Page 26 of Disgrace

John’s father had barely pulled the Mercedes out onto the road, before his hand reached for his son. Lucian’s palm cupped John’s cheek, and then slid around to grab the back of his neck. John blinked, and he was pulled closer to his father.

Lucian never looked away from the road when he laughed, gave John a quick pat on the neck, and brought him close enough that their temples touched.

“You look good,” his father said when he finally let him go.

John smiled. “You think?”

“Happy, John.”

“I am.”

Or, as happy as he could be. Sometimes, happiness meant feeling settled and stable. It did not have to be overwhelming joy and pride. Happiness was as simple as feeling and being good inside his head.

It was the little things, after all.

“I thought Andino might come today,” John admitted.

Lucian waved a hand before placing it back to the leather-wrapped steering wheel. “He’s a little busy, that’s all. Everyone is, but they all bickered for hours about who was going to come and get you.”

“Hell, I could have taken a cab home.”

“Not my son.”

That was all his father said.

Maybe, it was all Lucian had to say.

John still heard the meaning beneath the simple words. “Thanks for coming to get me, Papa.”

Lucian shot John a look, and nodded once. “I’m always going to be here to get you when you need me to, my boy.”

“My birthday is in ten days—I’ll be thirty-one.”

He didn’t finish his statement. He figured he didn’t really have to.

Lucian only shrugged. “Always my boy—my only boy, John.”

“I suppose Ma wants to see me.”

“Among others,” Lucian agreed. “We have to make a trip to Tuxedo Park, before we head into the city. Manhattan, specifically.”

Damn.

John just wanted to relax.

“Have to?”

“It’s a big day,” Lucian murmured, shooting his son a grin.

“What does that mean?”

His father cleared his throat. “Well, a lot has happened, John.”

“And that’s why we’re going to drive all over New York today?”

“Kind of.”

“Papa.”