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“Jackson won’t like you talking to me,” he says.
“Well, he’s not here right now,” I smile at him. “Besides, I’ll tell him I was talking to Blue.” I reach down and scratch behind the dog’s ear and he licks my hand.
“I don’t blame him,” he takes a sip of his tea. “Not wanting me around you and your little boy. He has his reasons.”
“And they are?” I ask because Jax hasn’t told me anything about his father and whenever I ask he shuts me down.
“I’ve been sober for ten years now,” he says with a shake of his head. “Before that, well I was pretty useless.”
“Ten years? That’s an achievement.”
“Is it?” he frowns at me.
“Don’t you think so?” I ask.
“Not much of an achievement when your only son still hates you and you’ll never get the chance to tell the only woman you ever loved how sorry you are.”
“I’m sure Jax doesn’t hate you, Harvey.”
“He does,” he says matter-of-factly. “And I don’t blame him. Not even a little. He has grown into a fine man though, and that makes me proud every damn day.”
Lots of people say stuff like that but don’t really mean it, but I believe Harvey. There is no resentment or malice in his words, just a deep sadness.
“He’s a good man. I’m sure one day he’ll be able to forgive you.”
“I did some things that were unforgivable, Lucia. By the time I fixed my drinking, it was too late. He’s already done far more for me than I deserve.”
“Like buying this place?” I ask.
“Yup. This land has been in my family for six generations and I almost lost it. Jackson found out through Molly and he bought it up. Put it all in Molly’s name. It should have always been half hers anyway, but our Pa was kinda a traditionalist, believed everything should be passed down to his son. And well, I never really thought about what was right or fair back then, so I just took it.”
“And she lets you live here?”
“Yeah—it was one of Jackson’s conditions that she always gave me a roof over my head. Like I said, he’s a fine man.”
I smile as I think about that fine man. He would make a great father himself some day.
“My biological mom was an alcoholic,” I say as a memory of her pops into my head.
“I’m sorry about that. It must have been tough.”
“It was, but not as tough as being without her. She died when I was eight.”
He doesn’t offer false condolences, he simply nods.
“I miss her though. Even though my parents are amazing, she’ll always be my mom too. You know?”
“I get it. It’s nice that you still think of her fondly.” He smiles at me and I’m struck by how much Jax looks like him.
The sound of footsteps behind us makes Blue sit up and wag his tail. I spin around to see Jax storming toward us with a murderous look on his face.
“What the fuck?” he snarls at Harvey when he reaches us. “I thought I told you to stay the hell away from her?”
Harvey stands and opens his mouth to speak but I jump up and stand between them. “It’s my fault, Jax. Harvey and Blue were already here when I came and I asked him not to leave.”
“I’ll go,” Harvey mumbles.
“There’s no need. She’s leaving.” He takes hold of my arm. Harvey looks down at his son’s hand gripping me tightly and a strange look, like regret mixed with anger, flashes across his face.
