Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
8
Grant
My dad and I didn’t get along a lot of times, but the thought that something happened to him scared me.
I tore through the office door, which was unlocked. I tried not to think about it. Security wasn’t a big risk in my small town. But it worried me when I couldn’t reach him via phone or radio.
The office seemed to grow longer with each stride. “Dad,” I called as my heart thundered in my chest.
I crashed through the door that separated the lobby with the back office.
“Dad!”
When I caught sight of him in the small cubby we kept in case someone needed to stay overnight, my heart stopped until he jerked upright.
“What is it, boy?” He looked around, wondering what was going on.
I couldn’t speak with my tongue caught in my throat. A hand landed on my arm and I glanced down to see Jolie. Our eyes locked a second before she moved into the room and sat next to my dad.
“We were concerned about you. Grant hasn’t been able to get in touch with you.”
She’d wrapped a comforting arm around him. “He was?” he asked, grinning at me when she looked my way.
“Old man,” I said in warning.
“What? Can’t I sleep?”
I glared at him. “You should check your phone.”
He shrugged. “Power’s out. I was saving my battery.”
“You could have texted me.”
Jolie stood up, blocking my view of him as he said, “I did.”
She placed a hand on my chest like she had to hold me back. I took her hand, noticing how soft it was.
“I’m fine,” I said before letting her go and walking out of the room to cool off.
Of course, I was happy he was okay, but he was eating up her attention. I didn’t want to accept it annoyed me.
When they emerged from the room, Jolie gave me a shy smile I couldn’t interpret.
“I need to make a call,” she said, holding the phone high in the air as if that would give her a better signal.
“Try the lobby,” I offered.
She nodded at me and disappeared through the door that separated the two.
Dad came over, reaching a hand up to clap my shoulder.
“Stay away from that, son.”
“You think I’m interested in her?” I spoke with more incredulity than I felt. “You don’t have to worry about that. But maybe it’s time to abandon ship, old man.”
“I’m fine, boy,” he said, patting my shoulder.
“Look around you. No one is flying in this weather.” I pointed to my mouth as I spoke. “It’s freezing in here. And don’t give me your how you lived speech because we both know you had a butler, maid, and a whole staff in the mansion you grew up in.”
His hand dropped. I’d crossed a line. He’d said many times he’d made his bed and he was fine with it. But in this moment, I hated them all. From the mother who had abandoned us, to an uncle who had stolen my father’s inheritance, to cousins who hadn’t acknowledged my existence. I hated wealth and the rich people who had it.
“You need to let it go, son. Money is nothing but the root of evil. It causes hate, mistrust, and deception. The day I walked away from that life was my happiest.”
I wanted to believe him, but I didn’t.
“Just think about what this could be if you had that money. You could have lived your dream and had a thriving business,” I challenged.
He shook his head. “Everything here is mine and I earned it. It wasn’t given to me with strings attached.”
“And Mom?”
He held my gaze. “I loved her. But she wouldn’t have ever been happy here. And I got you out of the deal.”
The old ache came back, and I rubbed at my chest. “She didn’t just leave you.”
“And that’s the only thing I’m sorry for. But I’m not sorry she got pregnant. I’m thankful that she chose life for you. She had an easier out. Yet, she made a go of it for a while.”
“Queen of the mountain didn’t suit her.”
Dad licked his chapped lips. “I never told you this, but the guy—”
“The one she married?”
“Him. His plane had trouble and landed here. It was going to take a few days to fix. I sent her with him and his pilot to town since he wouldn’t know his way. You were small, but loved planes and wanted to stay with me.”
I ran a hand over my head as the conclusion of that story became apparent.
“Do you regret that?”
“No, son. It was better to know sooner that she was never mine. He offered her everything I gave up.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, a husband and two sons.”
There was no need to say three sons because she didn’t acknowledge me at all. No birthday calls, presents, or cards. I was but a memory she’d like to forget.