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“You just got here,” I said, now noticing the tension surrounding us.
“I, uh, forgot I had something urgent to take care of. Plus you two need to catch up.” He mashed the elevator call button, tripping over himself to get inside. “By the way, I owe you a fancy tumbler,” he mumbled, eyes downcast, before the doors closed.
Leland was anything but awkward, and I observed my father, wondering at the visceral reaction he’d stirred in my friend. Other than their initial introduction years ago, which was brief, they’d only ever seen each other in passing. My father said nothing, though, so I chalked it up to him being intimidating by simply existing.
“Can I come in?” he asked, gesturing to the home beyond the entryway.
I hung his coat and led him to the kitchen. “Hungry?”
“No thank you,” he said, holding a hand up. “I won’t be staying long. I’m aware I’ve intruded on you without notice. I wanted you to know I was in town.”
You could have called.
“More importantly, I wanted to see you. I’ve…missed you.”
I was grateful he couldn’t see my expression as I poured the chicken Florentine into the trash. In all the years I’d known my father, he’d never verbally admitted to wanting to see me, or missing me. There was no question I was loved by him, but he showed his affection more by doing or being there when it mattered. And since Selene died, he hadn’t done anything, and wasn’t there much.
I understood why, and my own hidden guilt made allowances for the deterioration of our relationship. I never blamed him for how he chose to grieve, especially when unbeknownst to him, I’d played a role in the necessity of that. But until right then, I hadn’t allowed myself to admit I missed him, too. I’d told Jasper I wanted my father to be okay, and maybe he was well on his way to being just that.
Speaking of Jasper…“How long are you staying for?” I asked, nervous about their paths crossing. I didn’t want Jasper feeling ambushed. Didn’t want him to think I’d set this up as a means to push him into facing things he wasn’t ready to address.
“A while,” he admitted, and then as if sensing my trepidation, he said, “I saw Jasper.”
“You did,” I said flatly, making it more statement than question. “How was he when you left him?” Because one doesn’t walk away from an encounter with Franklin Kincaid the same. And because I already knew how he was before Franklin had gotten to him.
“In as bad a shape as you are. Though he doesn’t hide it as well.” About five feet and an island separated us, and although I’d lost the advantage of daylight streaming in through the windows, I’d never seen my father more clearly. Sorrow clouded his already dark eyes. And the aberrant slump in his shoulders expressed a weariness I’d never seen in him before, or one he’d never permitted me to experience from him. “I apologized,” he said thickly, looking toward his feet uncomfortably. “And now I’m here to hopefully make amends with you.”
It became apparent what this was, then, and I circled the island, holding an in-drawn breath before asking, “How much do you know?”
Daniel
4 Years Ago
ENTERING MY OFFICEahead of Jessica, anticipation buzzing through me, I instruct her to close the door as I take a seat behind my desk. She clutches three folders to her chest wearing a look of pride for a job well done. Once I settle in, she lays them out in front of me.
“The files you asked for, Mr. Ward.”
I flip through them, almost forgetting she’s there as a feeling of giddiness builds. “And what about the other information I requested?” I ask, doubling back through the paperwork in case I’d missed it. It has only been a few weeks since my initial request, maybe more time is needed.
“Waiting in your inbox,” she said, smoothing down her pencil skirt as she waited for further instructions.
I boot up my computer and find her email, reading through the documents before leaning back, my steepled fingers hiding my smirk. “Print these out—only one copy, and bring them to me. Then delete all traces of this from your emails and wherever else you may have it saved. I’ll do the same.”
“I’ll get right on it, Mr. Ward.”
“And Jessica,” I call as her hand meets the door handle. “This stays between us.”
“Of course, Mr. Ward.” Jessica’s been with me for three years. She knows how I operate, and has more than proven herself trustworthy, but a little reminder never hurts.
“This all might be inessential anyway.” I motion to the folders. “I’m about to serve Parker his biggest win yet. He’ll have to see my worthiness then,” I say smugly.
Jasper
THE NEW YEARcame and went, and with it an abundance of changes. For one, Daniel and I had begun to grow apart. Not that we’d been growing together in the first place, but gone was the man who believed elaborate gestures were the only kinds of gestures worth making.
Last year for Valentine’s Day he’d covered every surface in our apartment with roses. I’d gasped when I saw the invoice sitting on his desk a week later. This year the day rolled by with a text saying he’d be working late and couldn’t do dinner.
We hadn’t had sex in months, which was more than fine with me, but he’d stopped explaining it away with conflicting schedules and work exhaustion. It seemed he just didn’t care anymore, and I felt it. I understood it. I was grateful for it.
