Rock Bottom

Chapter Twenty- Nine: All it Took

Henry and I sit on the park bench by the sparkling blue lake. Young children run into the waters splashing around in the cool water. A young couple walk hand in hand tossing a stick for their scraggly dog to chase after into small waves. It's a relaxing, carefree environment for such a serious talk.

"Kayla, are you sure you're okay? Your face looks awful. You're still as beautiful as ever, but you know what I mean," Henry sighs running the tip of his finger down my jawline.

"I'll be alright," I assure him. "Of course it was a shock and it defiantly hurt, but it's in the past now."

"I should punch his face in until nobody can recognize him anymore," Henry grumbles. I give him a stern look. He puts his arms up in surrender. "I won't though."

"How have you been the last few days?"

"I hung out with my dad," he confesses.

"What? Tell me what happened!"

"He was in town so I went out for burgers with him. I really didn't want to at first, until I started thinking about you," Henry begins to explain. "You would give everything up to have your parents back. Then here I am, with a father who is still around, completely throwing him away. Jeremy told me about what happened at the mall with Leo. If you can forgive him for what he did, I sure as hell can make an effort with my dad. He made a mistake a long time ago. I shouldn't hold him against it forever."

I sit there not knowing what to say next. I never would of thought that my actions would bring him and his father together.

"Did you guys talk?"

"I told him why I was mad all these years. How I just couldn't forgive him for hurting my mom like that. He told me that he felt trapped. He loved my mom, but he was always away so their relationship was falling apart from the seams. He wanted to leave her, but he didn't want to hurt my mom because he cared for her. He knows he fucked up and wishes he could take it back so he could do it right," Henry sighs. "We ended up having a really good conversation. He said that he bought a house closer to here for when he's not away. He said he wants to mend our relationship if I'm willing to try."

I couldn't be any happier for him. I felt so heartbroken for him when he told me the story at the lake. I knew years from now he would regret not having his dad in his life, but then it would be too late.

"I'm really happy to hear that, Henry," I tell him honestly.

He gazes off in the distance. His mind wanders and I can't help but wonder what he's thinking about. Henry is quiet for what seems like a long time before he snaps back to our conversation.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask out of pure curiosity.

"The night your father died."

Why would he be thinking about that? I spend each day trying as hard as I can to wipe the memory from my head.

"Why?"

"I just wish I had of been there with you. I should of went with Jeremy. After I heard what happened all I wanted to do was take you in my arms and tell you that everything will be okay," Henry tells me sadly. "I'm surprised you never mentioned the message I sent you."

"What message?" I asked in confusion.

"I left a voicemail on your phone after I heard what happened. It was kind of strange since we barely spoke at that point. I was nervous you were going to ask me about it at school, but you never did," he shrugs.

I realize now why I never got the message. I remember checking my phone at Mandy's house and seeing several voicemails on my phone. I hadn't wanted to listen to them at the time because I was worried they would upset me.