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But Hale wasn’t over his father fucking that for Tom.
“That didn’t work particularly well for you,” he reminded Tom.
“At the time, no. You’re right. But if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have Mika. And Cadence.”
“Dad didn’t know Mika would come into your life.”
“Maybe not, but shedidcome into my life, Hale. Genny said something to me when we had the last conversation we’d have at the farthest edge of who we once were. She told me Duncan was her first and last. But I was the love of her life. She was the love of mine, and I’ve never shared this with anybody, Hale, but in the way I could, I fell in love with Mika when I was with Genny. It was faraway love that could never be because I was deeply in love with my wife. I still fell for her. So I’d been in love with her a long time, and now, she’ll be my last. Life is complicated, love is more complicated. And I think Corey knew that just as well as anybody. So I think he knew in a manner I’d never lose what I had with Genny, at the same time he knew I’d be okay. I’d find what I needed. And he was right.”
“I think maybe you give him too much credit.”
“I worry you don’t give him enough.”
I worry about that too.
Hale didn’t admit that aloud.
He lifted his glass. “I need another, do you need one?”
“I take the hint, Hale. I’m just going to say, you need to decide, first, what part your mother is going to play in your life. I don’t condone her coming to your home and acting like she did. I don’t condone a lot of things she gets up to. But as a parent, I feel her pain that you’ve iced her out, and she’s in limbo, not knowing if that’s forever, or if she has a chance.”
Hale’s mouth tightened.
Tom kept talking.
“Second, you need to open that box and face what’s inside. I’ll stand down because it’s clear you want me to, but I won’t do it until I share that your call concerned me greatly. I think it’s indication you haven’t quite faced his loss. You need to do that and find the way that works for you to live with it. Your father would never win any father-of-the-year awards, but he was still your father. At the very least, you owe him the respect to see what’s in a box which is his last message to you. But for me, I need you to open it so I can support you through whatever you find in it, and then help you get past it, past your dad’s death, and on with your life without anything hanging over your head.”
He should tell him about the frame.
He should tell him about some of the memories that had been surfacing.
He should tell him he blamed his mother for her bullshit on Elsa’s show, but more about her bullshit all his life.
He should tell Tom about all of that.
He didn’t.
He prompted, “Do you want another?”
“Sure,” Tom said on a sigh.
He got up and went to Mika’s drinks cabinet, calling to the women, “You guys need freshening up?”
Mika lifted a cocktail shaker out of a bowl of ice. “We’re good, honey.”
He nodded to her, returned Elsa’s smile, poured bourbon for him and Tom, then moved back to his seat.
He handed over Tom’s glass then he sat and took a sip of his own.
“I must admit,” Tom started. “I was uncertain. But I really like her.”
Hale took in another breath.
“Which reminds me,” Tom continued. “Chloe said Brandi RSVP’ed just one for you, but now she needs to know if you’re bringing Elsa to the wedding.”
He felt like someone punched him in the gut.
“Hale?” Tom called again.
