Chapter 29: Conversation

I linked the whole family except for Jackson and as they came over I watched my son interact with them all as if he had grown up there. I wanted him to meet everyone, and be comfortable here. They all asked questions and my Mom made burgers and hot dogs on the grill; switching out with my Dad who always thought he grilled better. This time she didn't argue as she ran in from the back door and sitting across from Gavin.

Just as I started to relax the doorbell rang. "Paisley I think you should answer that." My Mom said as she nodded towards the door. I walked to it slowly and turned the nob. My nose filled with a familiar scent and I pulled the door open. I pushed past him and closed the door behind me. I didn't want to look at him, but as he tipped my head up and the familiar tingles that I had missed so much ignited my face. "I never thought I'd see you again."

Jackson's strained voice reached my ears. "Well here I am." I said lamely as the man I loved stood before me. "I confronted my Father, and he denied what you said. So I kept digging and found a bunch of accounts of him twisting the truth. An old kitchen maid told me things he made her do. Like make poisoned food, drop things into my Mother's tea... I was horrified. Eventually I contacted my eldest brother and we devised a plan."

I nodded and looked at Jackson. He was scanning my face, but I didn't move. "So he is now Alpha and changing how things work. I stayed for ten years to help him organize and right my Father's wrongs. But when I came back you weren't here. You blocked me for almost seventeen years, and I never felt pain. So where did you go? What have you been up too." I glanced towards my beaten up car and took a deep breath.

"I was starting a new adventure. Keeping quiet and safe. I didn't know you had handled it or what was going on, I had more important things to think about." I looked back to Jackson knowing what I was going to say would inevitably hurt him. "Well tell me. What was more important then us?" I nodded towards the house. "Our son. I didn't want him to face the devastating reality that was your family like I did. He wouldn't have been safe here, and so I raised him in solitude."

Jackson backed up and turned bright red. "You kept our son from me! When did you get pregnant. Why didn't you tell me!" He went to break in the house, but I put my hands on his chest. "Be mad at me fine. But please don't take out your anger with me on him." I whispered and Jackson's muscles relaxed. "So that's why you blocked me out, why your family shunned me when I got back."

I shook my head leaving my hands on his chest. "No they shunned you because of what you did to me. Leaving me to deal with escaping on my own. For not having a backbone to stand up for your mate who was hauled off into a dungeon. For bringing me to a place that put me in danger and then..." I broke down like I said I wouldn't do. Tears ran from my face and Jackson looked away.

"I'm sorry Paisley I was scared and my Fsther said he knew what happened. Said he could give me details if I brought you. I had no idea he planned to drag you away." I sniffled and I shook my head. "And when those guards came after me , or drug me away. You stood there. How could I trust you. Tell you I found out on a plane ride towards freedom. I couldn't, I couldn't put him at risk." I slid my hands off him and he enveloped me in a hug. "How the hell am I going to make this up to you Paise."

The door opened and there stood Gavin. He approached us and Jackson dropped his arms. "You okay Mom?" He asked only looking at me with a tight face, which was most likely tear stained. "Yeah I'm fine Sweetheart." He nodded and glanced at Jackson. "Gavin, this is your father Prince Jackson Truth." I looked between them and saw similarities in their features. The way they stood. The angular jaw, their strong straight noses, and it was becoming to much. "I'm going to leave and let you talk." I said as I walked inside to find my families ears pressed to the wall.

My Dad waved me over and hugged me before pushing my head onto the wall. I heard Jackson speak first. "How are you my son?" Gavin took a minute, probably having gone through this scenario a hundred times in his head. "I don't think you have earned the right to call me son, seeing as you haven't been apart of my life. Or just hearing how you and your family treated my mother." I heard Jackson take a deep breath. "I could have been if your Mother would have told me." Gavin scoffed and I heard him walk down the stairs. "You mean you could have if you had done the right thing and protected your mate." Gavin didn't say it as a question and I heard him walking towards a silent and guilty Jackson.

"Why would she tell you? What trust did she have you would keep her safe, keep me safe? Oh no, I wouldn't have told you if I was her. And honestly that surprises me... I never understood how she could speak highly of you, and not let me meet you." There was a lull in the conversation. "I think she was just being kind. I don't think she wanted me to come into this being mad, but I find myself infuriated." Gavin said as he walked around the stone driveway. "As a mate your goal is to comfort your other half. Love them unconditionally, protect them from danger... I don't see how you did any of those things. My Mother deserved better. I deserved better."

Jackson groweled. "I did my best! I was scared and unsure. I was told she wouldn't be harmed and I wanted to figure out what was going on. I didn't know about you until five minutes ago!" I could see Gavin from the window. "If you knew would you have helped her? Would it have changed anything you did that day? Cause I'm thinking no, and that you probably would have chased her down. Never let up, you seem like the type." Jackson snarled and almost shifted, but Gavin stayed calm. "I should stop this." I said to myself, but my Dad grabbed my shoulder. "Let him say his peace."

"I know you can't change what you did, or how my life played out. You can't change that we lived in a small apartment, or that Mom gave up school to raise me. Or even that she struggled to make ends meet and somehow was there every time I needed her, every game, and every event. You can't change how you treated her, or maybe not even be able to make up for it." His eyes cut to the window where I was biting my lip from the tension. "But you can be here now." Gavin walled back towards the door out of my view as Jackson's voice broke out.

"And what about you? What would you have done? What do I do now if you where in my shoes son?" I heard footsteps on the stairs. "I'd never be in your position, but if I was I'd start kissing ass to my mate. Your son doesn't need a father, he has a Mom who does it all." I could tell Gavin was smirking as he said the last part. He always sounded smug when he knew he was right. "You did a great job raising him Paise." My Mom said as they all pulled their heads away from the wall.

"For what it's worth to you, I'm sorry." Jackson said as our son's hand hit the door knob. "I don't really like apologizes unless they are followed up by action." Gavin said as he turned his back to Jackson and walked up the stairs. He opened the door and closed it behind him and I ran to give him a hug. "You okay?" I asked as I searched him over. "I'm fine Mom, better than ever." He smiled and leaned down to give me a kiss. "Just in case I never said it before... Thank you." I nodded and he picked me up tossing me over his shoulders. "Now let's go surf!" He yelled as my family followed us out to the beach.