Read Forgiving You: A Switched Series Novella (The Switched Series Book 3) for Free Online Page B

a retirement home near my parents, so unfortunately I eventually lost touch with her too.”
    “Have your parents ever met Ava?”
    “No, I sent them pictures when I sent you pictures, but I never heard back from them either. After having Ava, I can’t imagine ever treating her like that no matter how bad I thought her choices were,” she says. I pull into my parent’s driveway and turn around to face Maya.
    “Thank you for being you. I know I don’t deserve this, but thank you for letting me meet her even though I treated you so badly. I will never forgive myself for not being there for you, ever.” She nods her head at me and gives me a small smile. “How do you want to do this?” I ask her, giving her complete control of the situation.
    “How about I go in and bring her out here to you. I love your family, but I think this just needs to be about you and her right now.”
    “Okay, one question. Have you ever told her about me?”
    “I told her that you were on a very long trip. Honestly, she’s still little and I don’t think she completely understands it all. She’s had Trent all her life, but she doesn’t call him daddy if that’s what you’re asking,” she says, making me smile big.
    “Go get her, I’m so ready to meet her,” I say, not being able to control my grin.
    “We will be right back,” she says, getting out of the car. I watch her walk up my parent’s porch and go inside. I don’t think I ever really understood how brave and strong she is. She is walking in and facing a room full of people who have thought the worst about her for the past five years to get our daughter, so I can meet her. She is truly amazing.
    Not even a minute later, I see the door open and Maya walk outside holding hands with the most beautiful person I have ever laid my eyes on. Aside from her mother of course, it’s a close race though. Ava is beautiful. She has my dark complexion and dark hair, but that face is definitely all Maya. She has the most perfect face and she has her mother’s amazing green eyes. They could pass for twins if Ava had Maya’s blonde hair.
    I get out of the car and start walking toward them.
    “She wants to see the horses, if that’s okay,” Maya says.
    “Of course, right this way, ladies,” I say, walking them out to the barn. When we reach the fence, Maya picks Ava up and sets her up on it.
    “Ava, I want you to meet somebody,” Maya says. “Do you remember when I said your daddy had to go on a trip and I didn’t know when he would be back?”
    She asks. Ava nods her head, but never takes her eyes off of the horses in front of her. “This is Jaxon and he is your daddy,” she says. Slowly Ava turns her beautiful green eyes to me and smiles.
    “Hi, I’m Ava Rose Taylor,” she says smiling.
    “Hi Ava Rose Taylor, I’m Jaxon,” I say quietly.
    “I thought you were daddy,” she says confused.
    “I am your daddy, but my name is Jaxon.”
    “Okay, can I call you daddy?” she asks. I look at Maya, but she is staring at Ava with tears rolling down her cheeks.
    “You can call me anything you want to,” I say, moving my hand over to touch her head. She turns around and reaches for me so I pick her up and hold her probably too tight although she doesn’t complain about it at all.
    “Can I pet that horse?” she asks, pointing at one of them.
    “You sure can,” I say, trying to hold back my own tears. How could I have been so stupid to miss out on so much of her life? There is no way I can ever let go of her now. Luckily right before I’m about to jump the fence with Ava, one of the horses makes its way over to us. When I reach my hand out to pet her, the horse stops and Ava sticks her little hand out to pet her too.
    “I like her,” Ava says.
    “Me too,” I whisper.
    “What is going on?” I hear my mom demand from behind me. I guess we should have given her a little warning. I probably should have asked Maya what she said to them when she went inside to get