“Gage, I can’t thank you enough for this.” Vicky sat beside me.

Heather was sitting across from me. She looked as nervous I was. “What made you decided to look for us?”

I wasn’t sure if I should say, but I wanted them to know about Annie. What she has struggled through and came out on top. I ran my finger over my lips. “She hasn’t had it easy. She bounced around foster homes growing up. When she was seventeen she got pregnant by the guy she thought she would married. Before her son, Gabe was born he was killed in a car wreck. She raised her son by herself for five years. She has done an amazing job. She has worked her ass off to get where she is. I’m proud of her. The one thing she can’t work for…her family. She deserves her family. If I can give her that, then I will.”

Heather’s eyes were filled with tears. Vicky was staring at the tablecloth. I didn’t mean to make her feel like shit, but she needed to hear the truth.

“Sounds like she is very lucky to have found you.” Vicky spoke through her tears.

Shaking my head I said with confidence, “No. I am the lucky one. She came into my life when I needed her most. I can never repay her enough for what she has done for my daughter and me. If you two were open to the idea, I wanted to invite you to my house on Christmas. You can spend Christmas as a family.”

“I would love nothing more than reuniting with my daughter. There isn’t a day that doesn’t go by that I don’t think about her. I have wanted to find her for so long. I was too afraid though. The last thing she ever said to me was ‘I hate you’. I hear those words replay in my mind all the time. I was afraid of what I would find if I found her. If she would resent me. So, in my head I created this fantasy life for her. She was married to a millionaire and they had the typical two point five kids with a summer home on the beach. She was happy and better off without me.”

Heather reached across the table. “Mom. She will forgive you, I did. You’re sober now. You’re healthy. You’re in control of your life.”

“She is happy, Vicky. I just think there is a huge hole where her family should be. I want to fill her holes and make her complete.”

“You’re in love with her.” Vicky stated.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I nodded. “Yes ma’am I am.”

She had tears running down her face. “If you two would excuse me.” She got up in a rush and went in the direction of the bathroom.

Heather wiped under her eyes. “I haven’t seen my sister in almost fifteen years. Seeing that she has someone so in love with her that he goes out of his way to find her family makes me happy.”

She put both her arms around me and hugged me. “Thank you for making my sister happy.”

I liked Heather. I barely knew her, but I liked her. I wrapped one arm around her and said, “You don’t have to thank me. She is the one that makes me happy. She makes me whole.”

Annie

I was sitting on the couch when Gage got back to his house.

“Annie. I thought you had to work tonight?” Gage looked shocked to see me. His voice was calm, though.

“Who was she?” I blurted out.

He tossed his keys onto the entry table and walked over to me. “Who was who?”

“Gage, don’t you dare play fucking stupid with me. I saw you. I saw her. Your hands were all over each other.” He had the audacity to stand in front of me looking clueless. “The girl from Passion, Gage. Who the hell was she?”

His eyes widened slightly. “Oh. You saw her?” His voice was tight.

“Obviously,” I stated flatly.  His eyes darted around the room. I could tell he was trying to make up an excuse. “Are you going to tell me? Don’t lie to me, Gage. Anything else we can work out. But, not a lie.”

He ran his hands through his hair. “She was no one.”

“You looked awfully close to no one.”

“I can’t tell you who she was. You just have to trust me. I’m not perfect, but I wouldn’t cheat.”

Trust him! Was he fuckin’ nuts? I saw him all over some blonde and he expects me to trust him. Bullshit. I bolted off the couch. “I don’t want fucking perfect. I want honest. No. I’m done trusting and believing. Life isn’t some God damn fairytale. Life is nasty. Especially mine. I was dealt a shit hand from the beginning. I’ve survived. I have Gabe, that’s all I need.”

Gage raked his hands through his hair and dropped to his knees. “Please don’t do this. All I’m asking for is a little trust. I swear it’s not what you think. You, Londyn, and Gabe are all I have left. I swear I can fix this. We aren’t broken, this can be fixed.”

Closing my eyes so my tears wouldn’t fall I shook my head. “No, Gage. This can’t be fixed. I told you don’t lie to me and EVERYTHING else can be fixed. You lied. I saw with my own eyes…you and some girl together. I can’t deal with another liar in my life. I thought you were genuinely a good guy. Turns out you’re genuinely a good douche bag.”

Starting to turn Gage grabbed my hand. Taking a deep breath I looked down and for the first time ever I saw Gage crying. I wanted to pull him into my arms and tell him everything would be ok…but it wouldn’t. He looked broken. I was broken.

“I’m begging you, please don’t leave. If you leave I have no one.”

Jerking my hand away I took a few steps away from him. Narrowing my eyes I said, “That’s not true. You have a family. You have friends. You have a fucking daughter that needs you. Her mother is gone, Gage. You. That’s the only parent she has left. I’m not going to be that pathetic girlfriend of the rich football star who stays home to raise their kids while he’s out screwing around. When you get your shit together, then and only then, do I want to be with you.”

Grabbing the doorknob I looked back one last time to see Gage bent over, his head resting on the floor. His body shaking with sobs. Just as my tears started to fall I turned and walked out, shutting the door behind be. Hoping I didn’t just make the biggest mistake of my life.