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“Why? Spill it, old man, I’m done dancing for your amusement. I need to be with her.” I cross my legs and sit back because whatever this crap is, it’s not my fault.
“Regardless of what I’m about to tell you, she’s a bad idea. Anyone is right now. I’m not going to budge on that.”
“And letting me make my own decisions? Romantic, financial, and corporate? When does that happen?”
He sighs and lowers his eyes. “I was reminded recently that you can’t hold onto a fistful of sand.”
Dax walks around the room, but I stay put. Dax says, “Grandma used to say that.”
“That she did. The board is entertaining the idea of a new CEO and there’s a move to sell on the horizon. People want to take us.”
“Can they do that?”
“They can.”
“So, you messed with my life because your shit’s fucked up?”
My father crooks an eyebrow. “In a way. But I didn’t marry those women and I’ll never understand why you let Laura get away with it all.”
I purse my lips. I say as gently as I can, “Let her tell you someday. Not my story to tell.”
“I’m so confused. And I don’t know what to do or where to turn. I’m spinning plates, boys,” my dad says.
Dax clears his throat, but I put my hand up, indicating I’ll take this one. “Dad, are you kidding? Who cares? Retire. Go fuck Mom in exotic locations. She loves you, and for some messed up reason, she still wants to do your wrinkled ass. Tap hers. Go. Who are you spinning these plates for? Grandpa? Take the money. You earned it. I know what I said about inheriting, but you built this company, now give it up. Take the massive payout and let the legacy go. Let us go.”
Dax is quick to back me up. “As crass as he can be, he’s right. You know I don’t want any part of this company. Clearly, Tony only wants what he’s built over the last decade, make it part of your severance package.”
“Yeah, you can sit on my board and shuffle papers around. Hell, you can run useless meetings if you want to. I don’t care, just get me out. Get us all out.”
Dax finishes, “Release him and they can do whatever the hell they want with the antiquated insurance division or the real estate shit. You have always hated that part and the corporate structure. You did it because you were told to, and you raised us to think for ourselves. That we didn’t have to do what was expected.”
My father and I stare at Dax.
I break our silence. “That’s honestly more words I’ve heard from you in the last year in total.”
“I save it up.”
My father falls into his chair. And then I follow suit.
“Dad. You ok?”
He cracks his knuckles. Dax and I glance at each other and back to him. “It’s not that easy but I’ll take it under advisement. I’m proud of both of you despite your disastrous love lives. I’m so sorry you’ve been held hostage to all of this.” He seems remorseful.
I protest, “Hey! Mine isn’t. This is the healthiest I’ve ever been.”
My dad grins and puts his head to the side. “Says the man who has no idea what a healthy relationship is.”
“Love that you called me a man, but I know exactly what it is, and so does Dax.”
He nods and says, “Yours.”
Dad always gets a dopey grin on his face when he thinks of our mom.
“Dad, where does that leave me?” I ask.
“My hands are tied. You made your own bed, and I can’t get you out of it right now. If you want your division to become its own company, you have to see this through.”
“How long?”
