I saw Dean’s nostrils flare. “And you care…why? Do you realize what he did to Tyler? Do you realize what kind of monster he was all along?”
My mother glared. “And I suppose you’re whiter than white, Dean?”
He pursed his lips for a moment, taking a deep breath. “I have never pretended to be anything other than what I am. I’m not proud of what I’ve become, and I’m certainly not proud of the hurt I’ve caused Tyler. My intentions with her were always honorable. It was only the lies Ian unleashed that made me believe she had betrayed me. I was wrong. I was pathetic and I’ll forever be so damn sorry for what I did to her. I will always love her and promise to protect her every day until my last dying breath. I will never allow anything to happen to Tyler. She is my world, and nothing can take that away from me.”
My mother’s glare was resolute. “What happened to Ian, Dean?” She then looked over at me and I quickly averted my eyes. “What…happened?”
Dean sighed. “Ian’s gone and will never get a chance to hurt Tyler again. I can promise you that.”
My mum sighed. “You killed him.” I was about to retort when she looked up at me. “And you want to live with a man who lives his life like this? You want to bring Jeremy into this lifestyle? I thought it was why you ran away.”
Dean inhaled deeply and was about to reply when I placed my hand on his arm. “I did run away because of that, but I can’t help the way I feel. I can’t help the fact that throughout my whole life, Dean has been the only man at the forefront.” I looked at my dad and smiled. “Apart from you, Dad.”
He smiled back, but my mother still wasn’t happy. “Don’t you understand how being with him puts you all in danger?”
Dean stepped forward. “I completely understand your concerns, Mrs. O’Shea, but I’m done with that life. Tyler and Jeremy are my priorities now. I’m leaving that life behind and not giving it a second glance.”
My mother shrugged. “So you’re just going to pack everything up in England and move over here to be with Tyler and Jeremy.”
Dean nodded. “Yes. I’ll go wherever Tyler goes. I always have.” Dean smiled at me and put an arm around me.
“Don’t joke about these things, Dean. It still doesn’t take away the fact that you hurt my daughter deeply. You didn’t see the pain I had to look at that night she came to me after everything that happened. You took my daughter away from me. You took away my chance of watching my grandson grow up every day. You have always been the cause of so much destruction and heartache.” My mum put her head down in sorrow.
Dean gripped my shoulder a little. I wasn’t sure whether it was to comfort me or whether my mother’s confession was affecting him.
“I know you won’t believe me, but every day since that night, I have punished myself over and over again. Living with what I’ve done is nothing short of unbearable for me. I will never forgive myself for treating Tyler the way I did, so I completely understand that you feel the same way. The only thing I can say in my defense is that I love Tyler and Jeremy. I’ll protect them until my dying breath, and I don’t think you will ever find another man out there who feels as strongly as I do about them. They are my life. Jeremy is my flesh and blood, and I will do whatever it takes to keep them both safe.”
My father sighed. “There’s no denying that, Dean. I can tell how you feel about Tyler. I’ve seen it in your face ever since you were a boy, but you can understand how we would have doubts. You can understand that we will worry about our daughter…and our grandson.”
Dean nodded. “That goes without saying, Mr. O’Shea. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t want it any other way. But, like I said to Tyler not so long ago, I will do anything and everything she asks. I will abide by everything and anything you ask…except letting Tyler go. I can’t stop loving her, and I’ll be damned if I ever let her go again. Tyler is my oxygen. I just can’t live without her.”
My father stared at Dean for a moment, then looked at me. “And you feel the same way?”
I nodded. “Of course. I always have, Dad. I appreciate that it will take time to adjust and heal, but I won’t be able to heal without him. I’m just hoping, in time, you’ll get to see that, too.”
My father nodded resolutely. He looked sad and I hated that. “Then there’s nothing further to discuss here.” He looked down at my mother. “Clara, I think we’ve gotten our answers. There’s nothing else that can be done.”