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“Eleven or so. I beat up a kid at school for bullying me. I was labeled a delinquent, my mother determined to use her faith and love to fix me. My father had other ideas. However, much to my mother’s chagrin, my father decided to teach me a good lesson, one I’d never forget. He’d said if I was so intent on being a man then so be it.”
He led us out of the immediate area of the estate, keeping a close eye on how I was handling my horse. He was also studying me more intently than he’d done before. It unnerved to think of why that might be. “That’s far too young.”
“But it hit home, which was what he was trying to do. My father never intended on introducing me to the business. He’d called me soft, even girlie.”
“That’s terrible and extremely sad. Why would your father do something like that? Because he was a bastard?”
“That’s what my mom called him, but it took until long after I turned eighteen to realize the lesson was what I’d needed at the time.”
“Now, you have me intrigued.” And he did. “But it’s still very sad in my opinion.”
“We all survive with sadness in our lives, every single human being.” He had a faraway look in his eyes.
“I suppose you could call that cathartic.”
“A necessary evil.”
“What did he do to bring about this change of heart?”
“Well, my father brought me into his office and explained the business we were in first, which was something he hadn’t done before. Then he took me with him to handle a particular issue he was having with one of our customers. It was the first time I witnessed what he was capable of, the level of brutality that he’d tried to shield me from. The bloody experience was something I will never forget.”
“My God. That’s horrible.”
“I was terrified when he handed me the knife he used, telling me to finish the job.”
“Please don’t tell me you did. Please.”
“No, my lovely wife, I couldn’t at the time. I was more like my mother than I’d realized, even after what I’d done to the bully, which my father had called child’s play. But when forced to witness what really happened behind closed doors, I raced out of the room and the old warehouse, throwing up my guts on the sidewalk. I knew I’d humiliated him, the failure something he couldn’t handle but I wasn’t the kid I thought I was. Or maybe that I’d wanted to become.”
I was terrified to ask what that was but by the look on his face, it had changed the boy into a man. “What did he do?”
“He acted as if I was no longer his son, shunning me for years. I did what I could to remain on the straight and narrow, getting the best grades and becoming a star quarterback at school, but nothing mattered to him because he considered me a failure.”
“My God. I am so sorry you had to grow up that way.”
“We all have our crosses to bear. Don’t we?”
“Not like that. I don’t know how you got over it.”
“Well, years later I thought I was a big man not needing my parents, so I decided one day to move out without telling anyone. I was so angry that he’d all but disowned me, I went on a violent streak of my own, stealing money and a car, taking a joy ride that lasted for three days. Three days my mother was worried sick, my father sending every man he had out to look for me. I was certain he wouldn’t give a shit, tossing me away like he did anyone who didn’t live up to his standards. I’d been intent on living on the streets if necessary, but after a few cold nights, I was miserable and wanted to come home. So much for being a man. Huh?”
“You were a kid. Eighteen isn’t grown up.”
He rolled his eyes. “In my world, at fifteen you were considered a man. My brother had no issues.”
“You’re not your brother. Did you return home?”
“Nope. I was too stubborn, something you know about far too well.” He grinned and took off trotting faster, forcing me to test my skills.
I managed to catch up with him only when he’d pulled his horse to a full stop. “You’re a real arrogant bastard.”
He grinned and it was as if I could melt into the man. “You like to keep telling me that.”
“Which I plan on doing for as long as you are. Oh, wait. That will be your entire life. Now, finish the story.”
“That’s where the story takes a turn. My twin sister decided she would try and figure out where I’d gone. I was lucky to find her when I did, keeping her from being raped.”
“Oh, God.” I could tell he wasn’t lying. “Was she hurt?” Memories of the time I’d been almost pushed into doing something I hadn’t wanted to do floated into my mind, but the experience was tame in comparison.
