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“Lucy, if anyone hurt you, you’d tell me, wouldn’t you?” This man is a bloodhound when it comes to sniffing out the truth.
“Yeah. Of course.” I lie. He looks me over, no doubt not buying it.
“You want some breakfast?” he asks kindly.
“Maybe another time. I need to get back home. Raincheck?”
He smiles warmly at me. “Absolutely. Name the time and place.” He wraps me in another hug and kisses my head. “Have a good day, sweetheart. I’ll talk to you soon.”
I start to walk away but stop, suddenly feeling the need to let him know I love him. I turn to find him still watching me, like dad’s do when they watch their children leave. “Rhett, I love you.” I smile.
He appears a little stunned. “I love you too, sweetie.” I head to my car and see him discreetly swiping at his eyes and I feel a little warmer inside.
I buckle up and start my car. As I’m about to put it in reverse, my phone rings. The display says:Taylor.
My heart sinks and I hit ignore. I don’t know how long I can keep putting off the inevitable. In my heart, I know I’m about to be in for the fight of my life.
“We need to talk, Dad. I’m on my way,” I tell him before hanging up. About thirty minutes later, I pull up to the ranch style house I grew up in, in Lawrence, the town beside Greendale Valley. I’m not here more than I have to be. It’s too painful—all the memories and the should’ve beens.
I walk up the short sidewalk to his front door, but before I can knock, I hear Dad’s voice, “It’s open, son.”
I walk in to find him at the stove. “What are you doing, Dad?” He turns to face me and he’s clean shaven, his eyes are the clearest blue I’ve seen in a long time.
“When you said you were coming, I thought I’d cook some breakfast. It’s been too long since we’ve shared a meal.” He smiles before turning back to the eggs he’s scrambling. Unsure what to say I pull out a chair and sit at the table. A few minutes later he brings out two plates, loaded with cheesy scrambled eggs, slices of tomato, bacon, and biscuits. He already has two full coffee cups and two glasses of orange juice on the table.
We eat quickly in silence. “Thanks, Dad. It was good.” He beams at me over his coffee cup.
“Son, I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while. I know you said you wanted to talk too, but if it’s okay, I’d like to tell you what’s been on my mind.” He sits his cup down and waits for my answer.
“Sure, Dad. Go for it.”
I lean back in my chair unsure of what to expect. The man before me is like looking at the past, when things were good, and I believed in happy endings andlove.“I wanted you to know I’ve changed. I want to fix our relationship.” He reaches into his pocket and produces a coin. “I’m sixty days sober.” He runs his finger over the coin and hands it to me. I take it, holding the small symbol representing his sobriety before handing it back.
“Dad, that’s great. I’m happy for you.” He takes the coin and slides it back in his pocket.
“Listen, I know it’ll take some time, but I want to be back in your life, for more than bailing me out of jail. I’m trying to get my life back on the right track. I want you to know how sorry I am for not being the dad I should’ve been to you all these years. When I found out the truth about Grady being my biological father and then your mom leaving nearly at the same time, I don’t know, I just lost myself. Nothing in my life was what I thought it was. I lost sight of what was truly important and that’s you. You’re what matters to me, son. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me what was going on back then? You wanted nothing to do with Grady, so why did you send me to him each summer? I loved the man. I thought he could do no wrong, until a few years ago when he gave me my letter on his deathbed. Instead of being up front with me, when I found out the truth, I felt like a dirty little secret. Everyone lied to me. I mean, Mom left and that’s a separate issue for me, but I didn’t think you’d keep things from me even though you were drinking your life away. And Grady too. He took over the hole you created, and it turns out he was my damn grandfather, only I didn’t know it. Now, to make things worse, I don’t know how to tell Sterling and Briella I’m not just a ‘good family friend,’ I’m their cousin. Have you talked to Foster? Does he know you’re his brother yet? If you want a clean slate with me, I think it needs to be across the board with everything. Foster is a good man, Dad.”
He takes my demand into consideration. “You’re right. I do need to talk to him. Grady gave me a letter to give him too. He told me before he passed it was his gift to me, to let me get to know Foster in my own time. He said Foster would believe it since it’s in his handwriting. And if not, his lawyer has proof. So, I think you’re right, it’s time for the truth to come out.”
He seems to ponder for a moment then says, “You know, I know what you mean about feeling like a dirty secret. That’s how I felt when I found out Grady was my father. My mother had an affair and ended up with me. I only learned the truth when your grandmother was dying. Thank goodness Dad wasn’t around for that confession. He went to his grave believing I was his. I’ve forgiven my mother, finally. Maybe Grady too. He tried to make up for lost time by having a relationship with you. I allowed it because through his faults, I know he was a good man. With me being checked out and stuck in my own head, I knew he’d fill in the gaps in your life I helped create.”
“Why didn’t you want to get to know him then, Dad? He asked about you. I think he blamed himself for not being there for you, for allowing your mom to keep him away from you. You have a whole family you don’t even know. They’re great.”
He doesn’t break eye contact. “I plan to change that. Soon. I’m thinking I may come to Greendale Valley for a visit in the next couple months if it’s okay with you. There’s a big project we’re working on so once it’s done, I’ll have a little down time.”
This is a surprise. “What about the company?” Dad inherited a construction company from the man who raised him years ago, so lucky for him, he hasn’t had to worry about losing his job with all his run-ins with the law over the years.
“The company’s doing fine. I can manage without being on site after this current project is complete. They can call me if they need anything. Besides, Greendale Valley is only thirty minutes away.”
“Okay, Dad. Sounds good. Let me know before you do. I’d like to work up the nerve to tell Sterling and Briella who I am to them before you drop the news on Foster.”
He smiles warmly. “That won’t be a problem. And son, don’t worry. They love you. They’ll understand why you didn’t tell them right away.”
I can only hope he’s right. “About your mom, I want you to know I’ve forgiven her too.”
My head snaps up in his direction. “What do you mean? She wrecked you. She didn’t just leave you, she left me too.”This, this woman is the root of my cold-hearted issues.
