Free Love Resolution (Black Cat Records series) by Michelle Mankin

Most people wouldn’t have come out on the other side of what you’ve experienced and still be warm and caring.”
    Avery ducked her head. “Well, I’m not handling the current situation very well though, am I?”
    “It’s a lot to take in. Give yourself some time to sort it all out.”
    “Ok.” Avery closed her eyes. “But is it wrong that I’m still mad at him?” she whispered.
    “No, Avery. That’s normal.”
    “I don’t want to talk to him, either. I don’t want to have to feel sorry for him.” She lifted her eyes. “I don’t want him to ever think that what he did was ok.”
    “I know. I’ve had to work through similar feelings about my own father.” Rheta paused and squeezed Avery’s cold hand. “Only mine died before I had a chance to talk to him about it. That’s a regret I still have to this day. I wish I’d told him how his drinking made me feel, like I didn’t matter enough for him to stop.” She looked deeply into Avery’s eyes. “You have an opportunity to start a dialogue with him. Going in to see him doesn’t mean that you’re condoning what he did. But I think it’s the first step on a path that leads to healing for you. Your life will be a lot better if you can let go of that big lodestone of bitterness that you’ve been dragging around for all these years.”
    Avery shoulders stiffened.
    “Unforgiveness is an insidious thing, Avery. It never ends up hurting the other person half as much as the one harboring it. It’s the poisonous pill you swallow hoping the other person will die.” Her cell phone pinged and she glanced down, reading the message. “That’s Marcus checking on you. He loves you and he’s worried about you.” She kissed Avery on the cheek. “I love you, too, and I trust you. I have complete confidence that you’ll make the right decision.”
     

 

    Under the glaring fluorescent lights in the hospital corridor, Avery let go of Marcus’ hand.
    “You sure you don’t want me to go in with you?” Marcus asked.
    “Yeah.” She swallowed. “I just want to get this over with.”
    “Alright.” He brushed his lips across hers and headed to the waiting area. She watched him for a moment, took a deep steadying breath, straightened her spine, and knocked on the door to her father’s hospital room.
    “Hey sis,” Justin said in a whisper as he opened the door. “He’s been sleeping.” Justin threaded his arm around her waist and pulled her forward.
    “How is he?”
    He looked awful, frail and pale against the white hospital sheets. The monitor beeped out the rhythm of his heartbeat. As she watched he shifted slightly, winced in discomfort, and opened his eyes.
    Arthur focused on them. His lips lifted in an attempted smile that looked more like a grimace. “I’m sorry,” he began, fumbling for the control to raise the bed.
    “Let me help,” Justin insisted, reaching for the panel. The bed rose up so Arthur could sit. “How’s that?”
    “Good. Thank you.” Arthur studied Justin and Avery for a moment, and then looked embarrassed. “The doctor spoke to you then?”
    “Yeah, Dad,” Justin replied. “Why didn’t you tell us you were sick?”
    “I didn’t want you to feel sorry for me… I just…” His raspy voice stumbled to a stop. He glanced around the room. His eyes came to rest on a pitcher sitting on the counter.
    “Do you need some water?” Avery asked hesitantly, following the direction of his gaze.
    “Yes, please.”
    Avery poured some water into a plastic cup, put a straw in it, and brought it over to him. Their hands brushed against one another as she passed it to him. Even just that incidental contact made her flinch. She felt jumpy and uncomfortable around him.
    Arthur gave her a sad, knowing glance as he took a couple of small pained sips.
    “I want to apologize for all the trouble I’ve caused.” His eyes filled and his voice was raw. “I thought I was doing ok, and I just wanted to see you both one more time before