“We don’t need him for material things, but what about as a father?”
“It would be nice to have a loving father, but—” I shrugged at a loss for words. Over the last few months, I’d realized I couldn’t force something that wasn’t there. If Dad changed his ways, I’d give him a chance, but not until then.
“It’s never going to happen.”
“I don’t think so. If it comes down to it, we’ll be firm. Say what we have to say and leave. We don’t need to sit there and listen to his manipulations.”
I looked up the staircase leading to the front porch. “Thank you for coming, Colin. I thought I could do this on my own, but I feel better with you here.”
“I’ll always be there for you.” He smiled, and an image of his five-year-old face at our mother’s funeral, came to mind, lined in sorrow and pain. The one thing I’d cultivated over the years was a strong relationship with Colin. I wasn’t alone.
“Let’s do this,” Colin said.
We pulled open our doors at the same time. I took a deep, steadying breath before we headed up the steps and knocked on the door. A butler quickly answered as if he’d been expecting us. This was a new one since I’d been here last. Dad was difficult to work with, so he frequently hired new staff. It was another source of instability when we were kids.
“Right this way. He’s waiting for you.”
If he was surprised Colin was with me, he didn’t show it.
“Mr. Winters, your children are here to see you.”
His reference to us as children made me feel five years old again. I straightened my spine, squaring my shoulders before I entered.
Dad glanced up from his papers. “Colin, what are you doing here?”
Colin filled the small space of the room. His shoulders were so much broader than I remembered. Even his face had filled out. He was a man now. “I thought we’d both come to see you at the same time.”
“Whatever for? Do you need money or something?” His voice rose with each word.
Colin laughed without any humor in his voice. “No, Dad. I’m working now, so I don’t need anything.”
Dad paused, raising his brow. “You always need something.”
We sat in the chairs in front of his desk. Did Dad know how to interact with us without having to dangle something we wanted or needed in front of us? “Dad, I wanted to tell you in person, so there’s no question. I’m not going to work for you. Now or ever.”
“That’s nonsense. I paid for your law school tuition. You were supposed to work for a few years and then work for me. That was the plan.” He turned his attention to his paperwork as if he’d finished the conversation.
The usual frustration when I dealt with him crept up my spine. I straightened in my chair knowing this time would be different. I wouldn’t let him ignore my wishes. “No. That was your plan.”
He slowly lifted his head. “Excuse me?”
“I live in Annapolis. I’m a partner in a law firm. I’ve invested my life savings into my business. I have no intention of leaving.” I spoke slowly, enunciating each word so that it was clear.
Colin shifted, so his elbows rested on his knees. “If your response is to threaten my tuition payments, let me stop you.”
Dad’s eyes narrowed on him.
“I’m paying for my senior year. I have my apartment and car. I’m paying my way.”
Dad laughed. “You have no idea what you’re saying. You’d have to take out student loans. Why do that when you could start debt-free?”
Colin chuckled without any humor. “I’d rather start in debt than go to school for a major I’m not interested in.”
Dad shook his head in disgust. “Is this about baseball? For God’s sake, it’s a game—a fun way to pass the time in high school, but you’re an adult now. It’s time to grow up.”
“Taking responsibility for myself is being an adult.”
My chest swelled with pride.
“Isn’t that what you want?” Colin asked carefully.
It was a loaded question. Parents want their kids to be independent and responsible, but Dad thrived on our continued dependence on him.
“I want you to take care of your family and the family business. This could all be yours someday.” He lifted both hands as if referring to the home.
“I don’t want the house. It holds too many memories and I’m not interested in the hotel business.” Colin shook his head, his lip tipping up in a sneer.
Darkness passed over Dad’s face. I felt sympathy for the man he used to be. He was strict when we were younger but nothing like this. I could track the changes to when Mom died. I spoke softly, hoping he’d listen to what I had to say. “When Mom died, everything changed. Maybe you felt out of control and to get it back, you needed to exert control over everything and anything else—including Colin and me.”
“That’s ridiculous.” He waved me off.
“It’s not though, is it?” I asked gently.
Dad refused to look at me. “I don’t have time for this.”
“We want to have a relationship with you because you’re our father, but without all of the strings attached. We’d like to help you with your business out of love for you, but not because you manipulate me into working for you. Colin would love you to watch his games or be interested in his life even if you don’t want him to play.”
Dad’s eyes clouded over, but he remained quiet. Maybe he wasn’t ready to hear what we had to say. I exchanged a look with Colin. He nodded slightly and rose. “Think about it, Dad. We’ll be here for you, but we won’t do your bidding anymore.”
My chest felt tight, but at the same time, I felt lighter than I had in years. I needed to prove to myself that I
