A million thoughts and feelings raced. Staring at his face
transported me back to when I was seventeen. He was here. How was he here? Why
was he here? My mouth went dry and there was much I wanted to say. Much I
probably needed to say, but only one word made its way out.
“Tyrian.”
He smiled and I could have sworn my heart skipped a beat. “In
the flesh.”
My past was colliding with my present and I didn’t know how
to process that fact.
“May I come in?”
In? “Oh, yes, of course.”
We sat in silence, my nerves continuing to prevent my ability
to have complete thoughts.
“So…I’m a dad,” he finally said. “Why…why didn’t you tell
me?”
I frowned. “You…you used me. You said…you said you didn’t…”
“It was a lie. Your father. I’m sorry, Dove. I wanted to tell
you the truth. I was going to, but you were always watched and Cotton was
around.”
He reached for my hands and the moment he touched me that
spark from years ago revived like it was yesterday. I snatched my hands free.
“What did my father do?”
“He threatened to pull the scholarship and get my mother
fired. He told her that if I didn’t stay away from you…I was a kid and it was
stupid. I should have stood up to her and him, but I didn’t. And I’m sorry. I’m
so sorry Dove.”
I swallowed down the lump in my throat. It made sense. My
parents and Cotton went through great lengths to control my life. Still it hurt
that he went along with it. No, that was past. I’ve moved on.
“I asked about you, when you stopped coming to school. Candy
and Yuki remained tight lipped. And Cotton, well let’s just say it was a rough
end of the year.”
I groaned, suddenly feeling guilty for leaving Tyrian to face
Cotton’s wrath.
“How…how did you find me?”
“Our daughters. I got an email a while back. I didn’t believe
it at first, but they showed me the picture we took. You kept it all these
years?”
I nodded. “I wanted something for when I told them about you.
I’m sorry, for not…for keeping…”
“It’s okay. I mean it sucks that I’ve missed out before, but
I understand the why. There is much I’m sure we’d both change if we could go
back in time.”
He smiled again and once more butterflies attacked my
stomach. It was nerves. Only nerves.
“Yes. So, I’m sure you want to meet them and I want you to.
It’s just, unexpected and I need to tell the girls and Sy that you’re here.”
A strange look crossed his face at the mention of Syrah.
Whatever he was going to say was cut off when Rosie called out.
“I need to get her, but um leave me your number and I’ll call
you later.”
“Okay. And um…it was good to see you again, Dove.”
“Same.”
I don’t know what possessed me to do it, but I hugged him,
and held on for probably longer than was appropriate before I stepped away.
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