Granted, Wyatt had gone up there to let him know what a jackass he was and he was getting what he deserved. My brother had always had a hate for my father and from the way he treated Wyatt, I couldn't blame him.
After being searched, and damn near stripped down, I sat at the window waiting for my father. I found myself tapping on the top of the cheap countertop to absolutely no beat in my head at all. I hated to stay still and not move; it drove me insane.
When he walked out from behind the metal door, I barely recognized him. He had only been here for a month but he clearly hadn't shaved, and the circles under his eyes spoke words I knew he would never mutter.
It was the first time in my entire life I had not seen him clean-shaven.
He sat at the opposite side of the window, and slowly picked up the phone so we could talk. I watched his movements or the lack thereof. He wasn’t in any rush, acting as if it was more a headache seeing me than pleased.
“Son…”
“Dad.” I immediately looked to the side of where I was sitting, not really wanting to make eye contact.
“I was wondering if you were going to come see me. I figured it might be hard on you. Or at least that is what your mother said.”
“You figured it would be hard on me? Then why didn't you… why didn’t you warn me of what you were doing?” My voice had gotten louder without my intention and people began looking at me.
“I just dug myself a hole I had gotten too far buried in. I didn’t know how to tell you everything that…”
“Everything… nothing. The company was my mother’s. I thought I was helping build something but instead I spent years of my life working with a company that is closed, that is being investigated, every one of us, and I have to start over.”
He hit his hand on the tabletop and the look in his eyes made me want to walk away. Not because I had never seen my father mad, but because he was acting as if he was calling the shots.
“I did what I HAD TO DO. You have never been an adult or acted like an adult your entire life. You have had each and every thing handed to you. When you’re a man, you can sit here and tell me what I should and shouldn’t have done.”
I placed the phone back on the hook on the wall that looked like it hadn't been wiped down with Clorox since it had been installed. I stood up, shocked by his outburst. My father had always been a prick but this showed his true colors, bolder than I had ever seen them. I was so wrong about him.
He hung up his receiver after I did.
Instead of walking away like a man, I flipped him off and then turned away toward the door to get the hell out of there.
I heard his loud laugh as I did so and the pain in my gut made me want to punch the wall. The evil that had hung in the air gave me a chill in my spine.
I hung my head as I walked out, disappointed in the faith and loyalty I had given to my father.
I wanted nothing to do with anything that was connected to him in any way. I was getting rid of it all, my apartment in Houston, my car, anything I earned working with him.
I had to make all the changes I could, to be better than the man I had idolized, before it was too late.
Our mother had finally secured a home that she loved. She had to give up the home we grew up in, but in her words “it was time to move on.” When she had gotten the notice about the company being seized, she was ready to put it on the market. It went with the marriage as far as she was concerned. She had moved the horses already and had been staying at a furnished townhouse just outside of Hilltop already anyway. My father was holding up the sale, now he couldn’t.
Today, though, when arriving to help load things up, she was emotional. I could see her stopping and flashing back to times in certain places. I couldn't help but to do that myself. I could see where I snuck girls in the house into my bedroom, the memories that were made between me and Wyatt when things hadn't changed so much between the two of us. Back when we were just two boys playing and not caring about anything but the next moment.
“I’m sorry you are having to do this, Mom. I know you were ready for the divorce, but this just adds to it.”
“I was only worried about the horses and living where I didn't stress over bills. Memories I can take with me.” She paused and took a sip of sparking water. “The ones I want to take with me anyway.”
“I’m glad the horses were already moved before today. It would have made it harder on you…” I commented, actually knowing that what I was saying was the reaction my mother would have had.
Wyatt and Breigh pulled up with Emma and Olivia in tow. I had to laugh seeing Olivia wave to me and her meemee.
Everyone got out of the Ford Explorer and smiled, hugging my mother. Finally, they made their way to me.
Emma looked as beautiful as she always did, but probably for the first time she wasn't wearing her heels. However, she was wearing some type of flip-flop that had a similar height. Her shorts were dark linen, with a light V-neck shirt tucked in. One glance at her legs and I was brought back to them being wrapped around me when
