If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(65)

"I will, but if you stick around here, you should go by and see her. She always thought of you as her extra kid."

"I always thought of her as my second mom."

"Maybe you should take Mia to the movies."

"She's got her hands full with the house and some other issues."

Barton nodded. "I ran into Kent earlier; he said someone broke into her studio yesterday and made a huge mess."

"It's bad," Jeremy acknowledged. "I hope Kent can find out who did it."

"He doesn't seem to have much hope of that." Barton paused. "You know this is exactly the kind of crime you'd be handling if you became a cop here. Small-town vandalism would be the highlight of a boring day."

Jeremy grinned and shook his head. "You never give up."

"Not when I want something."

"You don't need me to join Kinsey's operation."

"We've always been a good team. We watch each other's back. That's why I want to work with you."

"I can't believe you really want to leave Delta. It was your dream as much as mine."

"I'm tired of following orders, and I want the money. I've earned it. So have you." Barton shoved back his chair. "But I'll let you think about it. Just don't think too long. I'm driving down to LA on Monday. You and Ashlyn should come with me. We'll get a hotel with a pool. Maybe your beautiful blonde would like to join us. She can watch Ashlyn and tan by the pool while we take care of a little business."

As much as the idea of seeing Mia in a bikini by a hotel pool was enticing, he doubted she'd go along with Barton's plan, but all he said was, "We'll talk before Monday." Then he stood up and followed Barton outside. They said good-bye in the parking lot. Jeremy was about to head to his car when he saw his father's boat bobbing in its harbor slip. He debated for a long minute and then changed directions.

He could not believe what he was about to do…





Sixteen

"Jeremy," his father said warily as he boarded the boat a few minutes later. "What are you doing here?"

His father's face was ruddy from the wind and the sun, but Jeremy saw the lines of age around his eyes and mouth, reminders that time kept passing. Was Hal right? Was it time to let the past go? Try to start over?

"I came to talk to you," he said briskly. "The other day when you saw me in the café, you scared my daughter. I don't care how you talk to me, but I won't let you intimidate her."

"I just asked why she didn't have your last name."

"Because I wasn't around when she was born. I told you that last week. Her mother named me on the birth certificate but gave Ashlyn her name. The social worker tracked me down after Ashlyn's mother Justine was killed in a robbery. My daughter was traumatized by her mother's death and by the arrival of a father she'd never heard about. I brought her to Angel's Bay because she needed to be in a place where she would feel safe, where she could heal. She's having a rough time getting past everything that happened, but I'm finally starting to see some progress. I can't let you set that back. We're going to run into each other; it's inevitable in this town. We need to come to an understanding."

His father stared back at him for a long minute. "I'm sorry, Jeremy."

He had to admit he was a little shocked to hear those words come out of his father's mouth. He didn't know if his father was apologizing for his words at the café, for being drunk last week or for a lifetime of sins, but maybe it was just enough to know that his dad felt some regret for something.

"All right," he said. "Look, we don't have to talk about the past. It's long over, but we need to come to an agreement about the present. I don't know how long I'll be here, but while I'm here, I'd rather not have any problems between us, at least not in front of my daughter."

"My granddaughter," his father reminded him.

He stared back at him. "If you want to be her grandfather, you're going to have to show me I can trust you not to be drunk around her, and you sure as hell can't ever talk to her the way you talk to me. I won't stand for that."

His father's lips tightened. "You should have more respect for me. I am your father. I provided for you."

"You did put a roof over my head, and I did have food to eat, that's true, but we both know you checked out after Mom died."

"I was destroyed by her death, Jeremy. I know I didn't do right by you. It was all I could do to get through the day."

"You weren't suffering alone."

"I know," his dad admitted. "You were hurting, too. I know you probably won't care, but I quit drinking five years ago. I was sober until a few days ago when you called me and said you were coming by. I didn't know what you wanted to talk to me about, so I had a few drinks to calm myself down. I went back to AA the next day. It's a daily struggle, but I'll get back on track again. I know you can't forgive me, and I probably wouldn't forgive myself if I was in your shoes, but I do want you to know I'm sorry." He took a breath. "Your mom made me feel sane. She helped me fit into the world. I didn't know who I was before I met her, and I didn't know who I was afterwards. I guess I'm still trying to figure that out."