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I’m sitting at the kitchen table, ready for Griffin to make his appearance so we can talk about a lot of fucking things when Preston calls me. God, what now?
“Hey P.” I pinch the bridge of my nose and lean back in my chair.
“Hey, they say the weather is going to get to seventy today. Probably the last warm day of the year. Want to see if I can get a noon tee time?”
No, playing golf with my girlfriend’s dad, who didn’t actually know I was dating his daughter was not high on my list of priorities.“Actually, I have Griff this weekend,” I tell him.
“Oh! Well, maybe you can bring him? How is he doing?”
Besides terrorizing everyone he comes into contact with? Great. “The same as always. I’ll see if he’s in the mood.”
“Make him, Landon. He’ll have fun. I’m sure he needs it.”
He needs to be grounded forever. “He has plenty of fun, P. Trust me.” Besides, do I trust Griffin to be around Serena’s dad right now? God, I could only wonder what he’d extort from me in exchange for his silence once I tell him. Fuck, I need a drink.
“Alright, well let me know. I just closed the Patterson case yesterday and I need to blow off some steam.”
“Well, I’m sure Viv will indulge you.” I chuckle.
“We’ve been indulging for two straight days.” He laughs and, for the first time since I woke up, a smile finds my face.
“Well, alright, P.”
“I feel like I haven’t seen you in months. Let’s grab a drink next week or something.”
“Sounds good,” I say as I watch my son drag himself down the stairs with a hood pulled over his head like the classic emo teen. “Listen, let me call you back.” I hang up without another word.
“Well, look who’s risen from the dead?” To be honest, I want to go straight for the jugular but for a moment I’m reminded of the young boy that followed me everywhere. That wanted to sit on my shoulders everywhere we went. The one that wanted to be me when he grew up. I miss that kid.
“Where’s New Mom?” He snorts and I’m out of my chair instantly, flinging it back and it hits the refrigerator hard. Well, that trip down memory lane is way the fuck over.
“ENOUGH,” I roar.
“Whoa relax, Dad. Joke.” He puts his hands up, but I can hear the sarcasm in his voice.
“Not funny,” I grit out. “What did you say to her last night?”
“Oh, what did she rat me out?” He grabs a water from the refrigerator. “Probably told you I took one of your beers too.” He snorts.
“No. But you just did. You’re SIXTEEN, Griffin. Just who do you think you are? What makes you think you’re so grown you can just openly consume alcohol in my house?”
“Oh, now you care?”
“I ALWAYS CARED! What is this shit about me not caring? When have I acted like I didn’t care? When have I not shown up for you? WHEN?!” I scream, feeling myself snap after enduring months of his horrible attitude.
“I’m over this.” He starts walking out of the kitchen, but I’m in his face before he can make it out.
“We are certainly not finished. You want to live with your mother? Fine. But you’re going to tell me what it is that I did to you that was so horrible that I deserve this shit from you. As far as I’m concerned, there are two people at fault for why this marriage ended. It doesn’t all fall on me, Griffin.”
“What did Mom do? Besides get tired of waiting around for you to get home? Besides crying herself to sleep every night you didn’t?”
“She wasn’t crying herself to sleep because I wasn’t home, Griffin. Believe me. What makes you think you know everything? You’re a child. It’s not your place to know everything. But, when have I ever lied to you? When have I left you stranded anywhere? I’d drop ANYTHING for you, including a job. Something your mother does not have. Your mother lied to you, Griffin. I never cheated on her. Why do you think all of a sudden, I’m lying to you? If I tell you I wasn’t unfaithful, you should believe that.”
“Why would Mom lie to me? You certainly don’t make it easy to believe you with the track record you’ve had before you and mom are even divorced.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Griffin, I am your father. I don’t owe you an explanation for anything. But just to clear the air, your mother and I are separated, and if you’re so delusional you don’t know the real reason your mother drops you here once a month, then she really does have you brainwashed. As far as her lyingto you, she’s angry at me and she wants to turn you against me and it looks like she’s succeeded.” He swallows and looks towards the door. I have to count backwards from ten to keep myself from screaming that Jana is the one that cheated on me. “I’ve done everything short of something that could get me disbarred to make things easier with this DUI. I’ve called in every favor in my power, and son, I have a lot of goddamn power. I can’t make this go away, not completely.”
“It’s not about the DUI,” he grumbles as he leans against the wall, his anger slowly subsiding into a hurt.
