His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

6

I had told him so many times about Oliver's illness, but he never cared. Every time Oliver needed his dad during chemo, Nathan was with Sienna. Even the camping trip, he only agreed to after I got on my knees and begged him. I did everything I could to make him see how little time Oliver had left, but he refused to believe it. Nathan's voice softened, a tinge of regret creeping in. "If only you could've made me believe..." "Made you believe?" I asked, my voice trembling with frustration. "What more could I have done?" Nathan fell silent.

I thought of Oliver, in pain, begging me to call his dad. I remembered how, even then, Nathan stayed silent when Oliver pleaded, "Daddy, can you just stay with me for a little while?" Now, finally, Nathan showed a flicker of regret. "I thought after your mum died, you got a taste for manipulating me. I thought you used Oliver's illness to trick me into coming home." In his eyes, all I ever did was beg and deceive.

When my mum was dying, she noticed how often Nathan was gone,

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His Knees, His Pleas. But Our Son's in Peare

and she would call him, pleading for him to come back and be with me. Over time, he grew tired of it. From that point on, no matter how serious the situation, he refused to believe anything I said.

Even now, he couldn't believe it.

"Oliver was fine before."

A wave of sorrow hit me harder. "Before?" I echoed. "Nathan, think

about it. How long has it been since you last saw Oliver?"

Of course, he couldn't remember.

Lanswered for him, "Two years and four months. That's how long it's

been since you've seen our son."

He had no way to argue with that. His face darkened as the realization

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For the first time, a flicker of guilt appeared in his eyes. He reached out, trying to wipe my tears. "Doris, I'm sorry."

I stepped back, avoiding his touch.

Sorry? Did he really think an apology could fix everything? Our son, Oliver, was gone forever. No amount of regret would change that.

"If Oliver could hear you now, I don't think he'd forgive you," I said

quietly.

But I knew it wasn't my place to forgive him on Oliver's behalf. I was

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His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace Chapter 6

done with this man, completely and utterly.

Nathan seemed confused, hesitating as he reached out again. "I know you're heartbroken over Oliver's illness and his passing. If it'll make things better, I'll have someone plan the wedding tomorrow. We can have the grand ceremony you've always wanted. Is that oka