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. I, uh, what? Where did you& ? I paused,taking in another deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.I gave it another attempt. What are you doing here? There wasn t a thing I owed this man.He was a cruel, heartlessindividual who never even considered giving me a chance.Making him feel welcomed was the lastthing on my mind; he was an unwanted visitor. I didn t expect a warm welcome. He stood tall, and it hurt that he looked so much like Blake.His eyes were the same, not only like Blake s, but like my son s eyes as well. Good, because you re not getting it.So you can leave now. I started to shut the door in his face, but his hand came up to stop me. Please, just five minutes.That s all I m asking for.I know I don t deserve it, but I m begging that you allow me just fiveminutes of your time.Please. I took a deep breath and nodded as I crossed my arms over my chest.He wasn t coming inside myhome.He could say whatever it was he came to say right there on my front porch.I watched as his throat bobbed from the deep swallow he took before he began speaking onceagain. I had a young man show up at my home about a little over a week ago.I wasn t very kind to himat first, but he didn t seem to mind.In fact, he was on a mission, and there wasn t anything he wasgoing to allow to get in his way. I had absolutely no idea where he was going with this.Mr.Harrison was acting completely out of character.The entire time I had dated Blake, he never saidmore than ten words to me.To have him show up on my doorstep after he tried paying me off was acomplete shock.This was so unlike him. The young man said a lot of things to me that day.No matter how many times I threatened to havehim removed from my property, even to have him arrested, he stood strong.I have never in my lifehad anyone speak to me the way he did. Mr.Harrison, I don t understand what any of this has to do with me. I was confused.Why had hecome all this way for a conversation that made no sense? This has everything to do with you, and my grandson. At the mention of Rhett, my stomachtightened with an uneasy pain. This young man helped me come to understand just how wrong I vebeen, how wrong my wife has been.Turning you away and refusing to acknowledge that our son didlive on& in his son.We were so wrong to treat you the way we did.I m not asking for forgiveness,that s something I must earn.I m just asking for a chance.A chance to get to know my grandson andthe woman my son loved with everything he had inside him. Tears now ran heavily down my cheeks.Words were not possible right now.I knew if I attemptedto speak it would only come out as a sob. I brought some things for you, some things of Blake s.I was hoping you would allow me to leavethem, for both of you. He stepped back from the door, and I followed as I stepped onto the porch.Looking out, I noticed the back seat of the car held a number of boxes.Lifting my hand up, I coveredmy mouth, attempting to muffle my sob. Following him, I watched as he began removing item after item from the car. These thingsbelonged to Blake while he was growing up.Things I m sure he would want his son to have. Heshrugged. Things that would help him learn about his dad. Mr.Harrison s voice cracked when hespoke the word dad.He quickly looked away to hide his emotions. My flight leaves tomorrow afternoon. He paused. I was hoping I would be allowed to meet mygrandson before I left.Maybe I could take the two of you to breakfast? I agreed by nodding as I tookin the boxes and items he had given us. Thank you for allowing me another chance.I know I don t deserve it, Kori.I can never take backall the things I put you through.I can never wash away the pain of my past words. He met my gazeonce more before continuing. I could stop by in the morning and pick you both up, around eight? Okay. It only came out in a whisper.This entire scene still felt completely surreal to me.Thisman standing before me was not the same man I knew before.This man was kind and felt remorse forhis past actions.This man was a man I would be proud to call my son s grandpa.I watched as Blake s father walked around the back of the car and opened the driver s door.Hepaused for a moment, looking over the top of the car. What s my grandson s name? Rhett. My voice cracked, but then I finished, Rhett Harrison Foster. He nodded his head, and a grin spread out over his lips. Good name, Blake would have loved it. The thought only made me cry harder.As the car pulled away, I lowered myself to the ground nextto the boxes.I placed my hand over the top of one and let my head fall forward, sobbing as I let thelast ten minutes sink in.When my tears had stopped and I felt like I could stand, I lifted myself from the ground.One by one I carried the boxes into the house and sat them next to the kitchen table.I was afraid ofwhat they contained.Was I strong enough to look inside? Could I do this alone?The entire conversation with Blake s father played over and over in my mind.I had a young man show up at my home about a little over a week ago.My heart began to pound rapidly in my chest.I stood from the chair and grabbed my phone fromthe countertop.Typing out a message I hit send and waited&Where did you go a week ago? When you left town, where did you go? KHis response was quick.Had a few things to take care of.Why?He was being evasive, and right now I needed him to be honest.I had to know if this was allbecause of Reed.Please just tell me where you went? Please.I need you to be honest and just answer thequestion.KThere was a long pause, and I began feeling very anxious.What was taking him so long? My phonevibrated once more. Boston.It was one word, but the word I needed to hear.I knew it had to be him, but I had to hear it.Reedhad packed up and flown thousands of miles to a place he had never been.He searched out Blake sparents home and did all he could to bring me peace.He knew how hard it was for me not to haveanything to pass on to Rhett.He knew my biggest fear was that Rhett would never truly know the manhis father was.Why did he go to all that trouble? He didn t owe me anything.Why?You already know the answer to that, sweetheart.RI gathered myself up the best I could and locked up before driving straight to Reed s place.Ineeded to see his face, his eyes, when I asked him what I needed to know.Pulling onto the gravel road, his house slowly came into view.Putting my vehicle in park, Icrawled out of my car.I never once took my eyes off the set of cowboy boots dangling from the truckbed before me.Reed was sitting on the tailgate, shirtless and watching me in return.A small grinpulled at his lips as I walked closer.He slid from the truck with me only a few feet away and took a step toward me.His gaze watchingme intensely, trying to gauge my mood.I let my eyes rake over his chiseled abs and perfect chest,taking in his shapely shoulders and strong arms. Why? I whispered looking up into his big, gorgeous, brown eyes. Why did you do it? Because I knew it would make you happy.I knew Rhett needed something of his daddy s.Iwanted him to be able to remember him and for you to have the chance to make sure of that. I took the last step toward him, closing the distance between us.Placing my hand on his chest, Irested it over his heart.I could feel the rapid thump beneath my palm. What other reasons do youhave for going to all that trouble? Reed s hand came up to hold the side of my face.Gently stroking my cheek, his voice trembled ashe spoke. Because I care about you.I care about both of you so damn much, and if there is anything Ican do for either of you, I will.I wanna give both of you all I can.Knowing that those people had thekey to something you so desperately needed and wanted& I had to make them see the error of theirways. Maria was right, she was so right
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