He looks the same as he always has.
“Tanner, what are you doing here?”
“Can I come in?”
He grunts but steps aside and allows me entry into the house that has minimal personal touches and looks ready for a house showing at a moment’s notice.
“Tanner, what a surprise.” My mother’s voice is lukewarm, her smile not reaching her brown eyes as her gaze bounces between my father and me. Her hair is neatly pulled back, and she looks like she’s ready for a charity luncheon, not even casual in her own home.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, not sitting or bothering to remove my coat.
“Oh, you know, I’m just fine. Your father has been taking me to physical therapy, and we’ve been keeping as busy as we can. Are you staying close? We weren’t expecting company.”
Company.
Her only son demoted tocompany.
It’s fitting, and I’m thankful there’s no doubt in my mind that the choices I’ve made are the right ones.
“I’m not staying,” I say, looking to each of them before continuing. “I needed to do this in person so there’s no question going forward where I stand. After I leave this house, there will be no further contact between us. You will not contact my son or Fallon.”
“Tanner,” my mother gasps but I keep going.
“You’ve both made it clear in your actions and your silence that your love is contingent on who I choose to love. Your grandson has suffered and that alone is unforgiveable.”
“We haven’t—” Red creeps up my father’s neck, but I slash my hand through the air in a gesture ofenough.
“I’ve found a man who loves me and has taken time and exhibited more patience and care for me in the months we’ve been together than either of you have shown me in the last several years. His love comes with no conditions and he loves Briggs. I’ve had to relearn what a family is—what it’ssupposedto look like—and you know what? It’s messy and incredible and sadly, nothing you’ll ever get to experience.”
“We gave you a roof over your head and I taught you—” my father barks but I shake my head.
“You taught me the kind of father I don’t want to be. You’re unable to accept who I am, and you decided that I didn’t belong here when Mom was in surgery.”
“I told him to call,” my mother tries but it’s too late.
“I’m your only child, and you’ll never know how much it hurts that you don’t want to know the man I’ve become.” Pulling the manila envelope from my jacket, I hand it to my mother. “If you need to get in touch with me, you can contact my lawyer. His information is inside. Any and all requests will go through him, and if necessary he’ll get in touch with me.”
“Tanner, this is ridiculous,” my father chides, his hands on his hips as he paces across the hardwood.
“Any future arrangement will be handled according to your wishes should you choose to keep me on as executor.”
“Get out,” he growls and I nod, uninterested in staying now that I’ve said my piece.
“I wish you both the best.”
And with that, I turn for the door and step out into the frigid air, the bite of it stinging my heated skin as I follow the same path back to the car with my phone in hand.
TANNER: It’s done. I’m coming home.
47
TANNER
Journal Entry #598
I’m ignoring the fact I didn’t write mandatory because really, after years of doing this, there’s nothing mandatory about it. It’s been nearly a month since I ended things with my parents and just as long since Deacon moved in. Briggs was over the moon and I know Otto already has a Bonus Dad shirt ready for Deacon when I propose.
Life is perfect but I have a feeling it’s about to get a whole lot better.
