Bea invited me and my dad over for brunch the next day. She wanted to put something together to celebrate Dartmouth with me. And while I'm so honored that she wanted to do that, I feel bad for all the work she had to put in to host. Jack said not to worry, that Bea loves having people over, but this is too much. She put a full spread of food on the outdoor table by the pool. I don't even know what to reach for first because everything looks delicious.

When I look at Bea – when I look at her relationship with Jack – I can't seem to understand where Peter went wrong. Yes, he may be successful and well-respected in this community, but what does that matter when you don't have the respect of the two people who should matter the most to you? Your wife and your son.

And while I'm so happy that Jack has Bea, a father's love is also important. Jack is strong, but I know how much he craves a healthy relationship with his dad. I can only hope that they get there one day.

The back door slides open as we're all mid-conversation and Peter walks out in a suit. There's something different about his demeanor; he looks softer, not as rigid.

The chatter at the table goes silent as he approaches and the first thing that he does is look at me. "Congratulations on Dartmouth, Anastasia," he says with a faint smile. I can tell that he means it because he speaks it in a kind tone that I've never heard from him before.

"Thank you," I smile with closed lips.

Peter then lends his hand out to dad and introduces himself. "I don't believe we've met. Peter Carrington," he says, and dad takes his hand.

"Daniel Moore."

"It's nice to have you here," he says truthfully.

I notice Jack watch the entire exchange with skepticism. But with a glimmer of hope, too.

"Mind if I join you?" Peter asks, and we all wait for Jack to respond.

"Not at all," he finally says.

Life will sometimes give you a second chance, and today is Peter's. I'm not saying that Jack should forget everything that's happened between him and his dad. But I am saying that letting the past go will allow him to embrace the present and future. I think Jack knows that forgiving his dad is easy. It's the trusting him that's not. And I get it. I felt the same way about my mom.

Peter has made mistakes, there's no denying that, but it's what you choose to do after you've made the mistake that defines your character. Who are we to say that he won't do some good?

The conversation picks up right where we left off, and it's all seamless. Dad's cracking jokes, which gets everyone to laugh, including Peter, and I feel this optimism that I'm truly grateful for.

At dessert, Peter asks Jack if he can talk to him. My muscles tense as I think about what it could be. I notice Jack tense up, too. And, as much as I want to stay by his side, I know that Jack has to do this on his own. Like I said, he's strong. One of the strongest people I know.

That doesn't mean that my eyes don't follow them to the lounge chairs that they go to sit on.

The conversation looks deep, but then I see Jack break out in a soft smile, and I feel relieved. Then I see him laugh. And then I see them hug.

They walk back toward us, and I think that I was the only one who was really paying attention to their conversation. Dad was showing Bea something on his phone while this was all going down.

"You okay?" I ask Jack when he takes his seat at the table.

"Yeah," he nods, the smile on his face telling me that he truly is.

30 minutes later, Peter lets us know that he has to leave for a business meeting. Everyone stands up to say bye to him and I hear him tell my dad, "If you're ever up for a game of golf, I'm a member at The River Club. We could play together."

"I'd love that," dad remarks.

Peter kisses Bea on the cheek, hugs Jack, and then makes his way toward me. Jack walks away so that it's just me and his dad standing there.

"I'm truly sorry for the way that I treated you, Anastasia. I was wrong and out of line, and I hope that you can forgive me." Peter says. "And thank you. Really, thank you. For loving my son."

"It's easy to love someone like Jack," I tell him, and he smiles at me.

"Yeah. It is." He holds his smile and I smile back, and he gives one more wave to everyone before heading out.

Jack comes over to me and envelopes me in his arms. "I have something to give you," he whispers in my ear.

"What?" I ask, arching an eyebrow.

"Stay right here."

My curiosity gets the best of me as I watch Jack walk inside the house. He comes back out a few minutes later holding an envelope.

"This is for you," he tells me, handing it to me. I open it up to find a piece of paper with writing on it. "It's the first page of the book that I wrote. Told you I'd let you read it eventually."

I flip the paper over. "Where's the rest of it?"

Jack moves his body closer to me so that his lips hit the top of my head. "The first page is the most important," he whispers against my hair.

He pulls away and my eyes land on the writing. And then I start to read.

Jack's right. The first page is the most important:

I fell in love with someone I had no intention of falling in love with. How beautiful is that? She came in slowly and then hit me like a wave. I guess that's what makes it so special. Falling in love with someone you didn't expect to fall in love with. At a time you didn't expect, either.

Just when I think that loving her is the best feeling, I'm reminded that finding her first, in a world that divides us, is.

And this is our story...

THE END!