I do,” she whispered. “Ethan, this… it’s going to take time for us.
But I know we’ll get there. I’ve spent years learning to find my voice, to step up for myself.
And maybe you’re learning to step back, to trust someone else to lead sometimes. ”
He smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb lingering on her cheek. “Then maybe we finally fit,” he said quietly.
She leaned into his touch, her lips curving against his. “Maybe we always did. We just had to grow into it.”
He kissed her then, slow, sure, full of promise. “It’s more than a good compromise,” he murmured against her lips. “It’s everything.”