AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He’s ignoring my calls.”
Solomon sighs. “I can’t say I’m surprised. After all, it’s been, what, three years since you guys talked?”
I wince. “Yep. Three years. Since he went to California.”
My friend tightens his grip on my arm. “This isn’t all your fault, Edwin. He’s a grown man too. I know it’s hard to believe, since he’s your son, but he is just as responsible for his actions as you are for yours.”
“You’re being…too nice.” I wouldn’t have said that a year ago. I’m stubborn and proud.
People apologize to me, not the other way around.
But this is my son, and I miss him. God, I’m growing soft in my age. Or maybe growing up.
“It’s my fault he left and my fault he stayed away all this time.”
“Fault?! No, he knows it’s up to him to take up the tradition of running Lyons. Has since he was a boy. For him to act like that was brand new information is preposterous.”
“Maybe.” I shrug. “But my ultimatum didn’t help matters either, did it? It was low of me to tell him if he turned his back on the Club, he wouldn’t get his inheritance once the time comes.”
And if there was any doubt, his response proved he is my son. Because after I spelled it out for him, Nate took the route of, “You can’t fire me. I quit!” and left the city without a word.
“Maybe not. But still, he has to own up to his end ofthings.” In a softer voice, he adds, “I thought Abigail was going to rope him into coming.”
“She did what she could.” And I don’t doubt it for one second.
“What about Jack?”
I shake my head. “Nate always responds more to Abigail than Jack.”
Nate has stayed in contact with both his younger siblings through his absence, thank god. But “contact” for him means a text or call every few months.
Defeat weighs heavy on my shoulders. “I have to do nearly everything through Abigail. And believe me, I’m thankful my children are close despite each of them having a different mother, but it bugs the shit out of me when they protect each other like this.” I shake my head. “If Abigail couldn’t get him to come, then all hope is lost.”
My friend runs his hand over his mouth as he starts to pace.
“Don’t pace,” I bark. “I’m already nervous enough.”
“I’m just thinking.”
“About?”
Solomon stops. “Why now? Why is Nate back in New Yorknow?”
That’s the million-dollar question. “Trust me, if I knew, you’d know too.”
“I’ll bet you anything he’s ran out of money,” Solomon grumbles.
“If he wanted money, he’d have to, you know, talk to me, wouldn’t he?”
Solomon nods. “Fair point. But you know how people can be. Asking for money isn’t easy when you don’t have anything to give in return.”
“At this point, I would pay Nate to let me be his fatheragain.” That’s a fact. “I don’t care if I needed to keep him salaried until the day I die. It might be fucked up to most people, but the way my life has panned out, that would be the least fucked up thing about it.”
Fuck, this hurts. “Look, can we just…” I shake my head, holding my hands up, palms facing Solomon. “We have a big night. I don’t want to think about this any more than I have to.”
“You’re right. I’ll drop it.”
“And please don’t say anything–”
