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Mother laughed and squeezed his fingers. “It’s not the end of the world.”
He pouted, and she laughed harder. “I distinctly remember you telling me a story about riding your bicycle down the stairs when you were Lincoln’s age.”
One corner of his mouth twitched. “And I was severely disciplined for it.”
“But you had fun.” There was a tease in her words. “Admit it.”
“I did,” he said reluctantly.
“Nothing was broken and no one got hurt, so there’s no need to get all worked up.” She kissed the back of his hand and he relaxed. “I love you, you serious, set-in-stone man.”
“I love you too, you crazy, beautiful woman.” He kissed the side of her head.
I stared wide-eyed at Father.
“And I love you, my sweet, tenderhearted boy.” She squeezed me against her side. “And your daddy does too.”
I looked at him, waiting for him to say something. He was back to his usual blank face.
She watched him too.
He opened his mouth.
I held my breath.
“I love you, son.”
I grasped the mantel.That memory had been buried so deep, I’d forgotten it. He’d only said the words because she’d prompted him to, and I’d never heard them again. Because it was a lie meant to satisfy my mother.
He stared at me with triumph in his gaze, as if he’d just been inside my head, reliving the moment along with me.
I loved my mother, but she was wrong. I’d never understand why he was the way he was.
He is who he is.
Hadn’t Lexie said something similar to me? That she didn’t want me to change. Mother hadn’t wanted him to change either.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.” He challenged me to argue with a look.
“Why did you stop the investigation of her murder? They had a lead.”
Annoyance flashed on his face. “I see Mr. Zegas has been spilling the same nonsense his father did.”
“You gave up,” I said. “It was as if she died and you didn’t care that she received justice.” I threw my hands up.
“Justice?” he roared. “What justice is there for her? She’s dead. And unless someone can bring her back, there will never be justice.”
“Someone needs to pay for what they did,” I shouted.
He stood so quickly his chair hit the wall with a bang. “I have. Every day for the past thirty-four years.”
I balked. Never had I seen him display such an impassioned outburst.
He straightened his tie and returned to his seat as if it hadn’t happened. “We will not speak of this again.”
“Who was she?”
His brow furrowed. “I said we will not—”
