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Dad sighs. “About six months. The entire time it took me to build the desk. When the job was complete, I ended things.”
I blink repeatedly at my dad. “You ended things?”
He nods. “Yes. You had just graduated from high school and were planning to go to school. Kathryn was going with you, right?” he asks. When I give a single head nod, he goes on. “Well, when I knew you were serious about the girl, I told Annabelle we had to stop.”
“You ended it for me?”
“Well,” he starts, adjusting in his seat. “Well, that and because Hans had found out.”
I close my eyes and shake my head. “That’s why they left,” I whisper, mostly to myself.
“Yeah. She wanted to keep seeing me on the side, but I wasn’t so sure. Tasha had left when she found out about the affair. Hans came over and confronted me. Tasha was here. She took off immediately. I told Hans I was done, but he was still pissed as hell.”
“You don’t say,” I growl, unable to hold back the sarcasm.
“Anyway, she showed up on my doorstep later that night, distraught. Hans was leaving and going to New York. She wanted to stay with me, but was accustomed to a lifestyle I couldn’t give her. I told her it was fun while it lasted, but it wasn’t long term.”
I stand there, staring in shock at the man I really don’t know. He’s so blasé about having an affair, about ending it, about the fact he was wrecking lives and didn’t have a care in the world.
“Don’t look at me like that. She knew going into it I didn’t want forever. I wanted a good time, but that was it.”
I shake my head in disgust. “I can’t even believe I’m related to you.”
He seems shocked by my statement. “Listen, son, I know I’ve made my share of mistakes, but don’t ever doubt my love for you and your siblings your entire lives. Yes, I cheated on your mother. Yes, I cheated on Tasha with Annabelle. Yes, I’ve regretted it each and every time, but I’ve been trying to be a better man.”
“You’re a coward,” I whisper, hating the fact sadness is mixing with my anger, but at the end of the day, he’s still my dad.
He hangs his head. “I am.”
“I’m going home to tell Kate about this. I won’t keep it from her, especially after she found the letters,” I tell him.
He seems conflicted. “It was a long time ago, son.”
“Yeah, but she needs to know why she was moved in the middle of the night without warning or reason. She needs to know it wasn’t her father having the affair, as her mother had stated. She needs to know why her life was ripped apart all those years ago.”
Dad just slowly nods his head. “Okay.”
As I turn to head toward the front door, he stops me. “Jensen?” I don’t look over my shoulder to where he still sits. “How did you know the letters were from me?”
I close my eyes and exhale. “I stopped by for a visit my senior year, helped you work on something in the garage. You had a phone call and tried to step outside for privacy. The garage door was open and some of your words carried. It was clear who you were talking to was female and probably someone you shouldn’t have been speaking to. You called her Pookie.”
“I’m sorry, son. I never meant to hurt you. Back then,” he stops and shakes his head. “I just wasn’t in a good place. I was selfish, and that’s on me. There are a lot of things I regret. Hurting your mother and you kids is at the top of the list.” I barely hear the words they’re so quiet, but the one thing is evident: his remorse.
Before I completely slip out the door, I turn his way. “I just hope you treat Baylee better. She doesn’t deserve you lying and cheating.”
“I’m not, I swear. I haven’t done…that since Annabelle.”
I look him in the eye and nod. “Good.”
“Hey, Jensen?” he asks, stopping me once more. “If you ever want to…you know, talk or have dinner or something, let me know.”
Torn between wanting it and wanting to walk away, I give him the only answer I can right now. “I’ll think about it.”
Dad nods and doesn’t stop me again.
I make my way to my truck, the weight of his confession heavy on my shoulders. I know I need to talk to Kate, but I just need a minute. I need time to process. Time to come to grips with the road paved with our parents’ mistakes and the impact they’ve had on our lives.
Instead of driving out to the Elliott mansion as planned, I head in another direction, one that’s just as familiar as any other path. The familiar landscape comes into view as I slow to make the turn. I head up the driveway and park in front of the garage, next to my sister’s car and Rhenn’s truck. Before my feet hit the steps, the screened door opens and my mom walks out, a bright smile on her face.
