I loved your mother all those years, And death did not change that. There isn't anyone on earth Who ever could replace her. She gave me you, she shared my life, She's written in my heart— And loving someone after Debbie Never tore that love apart. But I was lonely without her. I wasn't made to live alone. I missed a hand beside me, I missed someone coming home. I wasn't searching for your mother, I was searching for a friend, For someone I could share my days with, For a life that wasn't at its end. I didn't even move her to Malad— That mattered more than you knew. Your mother's place was still your mother's; I wanted to honor that for you. We'd make our home in Logan, Build something that was ours— I never asked her to take Debbie's place. I only asked her for my heart. Why couldn't you love me enough to let me live? Why couldn't you want some happiness for me? Why couldn't you see that loving her Never changed what your mother means to me? I wasn't asking you to choose her. I wasn't asking you to forget. I only wanted you to love me enough To let me have some happiness yet. You lost your mother. I lost my wife. But I was still here— Trying to live the rest of my life. And then I watched her children love me, Watched them open up their lives. They didn't have to call me father To accept their mother's choice. They made a place for me beside her Because they wanted her to smile, And sometimes I couldn't help but wonder Why mine couldn't do that for a while. It wasn't that I needed you To love her just like I did. I only wished you'd see the woman Who brought your dad back into life. I wished that when you saw me happy That happiness could matter too— That loving the mother you had lost Wouldn't mean losing your father too. Why couldn't you love me enough to let me live? Why couldn't you want some happiness for me? Why couldn't you see that loving her Never changed what your mother means to me? I wasn't asking you to choose her. I wasn't asking you to forget. I only wanted you to love me enough To let me have some happiness yet. You lost your mother. I lost my wife. But I was still here— Trying to live the rest of my life. Maybe you thought accepting her Would somehow leave your mom behind. Maybe making room for someone new Felt like crossing some forbidden line. But children— Your mother wasn't threatened by my happiness. Her place was never available to take. Seventeen years of loving someone else Couldn't erase the life we made. There was room for both. There always was. And I wish you'd understood That accepting the woman I loved Wasn't something you did for her. It was something you could have done for me. I wish you had loved me enough to let me live. That's all I ever really asked. Let me carry Debbie with me Without requiring me to live there in the past. Let me have the woman beside me Who made the lonely years feel done. Let my happiness mean something To the daughters and the sons I love. You never had to choose between us. You never had to set her free. I just wanted you to love your dad enough To want this life for me. I didn't marry her because I stopped loving your mother. I married her because I was still alive. And I wish that had been enough for you to be happy for me.
