Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [124]
He wiped his hand across his face, removing the traces of tears that were beginning to form there. “I know it will take time for you, but I’m hoping and praying that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me, Sage. I never meant to hurt you, and you’ll never know just how much pain I’ve endured knowing that I lost your love and respect. My prayer each and every night is for God to make me a stronger person than before, a better person, and to never let me hurt the people that I love again.”
Sage inhaled sharply as she blinked back the tears gathering in her eyes. Her father had spoken from deep in his heart, a heart filled with regret for what he’d lost. Suddenly, her own heart began overflowing with love and tenderness for him, more than she thought possible. And she could no longer cling to the “wrongs” he had done when she could remember so many “rights.” He’d always been a good father, a supportive father, a kind and loving man.
He still was.
That was evident by the love and dedication he’d given her mother, especially during her illness. But she also knew that for her mother to be basking in so much love, affection and confidence, her father was living each day to reassure his wife that she was deeply loved and appreciated.
“I’d like to have my daughter back.”
Her father’s words, spoken in a husky, deep, emotional voice, cut into Sage’s thoughts, and without hesitation, she quickly crossed the room to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. She cried for the both of them, for all they had endured over the past eight months and, more recently, the past four days with her mother’s illness.
“I love you, Dad,” she said between sobs. “I love you and I forgive you. And most important, I will always be your daughter. No matter what.”
And Sage intended to make good on that promise.
CHAPTER THIRTY
A week later, Sage was returning to Anchorage filled with happiness that she and her father had resolved their differences and that her mother was at home resting, with her condition improving daily. Aunt Mable had returned and had taken over her mother’s care while her father returned to work.
As Sage tightened her seat belt in preparation for landing, her thoughts shifted to Gabe. She had tried calling him a few times and had left messages, but he hadn’t returned her call. After talking with Malcolm, she knew that he was still in Anchorage because her coworker had seen him at a few meetings. A part of her didn’t want to believe that not responding to her calls was Gabe’s way of letting her know that he had severed the ties between them.
She wrapped her arms around her stomach, remembering the exact time and moment she’d finally accepted that she was in love with Gabe Blackwell. It was when Ginger and Cinnamon flew in to see her mother and they had spent time catching up on things that were going on in their lives. Her two cousins had excitedly told her about the men they had met and fallen in love with. Seeing them glowing, happy and looking very much in love made Sage realize that she felt the same way about Gabe. There had been a reason she was missing him the way she was, why she constantly had him on her mind.
She loved him.
She had tried fighting it, tried convincing herself that it wasn’t possible, but deep down in her heart she knew that it was true. And after what she’d said to him, she knew her biggest challenge was in convincing Gabe that it was true.
She inhaled deeply, wondering if perhaps another reason he hadn’t returned her call was because he had already started seeing