Why did he want to subject Faith to his father’s drama? Because he needed her support and he wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

Dealing with his father was draining, keeping track of his truth and lies difficult. But here they were.

Jason had no intention of making it easy on his father, so he waited in silence for the other man to speak.

Finally, Robert cleared his throat. “I want you back, Savannah. I made a mistake and I’m sorry.”

Jason frowned. Mistake was putting it mildly. Jason might make a lot of mistakes over the course of his life, but cheating on a woman would never be one of them.

“We went through this,” his mother said. “I’m not interested in taking you back. It’s not like you cheated once and corrected your ways.” Savannah leaned forward in her seat. “You burned Emma in ways I can’t comprehend, and I hate myself for staying with you anyway. So you’re not going to convince me you’re a different man now.” Her cheeks were flushed and her voice steady.

Faith eased back against him, obviously knowing it wasn’t easy for him to hear his mother talk that way about herself. It hurt. But from that pain would come renewed strength. Jason was seeing it firsthand for himself.

Robert had the grace to look ashamed as he glanced at the floor before meeting Savannah’s stare once more. “Look. I’m no angel, we both know this.”

“That’s an understatement,” Jason muttered.

His father ignored the dig. “I’m a prick. I’ve done shitty things to Emma and the rest of my kids. I never knew how to handle the dual life. I actually felt guilty about hiding you all, and I took it out on them, not giving them the parent they deserved. I didn’t love their mother, so I wasn’t good to them. I can’t justify it…” He trailed off, then looked down at his hands, which he was twisting together.

“Robert,” she began.

He drew a deep breath, paused, then said, “Please let me finish. I love you, Savannah. I always did. I’m weak. I never admitted that before. But I want the life I have with you.”

Jason glanced at his mother to find tears trickling from her eyes. Faith clasped his hand tight.

Jason blew out a long breath. If he had to say whether or not he believed his father … the best he could say was Jason thought Robert believed his own words. Did it change anything? Did Jason trust the man to change? Hell no.

“Well? Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?” Robert asked.

Jason held his breath, and so did Faith by his side.

“No.” His mother rose to her feet, her pretty silver dress sparkling and seeming too nice for this awkward moment. “You cheated on your first wife. You cheated on me. You’re a no-good, worthless excuse for a man and I’m done. I’m going to like myself for a change, and for that to happen, I need to get rid of you.”