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“No, he wouldn’t do that to you. He wouldn’t have wanted you to be skewed by his opinion of your father. He’d want you to come to your own conclusions.” He takes a sip of his whiskey. “He died when you were around fifteen, right?”
“Yes. I can’t believe it’s been nearly twenty years. I miss him every day.”
He nods. “Me too. Carter, he knew you were a good man. He knew you weren’t like your father. He was quietly thrilled that you didn’t respect your father. He was proud of the man you were becoming. Even though you were still young, he was sure of the type of man you’d become.”
I nod, at a loss for words. I feel tears stinging my eyes.
“Obviously he died unexpectedly. I think he would have waited until you finished school and then groomed you so he could turn the company straight over to you. He would have gladly skipped your father completely. Even though you were young, he believed in you, Carter.”
“Thank you, Jackson. I can’t tell you how much these insights into my grandfather mean to me. My biggest struggle in doing what I did today was feeling like I let him down in some way.” I swallow down my emotions. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“As much as it would pain him that you’re not taking over Daulton Holdings, he would have been proud of what you did today, Carter. You basically gave up your birth right, anda lotof power and money, in the interest of doing the right thing. In the interest of righting a past wrong. As a father myself, I can tell you that my sons making difficult decisions like that would make me prouder than anything. Knowing I raised good, honorable men would mean more than any silly business.”
I can’t help the few tears that flow from my eyes. This is probably the most fatherly conversation I’ve ever had in my life. Certainly since my grandfather passed. I’m incredibly grateful to Jackson.
He gives me a moment before he surprises me. “Carter, come work for me.”
I didn’t see that coming. “For you? With Trevor, Payton, and Skylar?”
He smiles. “Yes, it’s a family business now. From what my wife tells me, you’re looking to become a part of this family.”
I stand up and shake his hand. “Jackson, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this conversation. It’s given me a lot to think about. Can I sit on it for a few days? I only just resigned an hour ago. I only just got Reagan back thirty minutes ago. I have a lot to process and sort through. I’m also at a point where I won’t make any decisions without consulting her. She’s the brains of this operation.” We both smile.
“She and her mother both.” He shakes my hand back. “Of course, you don’t need to rush into this decision. Take as much time as you need. It’s an open-ended offer.”
He holds my hand a little tighter, pulls me a little closer, and looks me in the eyes. “I know I can trust that you’ll always do right by Reagan.” It’s said as a statement. Not a question.
I look him back in the eyes and nod in agreement.
* * *
We havea typical night in that household. We drink, we eat, and we laugh. The little ones are running around like crazy. It’s the kind of warm family household I never had and have always wanted.
At the end of the evening, Reagan and I head to our appointed room. We make love for hours that night. As soon as one session ends, another starts all over again. I completely lose myself in her. We’re making up for wasting the past few weeks. I can’t believe how much I missed the special intimacy we share.
In the middle of the night, when neither of us have an ounce of energy left, we lie there in comfortable silence. Her head is on my arm, and she’s tracing her fingers through my chest hair as she often likes to do.
She looks up at me with so much affection. “I really missed you, Carter. These last few weeks have been truly painful.”
I tuck her hair behind her ears. “I missed you too.” I smile. “Why do you sound so surprised that you missed me?”
“Because I’ve always been so independent, at least regarding men. It’s a little scary for me how quickly I’ve become dependent on having you in my life.”
I kiss her head. “Don’t be scared, baby. I’m never leaving your side again. You’re stuck with me now.”
She traces the bandage over my heart. “Will you let me see it now.”
I smile. I told her I got a new tattoo, but she couldn’t see it just yet. “You’re so impatient.”
She gives me a pleading look. “Fine.” I can’t say no to her.
She excitedly climbs up, straddles me, and gently peels the bandage off. I hear her gasp. She whispers, “Carter.”
Over my heart is a tattoo of her name. It’s already mostly healed, so she knows I didn’t just get it in the last day or two.
She runs her fingers over it. “When did you get this?”
“The day after you ran out of my father’s office.”
