92 Rachel had watched in silence as Antonio walked in, the tension in the room almost palpable. She could feel the unease between father and son, the hurt and betrayal Leo felt radiating off him in waves. Rebecca stood between them, looking like she was caught in the middle of a battle she couldn’t win.
Leo’s voice was taut with anger as he spoke to his father. “What are you doing here.?”
“I came to see my son,” his father replied, his voice soft and conciliatory.
Rebecca cut in, trying to defuse the situation. “Leo, your father came to apologize. He wants to make things right.”
Leo snorted in disbelief. “Make things right? After all he’s done? You’re only sneaking your way back. You think I’m still a kid?”
Antonio flinched at the harshness in his son’s voice, looking down at the floor. “I know I’ve made mistakes, Leo. But I want to try and make amends. I want to be a part of your life again.”
Rachel could feel Leo’s hand trembling in hers, the anger still simmering beneath the surface. “You had your chance, Dad. You lost it. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
Rebecca stepped forward, her voice gentle. “Leo, please. Your father is trying to make amends. Can’t we at least try to talk things out?”
Leo snorted again, his eyes dark with fury. “There’s nothing to talk about, Mom. He abused you, he abused me. He’s not welcome here.”
Rachel could feel the weight of the tension in the room, the hurt and betrayal on both sides. She squeezed Leo’s hand, trying to calm him down. “Leo, let’s go for a walk. Just the two of us.”
He looked at her, his eyes softening. “Okay. Let’s go.”
As they walked out of the house, Rachel could feel Leo’s anger slowly dissipating. They walked in silence for a few minutes before she spoke. “Are you okay?”
He sighed heavily. “I don’t know, Rach. I just can’t forgive him for what he’s done. Not after everything he’s put us through.”
“I understand, Leo. But your mother seems to want to make peace with him. Maybe we should try to understand her perspective too.”
Leo stopped walking and turned to her. “What perspective? The man abused her. He hurt her. How can she just forgive him like that?”
Rachel took a deep breath, trying to choose her words carefully. “Maybe she’s just trying to let go of the past. Holding onto anger and resentment only hurts us in the end. Maybe forgiving him is her way of healing.”
Leo looked at her, his eyes softening. “You always know the right thing to say, Rach.”
Rachel smiled at him. “I try.”
They walked back to the house, the tension still palpable. Rebecca looked up as they walked in, her eyes pleading. “Leo, can we talk?”
He sighed heavily. “Fine. Let’s talk.”
Rachel watched from the sidelines as they sat down, their voices low and tense. She could see the pain and hurt etched on both their faces, the struggle to find a common ground.
After what seemed like hours, Leo finally stood up, his face set. “I can’t do this. I need some space.”
Rebecca reached out to him, her eyes pleading. “Leo, please. Can’t we try to work things out?”
Leo shook his head, his voice cold. “I need some time, Mom. I can’t just forget what he’s done.”
He walked out of the house, Rachel following him. As they walked down the driveway, he turned to her. “I’d appreciate if you also gave me some space. Nothing can change my mind.”
The words that left Leo’s mouth that instant made her heart quiver. She was shocked but she didn’t think twice before turning around to go back to his mother who was indoors.
Rebecca was already waiting at the doorstep as she ambled back, a sad look on her face. They both went in to talk
Rachel listened to Rebecca’s words and nods, understanding the importance of forgiveness. However, she still couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling of having Leo’s father in their home. She told Rebecca that she’d check on Leo, and Rebecca agreed.
Rachel found Leo in his study, pacing back and forth. She approached him, and he stopped in his tracks, looking at her with a mixture of anger and sadness. She took his hand and pulls him towards the couch, and they sit down.
“Leo, I know it’s hard, but your mother just wants to make things right. You know that.”
“I do, but it doesn’t excuse what he did to her. He was abusive, Rachel. How can she forgive him so easily?”
Rachel takes a deep breath, trying to find the right words to say. “Forgiving someone doesn’t mean forgetting what they did. It means choosing to let go of the anger and hurt so that it doesn’t control you anymore. Maybe your mother has found peace in forgiving your father.”
Leo looks at her, taking in her words. He knows she’s right, but it still doesn’t make it any easier. “I just can’t stand to see him, Rachel. It brings up too many bad memories.”
Rachel places a hand on his cheek, looking at him with love and understanding. “I know, Leo. But you’re not alone. I’m here for you, and so is your mother. We’ll get through this together.”
Leo looks at her, feeling grateful for her support. He pulls her into a tight embrace, holding her close.
They sat in silence for a while, the only sound being their breathing and the distant chirping of birds outside. Rachel looks up at Leo, smiling. “You know, I think we should plan a vacation. Just the two of us. Somewhere peaceful where we can relax and forget about all of this.”
Leo looks at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “That sounds like a great idea. Where do you suggest we go?”
Rachel leans in, whispering in his ear. “How about a private island? Just you, me, and the ocean.”
Leo grins, pulling her in for a kiss. “Uumm. Yeah! I love that idea. Let’s do it.”
They pulled away, grinning at each other. Rachel takes his hand, standing up. “Come on, let’s go to bed. We have a lot to plan tomorrow.”
Leo nods, standing up with her. As they walk towards their bedroom, he feels a sense of peace wash over him. Maybe forgiveness is possible, and maybe they can find a way to move on from the past. With Rachel by his side, anything is possible.