Revel (Second Chance Romance #1)(38)

“Maybe so, son,” Henry said. “But I always cared. I just thought I knew what was best for you to get there. Apparently I was wrong. You’re richer than any DeGraff has ever been in the history of our family.”

Declan rolled his eyes, “Fuck money. It doesn’t mean I’m happy.”

“Spoken like someone who’s never been poor,” Henry replied.

“Ha!” Declan laughed. “And like you would know what that was like? You were born with a silver spoon up your ass. And so was Granddaddy.”

“I don’t have to experience poverty to understand how shitty it is,” Henry said. “Just like you don’t need to have cancer to know how insidious it is. You can see me with your own two eyes, can’t you?”

Declan looked away for a moment, unable to say anything.

“It’s fine, son,” Henry said. “And I know you’re right. Money doesn’t always mean you’ll be happy. But it’s not even just about that. You built something, on your own. You saved our asses in the process. We were about as close as it gets to going bankrupt and losing this house and our reputation in this town.”

Declan looked at his father again, “What would that have mattered anyway? What is the deal with ‘reputation’? It’s just another word for ‘I care way too much about what other people think.’ I didn’t bail us out financially for that bullshit. I did it because I love my family.”

They sat quietly for a moment, neither of them saying a word.

“I know,” Henry finally spoke. “You did it for your mother.”

“No, Dad,” Declan said. “Mom is dead. I did it for you.”

They’d never had a conversation like this before. Declan’s conversations with his father tended to be short and were always punctuated with a slamming door or angry last word. But both men were realizing there wasn’t time for that anymore.

It weighed heavy on them both.

“Thank you, son,” Henry almost whispered. “I don’t know if I ever said it.”

“You didn’t have to,” Declan replied. “You never will.”

********

They spent the rest of the morning watching Sports Center and The Price is Right while Henry’s nurse administered his pain medication and tried to get him to eat something.

“I’m not eating a damn thing,” he scoffed. “I’ll just throw it up anyway. The thought of it alone makes me nauseated. Give me some alone time with my son.”

The nurse sighed, “I can make you a smoothie if it would be easier. But you need some calories, Mr. DeGraff.”

“I said no!” Henry yelled, throwing the remote control across the room.

The nurse didn’t even blink, “Fine. We’ll try later.”

“The f*ck we will,” Henry muttered as she swiftly walked away, tray of lunch in hand.

“Dad,” Declan said. “Was that necessary?”

“She’s always pressuring me,” he mumbled, clearly embarrassed. “I don’t like it. I told you to let me fire her.”

“She’s doing her job,” Declan pointed out. “Despite you treating her like shit. You’re lucky she doesn’t quit. I would.”

“Yeah, well,” Henry said. “You don’t know what it’s like.”

“I know,” Declan said, leaning forward. “I don’t. I’m sorry to give you a hard time. Just let her take care of you. That’s all she wants to do. Don’t take your anger out on her. Hell, take it out on me if you want. I deserve it.”

“No,” Henry shook his head. “You’re a good son.”

“I’m not a good person though,” Declan sighed, sitting back against the chair again. “You know; I saw Charlotte yesterday. She’s in town.”

“Charlotte?” Henry asked. “Sanders? From college?”

“Yep,” Declan said. “Our paths have crossed yet again.”

“You know,” Henry sat up a little bit. “You never really told us why you ended it with her. You really loved that girl, didn’t you?”

Declan nodded, “Yeah. I did.”

“So, why?” Henry asked. “Too young?”

Declan shook his head, “No. It wasn’t that. It just wouldn’t have worked out.”

“Why, because she’s not from here?” Henry asked. “You never cared about that shit. Much to my chagrin.”

Declan laughed, “Yeah. That’s true.”

“You know,” Henry said. “I almost broke up with your momma when we were engaged. Did you know that?”

Declan shook his head, “No. I never knew that. Why?”

“Well, your grandma wasn’t a big fan of her. Said she was too… What was the word she used? Whimsical. That and she said your momma was too quirky. That she thought too deep.” Henry laughed at the memory. “As if that’s a bad thing, to have depth. Said I should pick someone simpler. But no. The thing she didn’t like about your momma was the thing I loved the most. Anna was complex. Beautiful. She took things to heart. Too much to heart.”

Declan had never in his life seen his father cry, but Henry DeGraff had tears in his eyes, “I let her down in the end. Really, it was me who she shouldn’t have picked. I was too hard on her. Tried to mold her into what I wanted. Who could take that?”