Chapter 495
0495
“Want a smoke?” I ask, offering him one. He looks up with a start, clearly not having heard me approach. He glances down at the cigarette packet I’ve popped open. He looks at it as if taking a second to understand what I said before he gives me a grave smile.
“Thank you… son.” He takes one and I take out my lighter, flipping it open and light the cigarette for him.
Stepping back, I lean against the pillar, one foot propped against it, smoking my own cigarette as I look at the sky. The weather is bright and warm, but it really doesn’t match the mood any longer.
“You know I have had bad experiences with women, always betrayed and cheated, but Shelby… she is a beautiful soul, inside and out. It hurts to know she’ll be gone soon.” His voice is quiet and thick as he tries to keep it together.
“It does fucking suck, that’s for sure. We’re all going to die, but imagine knowing prior that you are about to go? She’s probably trying to keep it together for you all. So, make the last days of her life so fucking good that she forgets she’s at death’s fucking door.”
“You…” he seems to be taking in what I said, as he takes a clumsy puff on his cigarette.
“That is what you need to do, even if it is just talking to her. Tell her everything you want to, everything you envision for the next thirty years of your life. Do it now before it’s too late, and she’s gone.”
He nods as he places his hand over his eyes, his body shaking as he breaks into silent tears.
“Life isn’t a fairytale, we can die at any minute… but that’s life. So, live it without regrets.”
I hear the sound of kids shouting and realise Zaia’s back.
‘Mind coming around the left side of the house? Your old man’s not doing great,’ I say through the mind-link.
‘Oh my… I’ll be right there.’
I hear her ask Sebastian to take the kids inside as Kaia cries and Sebastian tries to calm her. It’s crazy seeing him as a dad, but he seems to be managing well.
“Thank you, son. You are right,” Hugh says as he looks at me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I know I failed you, and I will always keep trying to do better. I am truly sorry for falling for your mother’s deceit. It won’t make up for what happened to you, which is not something that I will ever forgive myself for, but I’d like to know you. I agree life is short. I don’t want to waste it.”
I turn my head away, staring at the sky once more, smoking my cigarette. “I guess I do owe you an apology as well. I shouldn’t have blamed you without getting all the facts straight, but like you said, there’s no point in reminiscing over what we should have done and didn’t.”
I hear footsteps and Zaia appears; her purple eyes are full of tears too. She looks at me, smiling gratefully. She heard our conversation…
“We were all tricked… we suffered for different reasons, but we’re together now. We’ll get through everything together,” she murmurs as she walks over to us and wraps her arms around both of us. I raise an eyebrow as Hugh puts his arms
1/2
around us both
“We will,” he agrees quietly as I hesitantly hug them back, patting Zala’s back gingerly. “Thank you, both of you. I am blessed to at least have my children.”
“Yeah, whatever, I don’t do hugs,” I say, stepping back when it begins to get way too fucking awkward.
Zala giggles, “Unless it’s Valerie?” she teases.
“She’s an exception,” I admit with a smirk
“Of course she is.” Zala giggles.
“I’m happy for you both. Valerie suits you well,” Hugh says, smiling at me.
“She really does.” I offer a half smile, hoping that somehow this conversation made him feel better, even if only a little.