A Father's Name(72)

Tyler had never felt so frustrated. How could they still not get it? Images of his father lying on the kitchen floor where he’d collapsed in a drunken haze, waiting to be discovered by Tyler and a friend after school.

The cops bringing his dad home, or picking his dad up, while the entire neighborhood watched.

The time his father had broken his arm and forced him to lie to the sympathetic nurse at the hospital.

He knew what it was to have a father who did nothing but humiliate and embarrass. He would do anything for the baby.

Anything.

He needed to make them all understand. “I don’t want—”

The judge interrupted him. “We’re not negotiating this, Mr. Martinez. The wheels are already in motion. When you’re cleared, you’ll be able to apply for your license again. You could have your investment job back.”

Tyler hadn’t even considered that possibility. “I don’t know what to say to make you all understand.”

Mr. Matthews patted his shoulder. “There’s not much to say other than thank you, son.”

“But—”

“But nothing,” the judge said, sternly. “Our job isn’t simply to prosecute and judge, our job is to serve justice. Both Jackie and I, and everyone else involved in this case, agree that your name should be cleared. It’s what justice demands.” He took his napkin off the table and placed it on his lap with flourish, as if to indicate the formal part of their discussion had ended. “So does everyone know what they want for lunch?”

“I need to leave,” Tyler said, and walked away from the table without even saying goodbye to Mr. Matthews. He walked out of the restaurant feeling shell-shocked.

They said he could have his life back. Maybe they were wrong. The governor might refuse to sign the pardon. But the judge and the ADA didn’t sound like it.

He followed the sidewalk to the dock and stared out at the smooth water of Erie’s bay.

He could have his life back.

His condo, his cars.



Designer suits on a daily basis.

He could rewind the clock. How many people got to do that?

He should be thrilled.

And yet he wasn’t.

Free and clear.

He could try to return to the firm, but the other day he’d realized how much he loved the garage. He left his house every day with a sense of anticipation. He asked himself how he’d felt each morning heading into the firm, as opposed to how he felt heading into the garage.

He was happy at the garage. He loved the guys he worked with. And they were right, they’d made him feel like part of the family.

He bought a ticket and went to the top of the Bicentennial Tower, which rose from the end of the dock and looked out over the bay. Rather than taking in the picturesque sights, his mind continued going in circles. He had no idea how he should feel, or how he actually felt.

“Son?”

He turned and found Jason’s father behind him. “Mind if I have a seat?”

Tyler nodded at the bench and asked the question that had been bothering him since he showed up at lunch and found Mr. Matthews there. “Why?”

“Why what?” Jason’s father asked.

“Why were you there, encouraging me to let them ruin Jason’s name? He’s your son. You should want to preserve his memory.”

“He’s my son and he made a mistake. A terrible mistake. I’m proud that he owned up and that he tried to make things right.”

“Make things right at the expense of his son.”

“You really think that Jason’s admitting what he did will make Jace think less of him?”

Tyler nodded. “How could Jace not be affected? I mean, I don’t plan to say anything about it, but when he gets older, he could find out.”

“He will find out because I’ll tell him.”

“Mr. Matthews.” Tyler’s frustration mounted. Everything was changing, and he didn’t know what to do or how to feel about those changes. He just knew he wanted to protect Jace.

Jason’s father patted his shoulder. “I plan to tell my grandson about my two amazing sons. The one I raised from birth and the one who became part of our family later. Jace will never know his biological father, but he’ll know you. He’ll learn from you. Things like honesty, honor, friendship, loyalty…love.”

Tyler didn’t know how to handle compliments, so he snorted.

“As to how could I be with the ADA and judge this morning…” He slid closer to Tyler. “No matter what Jason did, I loved him and was proud of him. My definition of a man is one who makes a mistake and does what he can to fix it. The same goes for you. I was there today to support you because I love you. I’ve always been so proud of you. And I don’t know how to put in words how I feel about what you did. You selflessly took the blame for what Jason did. You gave him the time to be home when Mellie needed him, to be at her side when she died. You did that selflessly because you loved him, and I would tell you to allow him to set things right. He would have been here today telling you all these things if he could. Since he can’t, I was here to represent him.”