“Jackson…Loretta told me you know about your mother and me.”

I tensed. “Yes.”

“I can only imagine what finding that out could’ve done to you. I’m so sorry you had to find out like that. That you had to find out at all.”

“The artwork in the foyer…does your wife know who painted it?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and shifted his glasses up. Then he shook his head. “No.”

“Does anyone know?”

“No.”

I sighed and turned his way. “She told my father. She told him how much she loved you, how much you meant to her. She never told him it was actually you who she was in love with, but that there was another man. She said all the words that killed him inside, and you hang my mother’s artwork in your home. Right in front of your wife’s face. That doesn’t seem very God-like.”

“If things had ended differently…” He paused, took a breath. “I wouldn’t have kept it a secret.”

“Well, lucky for you, you can take it to the grave. Your legacy will be left unmarked.”

“Jackson, it’s complicated.”

“It’s not. It’s just sad because my mother…” My palms began to sweat as I blinked my eyes shut. “My mother deserved to be loved out loud, and you mourned her in silence.”

He lowered his head. “I loved her like I never loved before, and I blame myself for what happened every day.”

“It wasn’t your fault, not yours alone, at least. You knew my mom was married, and you knew you were married, too, but still, you betrayed both families by creating a story that should’ve never come to life. My father spent years trying to use alcohol to heal the heartbreak she left him with. Before he even had a chance to hate her, he had to mourn her death, and now he’s fighting for his life against the demons you set free inside him.”

“I’m truly sorry about your father. I’ve been praying—”

“We don’t want your prayers,” I said bluntly. “I didn’t come here for this, for your guidance, for you or your god. Honestly, I don’t believe in either one.”

“Then why are you even here?”

“Because she asked me to come. Grace wanted me to come. I don’t believe in you or your god, but I believe in her. No one has ever stood by my side in all my life except for her, so the least I can do is stand beside her in the same fashion. This family means more than words to her, so that’s why I’m here. For her and her alone.”

He lowered his brows and guilt washed over him. “If she found out about what happened…”

“She’d never forgive you, I know, which is why she hasn’t heard a word about it from me. You’re the apple of her eye, and just because you’re my family’s demon, that doesn’t mean you can’t be her angel. I won’t ruin the image she has of you.”

“Thank you,” he said sincerely. He cleared his throat and crossed his arms. “Can I ask you something? Your father attacked the church because of what went on between your mother and me, correct?”

“Yes.”

“How did he even find out about the two of us?”

“I have no clue,” I told him. “He doesn’t talk about it.”

His brows lowered. “I cannot imagine what that did to him.”

“You don’t have to imagine. His current situation is living proof of his scars.”

He frowned. “Thank you again, for not telling Grace.”

“Yeah. It just makes me wonder… You don’t want to tell her because you don’t want her to see you in a different light, right? Because you want her to keep loving you for who she thinks you are?”

“Exactly.”

“But do you really want that? Do you want someone’s love by keeping secrets from them, or do you want their full love when they see all your flaws?”

He didn’t reply as he removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose again.

“You two look quite serious,” was heard behind me, and I cringed as I turned to see Grace standing there. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I said. “Just guy talk.”

“You’re lying. You smile too much when you’re keeping something from me. Dad? What is it?”

“It’s nothing really,” I told her, taking her hand into mine. “But I’m going to get back to the hospital.”

“I’ll come with you,” she told me, but I shook my head.

“No. Stay here with your family for a little while. Just stop by before you leave town tonight?”

She nodded and pulled me into a hug. “Okay, but if you need anything, let me know.” As she held me, I held her tighter, and I felt it in every inch of my being.

I loved her.

I was in love with every single part of her soul.

48

Grace

“That was good,” Judy told me as we finished cleaning up the kitchen that evening. “I’m glad you brought him.”