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“I’m glad you talked to me, and I’m sorry you felt you couldn’t before.”
It wasn’t his fault. I had my own shit I still had to work out, and that had nothing to do with him.
“As far as before and what you asked about your grandfather, we aren’t in contact. Not really.” His jaw moved. “My dad knows those lines are open, though, like I said. I did that for you in case you needed it.”
I studied him, confused. “For me?”
“Yes. I have no interest in taking up anything with my father personally. I’m grateful for what he did, of course. Helping us get back Sloane and everything he did there regarding her and her brother. My father seems to be trying to be a better person, but gratitude is fortunately all I can give the man. I’ve made my peace with our relationship, but I don’t want to be the reason yours is taken away.” His lips pinched tight. “That is, if you want it.”
But he’d hurt him, abused him. “I don’t want anything to do with him.”
“You may feel that way now, but you never know how you’ll feel in a year, two, or even ten. Somewhere along the way, you may change your mind, and if you do, I want you to have that opportunity. You’re eighteen, and I know you could do whatever you wish now, but I know you.” His head tilted, smile warm. “You’d never even entertain the idea unless I was okay with it, and me opening the lines of communication with my dad will slowly get me there. I hope, over time, if that day ever does come where you do want to reach out, I’d be okay with that relationship, yours and his.”
I didn’t know what to say, but I did hug him back when he hugged me.
“I want you to have the world, son,” he said, his hand on my head. “And I’m willing to get out of my own way for you to have it. It might take me time, and I know it will take patience, but I’m willing to put in the work.”
I closed my eyes, gripping his coat. I didn’t want a relationship with my grandfather and couldn’t ever see that changing, but I refused to not acknowledge the sacrifice my father was making for me. He’d mentioned my mom’s good heart, but he had to know he contributed just as much.
After all, I was my father’s son.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
December
“I’ll be over here, Mrs. Prinze,” Ronald stated, allowing me to move forward on my own. He took a nearby cafe table, and I proceeded onward, grateful for our old family friend. When my husband had suggested we hire a security detail for the family, I’d been a little unnerved. I didn’t grow up the way he had, and it was different, but back then, Royal had believed it necessary. Dorian had just been born, and Royal had stressed his father wouldn’t be in prison forever.
That, in the end, had been the final decision regarding hiring Ronald, who was ex-military. These days, he fell more into his role as butler and family friend, but today, he was keeping an eye over me and the situation. I didn’t feel I’d particularly need him for this meeting, but I had to admit knowing he was close allowed me to feel better.
I’d locked my nerves away in a black box a long time ago when it came to dealing with my husband’s father. Those first few years when he had been out of prison, I’d been more on edge, wondering if he’d be around the corner, waiting. There had come a time, though, when I decided I was going to take back my life, and that Callum Prinze wasn’t going to take any more away from myself or my family.
After all, he’d gotten enough, hadn’t he?
I held to that promise, steady in my strides as I approached his table. He sat inside the cafe, sipping a cup of something that steamed near one of the snow-encrusted windows. He was alone, but he hadn’t come alone. The dark sedan parked right out front basically had his name on it. There were two men sitting in the front, their windows down, and they had tipped their billed hats at me on my way inside.
Like stated, the vehicle had his name on it.
The man turned from the window the moment I stopped in front of his table, more than a few eyes on us. We’d missed the lunch rush, but this was a small town. Everyone knew me, and they definitely knew him.
How could this town forget?
He’d cemented his stamp on this city, my husband’s father. He’d struck fear and left a legacy. The tides may have changed after he’d gone to prison, but this town and I had never forgotten. He’d shattered so many lives, the first his own flesh and blood.
“I admit, I was surprised when your people reached out to me,” he said, placing his cup down. “And I have to ask… does my son know you’ve asked to meet with me today?”
Of course, he did. We didn’t keep things from each other. “I think we should just go ahead and get this started. I have something to say to you, so I’d like to say it so we can both move on with our days.” And Royal may have known about this meeting, but that didn’t mean he liked it. In fact, he’d been adamant about Ronald being with me if he couldn’t, and I hadn’t wanted my husband to attend this meeting with his father.
This was something I needed to do on my own.
Mr. Prinze opened his hands. “I have no problem meeting with you, but I’d rather not risk my son’s wrath. I want to respect him, and if he’s not okay with this…”
“We tell each other everything,” I stated, clipped. “So, if we could proceed?”
The man waved to the chair across from him, but I didn’t sit. We wouldn’t be here long.
Mr. Prinze nodded. “I know you didn’t come alone, but you can let your guard know I have no intention of harming you,” he stated, obviously mentioning Ronald. He frowned. “And any references made to do so in the past were a mistake on my part. I’m sure Dorian told you that I was very much desperate to get to know him.”
I did know that. I quirked a smile. “Yes, I know all about how you manipulated my eighteen-year-old son to get to know him better. I know all about that.”
