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“I don’t know what he’s told you.”
“He’s told me the truth. Something you know nothing about,” Lucas spat.
“Fair enough, but now I want my turn to tell my truth.”
“What if I don’t want to hear it?”
“That’s your right, but I’d appreciate it if you did.”
“Why should I?” Lucas asked. His father lied to him for years, took a part of his life away without him ever knowing. He crossed a line, and Lucas didn’t know if that line could ever be erased or if it would always be there as a constant reminder of what he’d done.
Lucas didn’t know what he expected his father to say, but he was searching for answers that his father didn’t have, and was hoping he could find something to make sense of the mess.
“Because I’m human,” his father said. “And I make mistakes just like everyone else.”
It was the most honest thing his father ever said to him. He looked at him, same blue eyes as his own staring back.
“Please.”
Lucas should say no. Make him suffer and continue to deal with the consequences of his actions, but Lucas was tired of holding onto resentment and anger. He wanted to be free of the demons of his past, and more than anything, he wanted to make Ella happy. And she wanted him to talk with his father.
“Fine,” Lucas said. “You can tell your side.”
His dad opened the far-right cabinet and pulled out a bottle of bourbon. “The old bastard hasn’t changed his hiding spot in forty years,” he said, a sad reminiscent look flashed in his eyes.
He took down two rock glasses and poured a bit in each glass before pushing one across the counter to Lucas.
He accepted it only because he had a feeling he was going to need it.
His dad took a healthy swig and smiled. “He always did have the good stuff.”
“You want to talk so talk.”
“I’ve had some health issues lately. Don’t worry I’m not dying. You’re not that lucky.” He took another sip from his glass before pouring a little more. “I wasn’t sure at first. I had a bunch of tests ran and a million doctor appointments. Turned out it was stress. So I had to take a step back from work, took a vacation—something I haven’t done in decades. I spent more time with your mother and realized that my work schedule had put a wedge between us that I didn’t even realize until I had to step back.”
“I could’ve told you she was miserable and desperate for your attention,” Lucas said. He’d always felt bad for his mom, but as the years went on and nothing changed, he blamed her for allowing it to continue.
“I know that now. I also realized that I let my family fall apart because I was so focused on my own vision. I became my father.”
Lucas watched as his dad’s head fell, his hand fidgeting with the glass.
“I resented my dad for years because I was angry with him for not wanting me to live my own life and for wanting me to stay stuck in this town.”
Lucas scoffed. “Sounds familiar.” His dad wanted him to join the ranks at his company, and Lucas didn’t want to. It caused so much tension between them, and when Lucas found the cards in his desk, it was the push he needed to break free.
“I know and I’m sorry.”
Lucas’ head snapped up, total disbelief rushing through him.
“I mean it. I swore to myself twenty-six years ago when you were born that I would never become my father. I failed, but worst of all, I failed myself. I let anger control me but now with my head a little clearer I can see my mistakes. I can even see where my own father was coming from. You want the best for your kids but you also think you know what’s best. It gets complicated, messy, and now there’s just so much time that’s been wasted.”
“Joe misses you,” Lucas said. “He’s never come out and said it exactly, but he doesn’t have to. He lives with regrets just like you do.”
“I’m hoping we can start working on that.”
“He’ll back later today. Stay.”
“Are you sure?”
