The Girl He Craves

Meredith’s pov

He hauled in a shaky breath, his eyes swimming with sadness. I had hit him with the

past, something that could potentially bring out the man he once was.

’She’s dead.” He whispered, pushing the photo away. “The dead can’t speak.'”

I blinked in sadness, pitying the man he is now today. “But they can still see and hear.

If mom was here, she’d smack you upside your head and then nurse your wounds.”

He clenched his fists, turning away from me completely.” Is this why you came here?

To remind me of why I’m actually doing what I’m doing? Look at me, Meredith.” His

eyes snapped up to mine suddenly and I had to take in a very sharp inhale as

emotions swam through the windows of his soul.

Father was in more pain than I realized.

’I’m a shell of a man because of her. I can love no other, I have a permanent hole in

my heart because of her. Love is selfish Meredith, the pain is unbearable. I tried to

save you from it too,” He looked over my shoulder at Grant.

He continued. “But I was too late. I need to save my grandson before it’s too late.”

I shook my head, reaching out for him. My heart ached for my father. A man who once

believed love was the answer to everything now made love his enemy. It was painful

and tormenting to watch him become this person.

When my fingers touched his hand, he flinched. His eyes swept to mine in shock. I

don’t remember the last time I held my father’s hand or the last time I voluntarily stood

this close to him.

After mom died, our father-daughter relationship was swept up and tom into shreds.

He would come home late from work, smell of booze, and trash the entire place.

I can recall listening to a few bottles shattering on the wall. I can even remember the

broken glass piercing through my heel one of those mornings

rampage.

when I cried out in

maid to help me. He

day too.

had me stay up alone in my room, crying

that day,

terms with the fact that I lost my father the

mother.

each other coldly, like we were

what he asked and made sure to not

But of course, I met Grant

“You’re wrong dad,’

dad in a while too. Always

my words.

reminded me of the past and the way he looked at me before mom

years you

happiest you’ve ever been. Do you regret meeting her? Sharing life

life with her?’

he swallowed and croaked out. “No. I

it comes to your mother Meredith.’ He

deep within his

to go back I’d do it all over

again. ■

squeezed. I could hear the

you think you’re hurting her now that you’re

woman who he loves dearly.

idea?

eyes to me. “Don’t you see I’m trying

your mother and would choose her all over

unbearable. Love

let go of his hand, growing angry now that he was trying to

beautiful. Every bit of it is beautiful.

Aiden because of what

love with Grant, my father had tried

marry into the Muralo’s. But Grant and I run away and never turned

that I

realize that it was his actions that drove

lost his wife and then he lost his

his loneliness and

insane to think any action they take, is really for the

blurred my vision as I cracked. ‘I’m sorry