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I shrug. “Mr. Magic Penis might factor in.”
She gets up and hugs me. “I’m happy for you, Molls, you deserve it.”
I pack everything into my car that I wanted to keep that I hadn’t already packed when I left weeks ago. Steven came and sold all the furniture and took anything he wanted after I left. The house was pretty empty and it just made me sad.
With a honk and a wave to Nat, who promises to come down soon, I drive away from the life I had in Westwood and towards the one I want in Beach Haven.
When I drive over the causeway to the island, a feeling of hopeful calm washes through me. When I turn the car onto 4th Street, I know that everything will be okay. I park and exit the car, leaving everything in it. I’m far too eager to see Owen.
There’s a fancy Mercedes with New York plates parked in front of his truck and I wonder who is visiting him. As I climb the steps to his door, I hear voices from the top deck and head there.
“Thank goodness for that,” I hear a man say. He has a harsh way of speaking and I make a guess that it’s his father. “That’s one complication you don’t need.”
“With the exception of you bothering me, I don’t have any complications in my life. I have a job I love, am living in a peaceful place, and I am far away from you and the firm.” I notice he doesn’t mention me, and I don’t take it personally, knowing the relationship he has with his father.
“I don’t know why you’d be happy here, but I’m willing to accept it, as long as you promise to consider my offer.”
“Dad, I’m 35, financially stable, and under no contract to work for you, you literally have nothing to hold over me. I love you, and I understand the way you think, but to be clear, I am never accepting your offer, and I’m never coming back.”
I hear a heavy sigh and am uncertain of what I should do, either walk up or down, Mollie, it’s not hard. I decide to walk up, my desire to see Owen overriding my desire to meet his father.
“Hello,” I call as I crest the top of the stairs and find Owen and his father both standing, both holding empty glasses. Owen’s face lights up then he schools it as he realizes his dad is watching him.
Owen walks to me and gives me a hug. “I missed you,” he says loud enough for only me to hear. “Dad, this is my neighbor, Mollie James.” I flinch at the neighbor label but turn and give his father my best smile.
“Patrick Hart, nice to meet you,” he says taking my offered hand to shake. When I step back, he looks between Owen and me and he’s no dummy, he can tell we are more than neighbors.
“Dad had a meeting in Atlantic City so he swung by to say hello. He was just leaving.”
His dad shakes his head. “Trying to get rid of me so soon? How about I take you both to dinner?”
“Mollie just got back from being out of town, I’m sure she’d rather unpack and rest than have dinner with us,” Owen says and I flinch again.
“If you give me a half-hour I can be ready to go,” I say because I’m starving and I don’t want Owen to have to endure a dinner alone with his dad. “It’s taco night at Buckalew’s.”
“Of course,” Owen says, “sounds like we have a plan then. See you in 30.”
I nod at him and smile and with a little wave, I head back down the stairs.
After unpacking my car, I take a quick shower and throw on a light blue maxi dress and a fluffy white cardigan. I should probably be more dressed up, since Owen’s father was in a suit but fuck it, it’s the beach and a Tuesday. I choose white slip-on Converse instead of the more appropriate flats I had on and head back to Owen’s house.
“I really think you should schedule that surgery, Owen, it’s ridiculous for a man your age to have had such a procedure,” I hear Patrick say to Owen in a raised voice as I go to knock on the front door. He’s not yelling but he’s clearly angry.
“I can’t believe you looked at my health insurance statement to find out about it. You are why I had a vasectomy, you are why I don’t want to have children.” My stomach all the way drops to my feet. “Why would I think about bringing a child into a world where you would try to blackmail your own son to return to a life that was destroying him?”
I’m frozen in place my fist in the air ready to knock, but I can’t decide if I want to do it. The decision is made for me as the door opens to Owen’s angry face. He is surprised to see me there and I think he meant to hold the door open for his father to leave, but he is still standing near the kitchen, looking less angry and more regretful.
“I’m not hungry, and my dad needs to get on the road so rain check for the dinner?” Owen says looking everywhere but at me.
“Sure,” I say.
“Wait, please come in,” his dad says as Owen grips the back of his neck. “I’m sorry you think I’m such a monster,” he says to Owen and then turns to me. “He’s right, I saw right away how much you mean to him and I threatened to tell you something that is none of my business in order for him to return to work. It was wrong, and I apologize.”
“I really don’t know how many times I have to tell you, I’m not going to practice law, and even if I did someday in the future, it would never be at Hart, Franklin, Moss, and Kirkman.” He looks at his father and his dad visibly wilts.
“I get it, you’re not built for it, and I’m sorry I ever pushed you into criminal law,” he says and picks up a leather bag, making his way to us. “I know it may not seem like it, but I only wanted the best for you, I love the law, and I wanted to share that with you. Outside of you, it’s all I have.”
Owen sighs. “I’m sorry I called you a monster, but your behavior was uncalled for. We can still have a relationship without the law. Just because I don’t want to practice doesn’t mean I’m any less your son but I won’t accept you trying to force me back into a life I don’t want.”
