My Dad's Bestfriend novel Chapter 24

Evelyn

As I walked downstairs with Jacob, the last thing I had expected was to see a woman who seemed both familiar and unknown. Her hair, once short, now cascaded down to her waist, and her complexion appeared slightly darker, making her even more beautiful. But it was her eyes that caught my attention the most—they no longer held the gloominess I remembered; instead, they exuded pure happiness.

She looked happy. Truly happy.

Standing by her side was a man, his arm wrapped around her waist, as she engaged in lively conversation with Dad and Clara.

"What's the matter?" Jacob's voice snapped me out of my daze. He looked at me with concern.

I could not answer him. However, as his eyes followed to see the sight, he soon realised the reason behind my sudden stillness.

"Oh, there she is. Jacob's here too," Clara called out, gathering everyone's attention. "Come join us."

All eyes turned towards me, and my breath quickened as years of suppressed anger began to rise. I didn't want to speak to that woman or even see her face.

"Evelyn, come on," Jacob pleaded, grasping my hand in an attempt to coax me forward.

"No. I don't want to meet her," I replied, my voice trembling as I struggled to maintain control over my emotions.

"But she's a guest. It wouldn't be polite if you just walked away," he reasoned.

"I don't care. She means nothing to me. I-I..."

"For your dad... do it for him. He invited your mom because he wants to mend your relationship," Jacob interjected, knowing exactly how to convince me.

His words infuriated me and left me feeling powerless.

"Come with me," Flashing me a small smile, he pulled me along.

"Hi, everyone," he took the initiative to strike up a conversation with my mother and her boyfriend. "Evelyn was just a little nervous, so sorry for the delay."

I heard a sigh of relief from both Dad and Clara at Jacob's words. They knew I wasn't just nervous, but they wanted to avoid any awkwardness at all costs.

"Hey, Evelyn," Mom's voice reached my ears, and reluctantly, I shifted my gaze towards her, though it was the last thing I wanted to do.

Her voice held a softness, and her eyes were filled with hope, which made me feel a twinge of guilt. She understood that I wasn't happy about her presence. It was evident that she was trying to communicate her remorse.

But as the memories of everything my dad and I had endured flashed before my eyes like a projector, everything seemed to dissipate into thin air.

"Hi, Mom," I greeted her, my voice lacking any warmth.

Mom's smile visibly faltered. She tried to mask it, but her disappointment was evident.

"Um... Evelyn, this is Jack, your mother's fiancé," Dad interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension in the air.

"Hi, Jack. It's nice to meet you," I said, my attempt at a smile falling flat.

"It's nice to meet you too. Your mom talks about you all the time, and I must say, you look a lot like her," he replied warmly, choosing to overlook my previous coldness.

"Really? I haven't had many opportunities to notice our similarities. We haven't spent much time together," I chuckled. "Anyway, it was nice meeting you both. I hope you have a pleasant stay here. If you'll excuse me, I need to catch up with my friends."

Without wasting another moment, I turned around and walked away.

*****

"Evelyn, please open the door."

"No, Jacob," I managed to speak through my sobs, "Just leave me alone."

"You've been in your room all day. You can't isolate yourself like this. It won't help," he pleaded. "Please, open the door."

"I don't want to talk about anything," I sniffled, "I just need some time alone."

"No, I can't leave you like this. If you don't open the door, I'll have to break in."

"Please, just go," My voice muffled as I buried my head in the pillow, unable to stop my tears from flowing and adding to the mess I already felt.

"I'll count to three," he threatened, his tone filled with frustration. "After that, you can't blame me for what happens."

"I need some time alone, Jacob. Why don't you understand?"

"I don't understand. I can't believe you're being serious right now. You've locked yourself in your fucking room for the past six hours, refusing to talk to anyone or leave this damn den of yours. Your dad's going crazy out there, while you call this isolation some kind of 'private moment.' And you think I'm the one who doesn't understand?!" His worry was evident, overshadowed by his frustration, "Stop acting like an idiot and open the damn door!"

"I didn't have any other choice," he confessed, cupping my face and brushing away my tears with his thumbs. "I was worried sick and just wanted to see you."

"I'm sorry," I sighed, leaning into his touch. "You know it's not easy when someone walks out of your life, but what's even harder is when they try to come back after you've finally adjusted to reality. I'm happy with the life I have now, Jacob. There's only room for a few people in my life, and if I let her back in, everything will fall apart again. I'm not as strong as my dad. He may be able to forgive her, but... I can't. I just can't."

My words were interrupted by sobs that wracked my body.

"Shh... It's okay," he whispered, pulling me into his arms and slowly turning us so that I could bury my head into his chest. "You don't need to explain anything. I understand. Calm down."

"It's not that I hate her. She's my mom, even though she was never there for me. But I can't forgive her for what she did to Dad and me. She left us when we needed her the most. She acted selfishly, and the price I had to pay was my dreams, everything I had planned for us as a family, the wish to have both my parents close..." My words were choked with emotion as he rubbed my back, my tears staining his shirt. "Am I a terrible human being for not wanting her back in my life? Is it my fault?"

"No, it's not your fault," he shook his head, continuing to trace soothing circles on my lower back, "You have every right to feel this way. You have the right to say no when you know it will hurt your feelings and protect yourself from getting hurt. It doesn't make you a terrible human being. You have nothing to feel bad about."

I did not say anything, instead, I let myself bask in his comfort.

"Do you know something, Evelyn?" he spoke after a while.

"What?" I looked up at him, my eyes still moist with tears.

"I never got to see my mother. Apparently, God had other plans for her, and that's why he took her away the day I was born. For the longest time, I never celebrated my birthday. I thought it was my fault that she wasn't there with me. Then, one day, my great-grandfather told me something. He was ninety-five at the time, and it changed my entire perspective on life," he wiped away my tears gently.

"Your mother's death was not your fault?"

A small chuckle escaped his lips, and he leaned in to press a tender kiss on my forehead. "No, that was a truth even I knew but was too reluctant to accept. What he said was something very different. Give me your hand." He reached out and took my hand in his, making a fist.

"This is what happens when you hold onto something too tightly," he said, his voice soft but firm. "It could be something painful, like anger, grudges, or just a bad memory. You keep trying to hold onto it, and hold onto it... until you get tired. It becomes a burden without you even realising it, weighing you down in the same way you once held onto it. But, do you know what happens when we let go?"

I looked at him, waiting for him to finish his sentence.

"When you let go, you free yourself from the weight of hurtful memories that not only trigger negative emotions but also tether you to the past. As you release these burdens, a transformation takes place within you, birthing a newfound perspective that allows you to perceive the world in a completely different light. Every moment becomes an opportunity to revel in the joy of living, without the constant worry of whom you should exclude from sharing those moments."

A warm smile graced his face as he looked at me. "And you know what? My great-grandpa never explicitly spoke these words to me. It's what unfolded after I heeded his advice."

"What did he say then?"

"In life, there are times when we must release the things that cause us pain." With those simple words, he not only unlocked my clenched fist but also liberated my heavy heart.