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My dad crushes the silence first. “I learned that he followed you to Yale when he was a teenager. I did some digging after thatnonchalantcomment fromPaul, and I learned from ‘sources’ that he stayed with you for most of your adult life. I learned that you do know him better than anyone else on this fucked planet, so you can stop acting like you don’t.”
Farrow’s eyes are reddened as they meet my dad again. “It shouldn’t have mattered. I gave you enough.”
“I didn’t know howdeeplyyou knew him. So when you vouched for him, I would’ve liked to know it was coming from the closest thing he has to a fucking brother.”
Farrow looks tortured. He combs a rough hand through his hair.
Dad sees. He blinks a lot, like he’s reassessing what he’s saying to Maximoff’s husband. “I’m not trying to blame you, Farrow. I should’ve asked more questions. I should’ve realized sooner. I’m not saying you’re at fault—”
“You’re saying it would’ve made a difference,” Farrow says through clenched teeth. “I don’t advertise my relationships like they’re commercials on a fucking TV screen for other people to consume. They just exist. Theyare.”
“I guess I missed it,” my dad says, bitterness to his words. “Maybe I didn’t even want to see it. Maybe I was afraid of what it’d mean. You and him. He’d beinescapable.” Skin pleats between his cinched brows. “It would’ve been easier to be slapped in the face with the truth. But that never happened.” My dad shrugs at Farrow. “Why do you both undercut what you are to each other? You more than him? I don’t get it. Honestly. What’s the point?”
“We don’t undercut shit,” Farrow says quietly, almost under his breath. “We know what we mean to each other, and that’s all that’s ever mattered. This is the first time it’s ever been a point of contention with anyone.”
“I would’ve liked to know,” my dad says just as quietly. “It would’ve meant something to me.”
“We didn’t grow up together,” Farrow reminds him.
“Neither did me and my brother. I met Ryke the day I turned twenty-one.”
Realizations wash over me about the same time that Farrow’s expression changes shape. I think we’re both understanding just how much this would’vemeant somethingto my dad. He loves Ryke to his deepest, rawest core, and I wonder if he’s reevaluated everything Farrow has ever said about Donnelly.
I wonder if that’s ultimately a big reason why his heart has shifted.
I imagine he’s thinking if Farrow has seen good in Donnelly for years, if Farrow loves Donnelly to his deepest, rawest core, then maybe Donnelly isn’t a bad influence or a bad guy. Maybe he’s a man worthy enough to be with his daughter.
To be with me.
I don’t even care that it might’ve taken Farrow to change my dad’s perspective.
I don’t care that it wasn’t me who could’ve done it.
I’m just glad it’s happening.
It’s shifting.
Hope glimmers, and I wonder if Donnelly saw this tiny spark before he left the house. I wonder if this is partly what he was trying to leave me with too.
My dad holds Farrow’s gaze. “Christ, you wereyoungerthan even me and my brother when you two met.”
Farrow is unblinking, stunned silent.
“I would’ve liked to know,” my dad says strongly. “It would’ve mattered. And I don’t know why it is, but the bonds we make matter to other people. I know that Ryke and Rose’s friendshipmattersto me. Connor and Daisymatterto me. Willow and Daisymatter.Garrison and Lilymatter.Just like you and Donnelly are going to matter to me. Hell, you both may even annoy me.” He grimaces but stares deeper into Farrow. “But these relationships mean something to the people who love you. And I love you like a son, and I’m…I’msorryI didn’t take your word beforehand. I’m sorry I’m an ass. I’ve been an ass. You deserved a father-in-law who listened, and I didn’t. But I promise, I’m going to try from now on.”
Mom smiles a soft, proud smile over at Dad, but like me, she’s on pins and needles looking back at Farrow.
His eyes are bloodshot, and his nose flares from emotion. “I’m going to hate knowing that’s all it would’ve taken for you to believe me earlier, because I would’ve doneanything, Lo. I would’ve done anythingfor him.” His Adam’s apple bobs against his neck tattoos, and he scrapes another hand through his hair. “There is something that I thought would’ve made a difference—but it was never that.”
“Yeah?” my dad frowns.
“Yeah.” Farrow takes a beat. “I’ve been wishing I could give you the slam-dunk: the reason you’d actually feel likeshitfor ever hating Donnelly, but I couldn’t. Because I love that motherfucker, and when he tells me not to say shit to you, I don’t say shit to you, but you need to ask him. At some point. You need him to tell you everything he’s done.”
I assume this has to do with the adoption and Ripley. All my penthouse roommates know Scottie only let Farrow and Maximoff adopt Ripley after a deal that Donnelly made. He’s been giving Scottie his paycheck, and as far as I know, my dad has no clue Donnelly has been broke for Moffy’s son.
“I’ll ask him,” he says.
I take a small step forward. “You don’t hate Donnelly anymore?”
