Zach’s gut knotted as he got to the part he hated to remember. He felt Ro tense as she asked, “What happened after you left?”
“Three days into boot camp, a chaplain showed up at the barracks to tell me that my old man shot and killed my mom, then ate the barrel of the gun himself. They were both gone.”
Ro’s horrified gasp and painfully tight grip eased some of the pain that still clutched at his heart when he thought about the chaplain’s words. “Son, I’m sorry to tell you that your parents are dead ...” Zach could still see his apologetic expression as he’d relayed the grisly tale.
“I knew, I just knew that he wouldn’t take my leaving lying down. And I knew he’d blame her. I was only seventeen, and I couldn’t enlist without a parent’s consent. Hell, I can’t help but blame myself, and her, for not doing more to prevent what happened. She didn’t have to die. All she had to do was choose the life she wanted instead of being afraid to leave the lot she was dealt.” He took a deep breath and started to pack the memories away again. He lifted Ro’s chin so he could look her in the eyes. “So you see, I can’t be anything but proud that you made the hard choice and took action when it would have been easier to do nothing. You did what you had to do, and I can’t hold it against you. Hell, Ro, your guts and determination just make me love you more.”
Ro held on to Zach and struggled to keep from sobbing for the boy he’d been and everything he’d endured. Her chest ached at the regret and guilt and soul-deep pain etched on his face as he told his story. She started to form words over and over, but they all seemed inadequate. Instead, she squeezed tighter and pressed a kiss over his heart.
Zach hugged her back before disentangling her arms and studying her wrists. Sharing time was over. “We need to have Beau take a look at these. Can’t take any chances. Not with you.”
“He’s busy with my dad. I can wait.”
“That’s the other reason I came to get you. Your dad’s awake and is demanding to see his first born.”
Ro smiled and her eyes mist with tears. Again. The rollercoaster of emotions over the past two days had taken a toll. “Can I borrow some clothes?”
Outfitted, once again, in baggy sweatpants and a giant hooded sweatshirt, Ro walked hand-in-hand with Zach across the interior of the compound toward the clinic. He’d tried to carry her, but she’d argued that she was fully capable of using her own two feet. Graham was nowhere in sight, and Ro was grateful for the reprieve. She had no idea how respond to the bomb he’d dropped. He thought she was the grenade in this situation? She’d just been minding her own business when they’d shattered her preconceived notions about relationships and sex and everything. And now her sister knew that she had been with them both. Ro wouldn’t let the fear of her dad finding out change anything. When she’d first embarked on this … relationship … with Graham and Zach, she’d decided she was going to own it. She couldn’t do any less now. If there was even a relationship to own. But that didn’t change the fact that her dad was probably going to lose his ever-loving mind. So she’d just hope that his discovery would come later. Much, much later.
She tugged at Zach’s hand, pulling him toward the clinic. Her excitement to see her dad had her breaking into a jog. Ro pushed the door open and smiled widely when she saw her dad sitting propped up against a stack of pillows.
“There’s my girl,” he said, grinning broadly. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, honey.”
“How are you feeling?” She surveyed the bandages that wrapped from the upper right section of his chest over his shoulder.
“Just fine. Only a few scratches. Nothing to worry about.”
Ro arched a brow. “A few scratches?” Typical Dad response. He’d label anything as ‘just a scratch’ unless it involved losing a limb.
“I’ll be good as new by tomorrow.”
“I’ve heard that before,” Beau interrupted. “And I’ll say the same thing to you as I did to her: you need to take it easy for a while. You just had minor, non-anesthetized surgery, and I’m gonna be pissed if you start bleeding again. The painkillers are making you feel like Superman now, but you’re going to feel it when they wear off.”
“Okay, okay.” Her dad held out his hands in a placatory gesture. “Doctor’s orders, I get it. Now come here, Ro. Your old man needs a hug.”
Ro settled herself on the left side of the bed and carefully squeezed her father’s uninjured side. “Missed you, Dad. Thanks for waiting for me.”