No Filter

Chapter LXXXVIII (88)

Sorry for the hiatus. I had taken an unexpected break, but I will finish uploading the rest of this story.

Liam's POV

I close the car door and look through the park. Yesterday, Cheryl called me and allowed me to watch Bear. She said that he's been missing me and Ally. Ally was going to come with me, but she was busy, trying to find a side job. I didn't want her to work in the farm because I know how much energy it would take out of her. And I know it wasn't her kind of life.

I walk onto the grass, and my eyes catch Bear playing with Freddy on the playground. Cheryl sat on the bench a couple feet away, watching him. I take a seat beside her and admire his smile, brightening my mood. "I love it when he smile," I comment.

"He got it from you," Cheryl says.

I look at her and see the smile on her face. I haven't seen her smiling at me genuinely for a while, and I was a little taken back.

"You have changed," Cheryl says. "You really did. Ally really helped you come out of the dark."

"I love her," I say, "She stood by me, even through all the hard times. She never wanted me to harm myself, and she's believed I was better than who I was."

"I can never be her," she says. "I remember when you guys were in high school, she felt intimidated by me. I didn't know why. But I knew that she did. But I am a little envious of her. She is stronger than I'll ever be. She stuck by you. That's love. And I loved you too."

"I know you did," I said. "And I've loved you too."

"I know," she said. Her lips quiver a little. She takes her eyes off of me and glances at Bear in the playground. "Liam, you are more than welcome to come visit Bear anytime you want. I trust you around him now."

My eyes puff, not believing this day would come. "Really?" She nods her head. "Thank you, Cheryl."

"I don't want him to grow up without his father," she explains. "And you're not as bad as your father. Ally is in for a good future. I heard that she was going to tour around for her musical."

"She was," I hesitate to say before my mind flashes back to the other day. I had overheard her talk on the phone, and even though she didn't have an exact answer, the thought of her leaving me hurt. "We had a fight over it, but we came to terms. And she decided to stay..."

Cheryl raises a brow. "You don't sound so sure. What's wrong?"

I breathe in, and with one breath, I answer, "A while ago, she got a call. They said they wanted her, but Ally didn't give them an answer. I don't know if she has given her answer, but if I'm being honest, I don't want her to leave. I know I'm selfish, but--"

She cuts in, "No, I mean, you have every right to be selfish. But I get the feeling that you're more scared than you are selfish. You're scared that she goes, she won't return, or worse, find someone better." I seal my lips as Cheryl smiles softly and rests a hand on mine. "Liam, do you trust Ally?"

I nodded my head. "Absolutely."

"Then trust that she will come back to you," Cheryl says, "Just like she did."

I was lost with words. There were so many thoughts running through my head, so many voices, that I didn't know which to listen to.

"Dad!" Bear exclaims.

My thoughts fade away, and I see my boy running up me. He jumps on me and wraps his arm around me. "I miss you a lot. Where's Ally?"

I chuckle at how fast he change from me to Ally. "I missed you too. Ally is busy at the moment, but she misses you as well. How is living with mom again? Are you having fun?"