Page 119 of Heartstring

“You’re taking thisfuck-it-outpermission seriously, aren’t you?” Tyler asks as I nibble on the skin of his neck, feeling the goosebumps under his shirt.

“I sometimes do follow orders.”

“Good to know.”

37

TYLER

SIX MONTHS LATER

Meeting Mik’smom after all these years was an emotional experience. She confessed that under her husband’s influence, she wasn’t the best parent and focused on the wrong things.

It was difficult hearing her basically say she wasn’t a nice person, but I understood that a lot had to do with her upbringing and expectations from her family. I think she married Mik’s dad hoping that someone from a less privileged background would make her happy, except Mikael Nilsson, Sr. had other plans for his wife’s money.

It’s hard to tell if it was her husband’s death or granddaughter’s birth that changed things for her, but there’s no doubt, seeing her with Mik and Kay, that she adores both of them.

She apologized for going behind my back and buying the playground for me under her husband’s name. She shed a tear as she confessed that she hoped it would serve as a posthumous apology from the man.

I accepted the apology from her. It’s still too raw, even after all these years, to reconcile losing Mik while gaining more time with my dad. I’m not ready to forgive Mikael Nilsson, Sr., but I can certainly welcome his wife back into my life.

Being back in Port Haven has also brought back a lot of memories of my own.

Mik took Kay and me to the dinner we used to go to with my dad. She was curious to know more about the man who took a chance on the kid no one else wanted.

We laughed as I told her stories from my and Mik’s childhoods, and throughout, Mik held my hand. His silent show of support made it much easier to revisit the past.

Of course, that also gave Kay plenty of ammunition, which I’m sure she’ll use against Mik at some point in the future. Especially the whole sneaking out at night and taking the late bus to sleep at my place.

After lunch, we drove past my old house. We stopped out front for a few minutes. Two young kids came outside to play on the lawn, followed by their parents and baby sibling, who sat on the porch steps.

Seeing the house become the home of a young family makes me happy. Those walls gave me peace, happiness, and, yes, some sad times, but I wouldn’t change that for the world.

“Baby.” Mik places his hand on mine.

We left Kay back at his mom’s place when he said he wanted to take me somewhere.

I’ve been so lost in my thoughts that I haven’t noticed his route.

“We’re at the cemetery.”

He squeezes my hand. “I figured you’d want to come here.”

I nod, feeling my throat tighten.

Mik places his arm around my waist as we enter the gated cemetery. It’s a warm spring day, and the smell of the flowers and freshly mowed grass makes me smile.

“It’s so peaceful here,” I say.

Mik doesn’t say anything, but he takes a deep breath and smiles.

“I do miss the Cali weather. Not gonna lie.”

I chuckle. “Come on, it’s this way.”

We find my dad’s grave easily. There’s an oak tree nearby, now providing shade from the sun.

I run my hand over the stone. “Hi, Dad.” A few tears escape as I trace his name carved on the stone. “I hope you’re having fun up there.”