Forgiven (13 page)

It’s been eating me up all night and all day today that I snuck behind Gabby’s back yesterday. When I was growing up and my parents made me go to Sunday School and church, I was taught that you can’t expect to be forgiven when you continuously commit the same sin over and over again. It’s one thing to do something wrong once and ask to be forgiven after you repent, but if you commit the same sin over and over again, then you must have never truly repented.

These lessons have been on overdrive in my mind. I can hear Preacher Rivers in his southern, deep voice preaching the sermon like it was yesterday. I know that if I am having this feeling over and over again that it is my gut telling me to let this go, but I can’t.

I also have a part of my gut gnawing at me that this guy I saw yesterday is bad news. I would rather have to ask for forgiveness later if I get caught as opposed to asking for permission or having to give an explanation as to why I’m checking up on her now.

I did decide that the charade from yesterday was ridiculous. I mean, borrowing Sharon’s car was a bit much. I decided that if I’m going to do this, I’m not going to hide. Besides, she usually only has tutoring sessions with Emmi on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So she shouldn’t even be here today.

If she happens to be here and sees me, thus outing me, then I’ll just tell her I was in the area. That won’t be a lie. It’s error by omission, even if it is on purpose. Skirting the truth is something my father taught me how to do well. It makes me cringe to think I’d need to use any of those shady skills, especially on the woman I love. I remind myself this is to protect her. It wasn’t originally, but it is now. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe the things that led up to me following her yesterday happened so I would see him. So I would be able to protect her from him.

Gabby is so naïve, I’m sure she has no clue he’s even a problem. She has a tendency to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume people are good. I chuckle because she sure as hell wasn’t that way with me when we met.

I have never had to work so hard in my life at anything as I did trying to win her. Those three months made me realize she had pegged me pretty accurately. I think that aside from wanting her, that was what drove me to change the most.

Hearing her call me out on all of those things hurt for the first time. In the past, I’d been almost proud of being the way I was. I still can’t wrap my mind around what it still is about her. Love at first sight seems silly, but that’s all I’ve got. I think I loved her even then.

When I arrive, there is no sign of Gabby, which is a very good thing for me. I breathe a sigh of relief as I cut the engine. I skim the parking lot once more as I get out and jog towards the door. When I go inside, I get in line so that I can order something just to complain so I can try to talk to this guy.

She can’t be in college, she’s surely just a teenager. I feel bad having to be a jerk to her. It’s obvious when I walk up that she finds me attractive. Of course she does. Man, I feel like a dick when she smiles and asks what she can get for me. I guess asking for the manager right out won’t work well, huh.

“Large coffee. Two creams, two Splendas, please.”

She nods and takes my money. “Just a minute.”

When she brings me back my cup, I realize I don’t have it in me to make a scene or embarrass either of us. I spot business cards by the register. A thought crosses my mind as she hands it to me. “Here you go. Have a great day,” she says.

I smile. “Thanks. Hey, can I ask you a question?”

Her cheeks turn red, and she barely smiles. “You just did, but you can ask another if you’d like.”

Cute. I can’t help but smirk back at her. “I guess I did, didn’t I? I’ll take you up on the other one. Any chance your manager is around?” Her look of amusement fades quickly. “It’s not you. I just have a question for him, that’s all.”

Relief sets in and I watch her body slouch as it relaxes. “Sure, I’ll go get him for you real quick.” I watch her walk into the back.

I step to the side and reach down picking up one of the business cards. It doesn’t have a name on it, just the shop name with one of those little Christian fish on it. I shrug and put it back thinking that may be a promising sign. When I look back up, I see him-the freak who seems to be obsessed with Gabby, walking towards me.

I extend my hand and flash my charming smile that I use when I’m doing business. “Bradley Banks. And you are?”

He puts his hand in mine and gives a firm shake. “Gabe Gerhart. How can I help you?”

I try to maintain my composure, but there is no part of my being expecting to hear that name. Gabby has never told me his name, but clearly I have just introduced myself to her father. They don’t resemble each other much, but the name would be far too much of a coincidence. He must know that Gabby is his daughter. That has to be why he was looking at her like that yesterday. I clear my throat trying to not seem fazed by this information. I have to think fast, but I really want to get the hell out of here. “I just wanted to let you know that this young lady...” I point to the girl who had been helping me. “Has the best customer service. I thought she deserved some recognition.”

He appears confused. I wink at her as I release his hand. Her face turns beet red, and she quickly looks down at the register with a beaming smile. “Nice shop and great service. I will definitely be back,” I say as I walk out of the front door.
Damn, Bradley
. That wasn’t awkward at all. I am completely floored. My pulse is racing, my hands are shaking.
What in the hell am I supposed to do with this information?

It doesn’t take me long to realize I have to call Sam. He’s their damn father.
What are the chances?
I decide to head to the gym first because I have to get some of this aggression, this rage out before I can be around Gabby. The mere thought of him hurting her makes me want to kill him.

When I get to the gym, I change my clothes, warm up, and head straight to the treadmill. I blast the speed and run as fast as I can until I feel like I can’t breathe anymore. Then I walk for a few minutes, and then sprint again. The entire time the only thing on my mind is varying scenarios of what this man did to the woman I love. Finally, after about five repetitions of this, I cool down, pick up the towel from the handle, wipe my face, and head to the punching bag. This work out comes especially easy for me. All I have to do is think about the things I’d like to do to the men in Gabby’s life who have hurt her. I briefly laugh as I remember fighting with Ian not so long ago.
And to think I went light on him.

After my shower, I head back up to my office. I want privacy to make this phone call. It’s after hours, so it’s not like anyone is around anyway. I just want to be able to close the door, sit at my desk, and think before I make this call.

What in the hell am I going to say to her?
Sam, I met your father today. No. Sam, is your dad’s name Gabe Gerhart?
Oh, now that’d be a hell of a note if it’s not even their dad. I should probably check that out first, huh.

I grab the receiver to the phone and punch in Joe’s number. He owns a nightclub, but he also does some PI work on the side. I know that he’ll be able to quickly figure out who he is.

When he answers, I go right into it. “Hey, man. I need you to do an idenity check for me.”

“Okay. Nice to talk to you today, too. And no, I wasn’t in the middle of anything. I’d be delighted to be at your beck and call, Mr. Banks.”

I chuckle. “Damn straight. No seriously, it’s important. It’s about Gabby and Sam.”

“Oh yeah?” he asks, his tone more serious now.

“Yeah. I think I met their father today.”

“Didn’t their dad apparently do some pretty bad shit to them back in the day?”

“Just to Gabby, but yeah.”

“What’s his name or what do you need me to look up?”

“Gabe Gerhart. He owns that coffee shop that Gabby studies at. I mean, what are the freakin’ chances of that?”

“Dude. That’s crazy. Give me a minute.”

I can hear him typing. The silence on the phone makes me feel like time has frozen in place. “Anything?”

“I’m still looking.”

“Oh.”

“Gabe Gerhart. Married to Cindy Gerhart. A son named Evan. Moved to Atlanta twelve years ago. Member of the local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous, a deacon at First Baptist Church, owner of Gi Gi’s Coffee Shop.”

“Anything about girls?”

“Not initially, but it looks like before he moved to Atlanta, he was married.”

“Uh huh. Did he happen to live in Charleston before he moved to Atlanta?”

“Yep, I’m ninety-nine percent sure this is him, man. What the hell are you gonna do?”

“I dunno. Probably will call Sam first.”

“Here we go, jackpot. Two girls. Sam and Gabby. Ex-wife is Grace.”

“Ugh.” I sigh into the phone. “Fax or email me everything you can get on the SOB, please.”

“Need anything else from me, sir?”

“Ha, no. Thanks, though. I seriously appreciate your help. We still on for fishing Saturday while the girls go do their wedding bridezilla stuff?”

“Yep. I’ll be at the lake house all weekend. Just come whenever.”

“Good. See ya then.”

“Bye.”

I put the phone down because I have to take a minute before I call Sam to gather my thoughts. I still have no idea what I’m going to say to her. Maybe I need to just play it by ear. See how she acts. Hell, she may not even answer the phone. I sure hope she does because I don’t want to have to carry this around with me for long.

I pull my cell phone out because I don’t have her number memorized. Lucky for me, she answers on the second ring.