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“Yes.” He nods, and I watch as Ward gazes down the table and looks each of us in the eye.
Bella.
Jacob.
Atlas.
Levis.
Then back to me.
“These are the moments in life that a man has to decide the path he is going to take,” he continues in his timbre voice. “I am not a young man anymore—” The table breaks into debate given he’s only fifty-seven. “Stop. Save your compliments for my next birthday card.”
Jacob sniggers.
“Come on, Dad,” Atlas cries. “I get that losing John and Mom was horrible, but you love what you do.”
“Listen,” Ward says, taking a long slow sip of the golden liquid in his glass. “I’m a billionaire many times over. Few people on this planet have the financial freedom I have.”
That’s the truth.
But still. I play with the cutlery on the table in front of me, searching for an argument.
“I want to live. I want to spend time with you lot and my grandkids.” He winks at Jamie, who giggles. “And...I might want to date.”
Eh, what?
We’re all quiet until Levis, who is the youngest, curses quietly.
“Your mom made me promise I wouldn’t spend the rest of my life alone,” Dad says, his eyes wavering.
Bella nods sadly.
“Fuck, I hate this.” Atlas tosses back his drink.
“Fwuckkk!” Jamie suddenly cries out.
“Oh, my god,” Bella startles, looking around the restaurant as we all burst out laughing. “Baby, no. Bad word. Uncle Atlas says bad words.”
“Great. Teach my kid to curse,” Blake grumbles.
“You’re welcome.” Atlas grins.
“You’re banned from our house.” Bella points a finger at our brother as she fusses with the toddler.
“Fwck, fuck, fauck.” Jamie continues loving the attention.
Ward is grinning like the happy grandfather he is and suddenly I get it. He’s always been a family man first.
“This is what you want,” I say quietly while everyone else is clapping and encouraging Jamie to curse.
Except her parents.
Ward nods.
“I’ve raised four kids. One I missed out on.” He looks over to Jacob. “I have two grandkids now. Life is short. You don’t realize that until you hit your fifties and then it starts flying past you.”
“Does that mean we can rely on you for babysitting duties now, then?” Jacob smirks.
