Read Online To Say Goodbye by Lindsay Detwiler - Free Book Online Page A

his son, held him close, and prayed Logan would never doubt those words.
    _______________
    Tears streamed down Logan’s face. Jackson stooped down to eye level with him. There was a soft drizzle falling, and the air had grown chilly.
    “Logan, listen, it’s okay. I’ll call you tomorrow, all right? And then, before you know it, I’ll be back for you again. Next time, we’ll go to the diner again and see another movie. What do you say?”
    “Daddy, I miss you.”
    “I know, Logan. I miss you too. These next few weeks will go so fast. Now give me a hug and then get in the car with your mom, okay?”
    Logan woefully nodded, tears still streaming. Jackson hugged his son tightly, clasping onto him. As it always did, Jackson’s weekend with Logan flew by. He felt like he was just playing at the role of father, barely having time to settle Logan in before it was time to turn around and meet Chloe again.
    Chloe glared from behind, her foot tapping, her hood up to protect her from the drizzle.
    “Come on, Logan. Let’s get in the car.” She reached for her son’s arm, tugging him toward his seat.
    After a long moment, Logan followed his mother. Logan’s doughy brown eyes looked at Jackson in a way that made him want to crumple on the pavement. He didn’t though, standing stoically, perhaps channeling the stance his own father had shown him so many times.
    “I love you,” he said to his son as Chloe shut the car door after buckling in their child.
    “Goodbye, Jackson.”
    “Chloe, wait. You see what this is doing to him. Please reconsider.”
    “The court has made its decision. I’m not going to talk about this every time.”
    He reached for her arm. “Please. I know I made a mistake. I know. But I didn’t hurt anyone. And I would never endanger Logan. You know that. I was just devastated about you, about us. I felt you slipping away. I was pissed you did that to me.”
    “I’ve heard this. It doesn’t matter. The court heard your story. And they sided with me.”
    “Chloe, it’s not like I murdered someone.”
    “You could’ve. You could’ve murdered our son. What if he had been in the car?”
    “I would never do that.”
    “We’re done here.”
    She got in the car, turning her back on him, as she’d done so many weeks now.
    It was hopeless. There was no fixing this.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Jackson
    H e knew he should turn the truck around, go back to his apartment, and watch television. This was a bad idea. A weird one. She would think he was being creepy, odd.
    No matter how much he rationalized, however, he couldn’t make himself turn the truck around.
    November 14.
    He’d been watching the date on the calendar, knowing it was going to be a rough day for everyone, especially for Sophia. The first year was always the worst. The first day without them, the first holiday.
    Tim’s first birthday since his death, and, thus, the first birthday he wouldn’t be able to actually celebrate.
    He’d thought about calling her, just to check in. He’d thought about doing nothing at all, leaving it to family and friends. Then he thought about Tim, thought about the man who always knew what to do, who never worried about appearances when it came to helping someone out. He would want him to check on Sophia, to make sure she was okay.
    He pulled into the driveway and noticed the parked red Corolla. She was home. Turning off the truck, he sat for a long moment, contemplating. He was just doing this because he was worried about her, because he had a connection with her through Tim. He just wanted to make sure she was okay.
    Grabbing the bag on the passenger seat, he shuffled to the door. He wondered for a brief moment if she might be busy. Maybe she was with her family or Stella. Maybe he would be intruding.
    He rang the doorbell, deciding it was too late to turn around. He’d just hand her the food, see how she was, and leave.
    A moment later, the door opened, and a surprised Sophia stood in front of him. Her hair was