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Delete. Delete. Delete.

Gage: I could buy the house next door to yours?

That was even worse than the last one.Delete.

Farrah: Lot of text bubbles over there.

Gage: I’m meeting with my parents the weekend after the photo shoot. I’m serious about moving forward with you. And I’m hoping someday you’ll be okay with me staying over because I gotta be honest. This bed feels really empty without you.

Farrah: My heart.

Farrah: I miss waking up next to you too. Last week was so amazing. Do you know what you’re going to say to your parents?

Gage: Maybe you can help me workshop it?

Farrah: Okay, tell me what you have so far.

Gage: *takes a deep breath* I got nothing.

Farrah: LOL just tell them the truth? If you tell them how you feel and it goes nowhere, at least you’ll know you tried.

Gage: It’s hard to sort it all out. It’s sucked building this company without my parents ever saying “I’m proud of you.” Which feels pathetic to admit, but it’s true.

Farrah: It’s not pathetic. It means the world when my parents say they’re proud of me.

Gage: Here’s the thing, though. It’s been more than ten years since the fight. Not once did my dad reach out to me. And I know I didn’t reach out to him either, but he’s the parent, damn it. Shouldn’t he be the one?

Farrah: As a mom, I have to let you know... we’re all still human. Sometimes it takes us a while to figure things out.

Gage: I just hope I can. For us.

Farrah: I hope you can too... but for you. You’re so strong, but I can see the weight this puts on you. I know your relationship will never be like it was before, but maybe things will feel a little lighter than they did when you weren’t talking.

I was stubborn enough to carry this battle to the grave, but making amends was important to Farrah. And if I was being honest with myself, I wanted a relationship with my parents, for me. They weren’t getting younger, and neither was I.

How could I go to their funerals someday knowing I’d let pride and anger and hurt keep me from having a relationship with them?

How could I become a part of Farrah’s family and not let my parents meet the most amazing woman and children in the world?

Before the fallout, I loved my parents so much I was willing to work in a family business with them. That love hadn’t just disappeared. For me at least.

Gage: Thank you for pushing me. A lot of people let me have my way, but you make me better. I need that in my life.

Farrah: I hope you’ll do the same for me.

Gage: Can’t fix perfect. :)

Farrah: Just wait until you spend more time with me. You’ll definitely see my dark side.

Gage: The sun doesn’t have a dark side.

Farrah: Maybe. But sometimes I leave clothes in the washer so long they mold. *facepalm emoji* I had to buy Levi a whole new jersey one time because it had these little mildew spots all over the white and it wouldn’t wash out.

Gage: I’m sure he forgave you.

Farrah: Oh, and sometimes, I sneak the last ice cream bar while the kids are at school so they can’t ask me for it. And then when they see it’s gone, I blame one of the kids. *cringe emoji*

Gage: Now you know what it’s like to have siblings.