Protecting Her(68)

“Why didn’t you call us? Is it that hard to pick up a phone? And why didn’t you tell me you were doing this before you left? We work in the same damn office!”

“It was a last minute decision. I was driving near Garret’s school and thought it would be nice to take him out for ice cream.”

I lower my voice, just in case Rachel is trying to listen from upstairs. “That’s a lie. You’ve never once taken him out for ice cream. You never do anything with him. You were up to something. And you didn’t just get ice cream. It doesn’t take two hours to get f*cking ice cream. Where did you go? Where did you take him?”

He slowly grins. “I took him to meet some people. Or rather, for them to meet him.”

He means the members. He took Garret to meet some of the members of the organization.

I lower my voice even more. “Why the f*ck would you do that?”

“They were interested in meeting him.”

“He’s a child. Why the hell would they want to meet a child?”

“He’s our future, Pearce. They’ve been going around meeting all the members’ children. I knew you’d never take him to meet them, so I did.”

“Why are they so interested in the members’ children?”

“They’re assessing them. Seeing what their talents are. Seeing what future role they could play within the organization.”

“Garret is not playing ANY role! He’s not—” I stop before I say it. If my father knew I was trying to get Garret out of his obligation to be a member, he would make sure it never happened. I have to do it behind his back.

My father’s brows rise. “He’s not what? What were you saying?”

“That he is not to be around those people unless I am present. If they want to see him, I will be the one to bring him to them. Not you!”

“All the better,” he says calmly. “I will inform them that you will be playing a more active role in your son’s future. But I will still be involved. I don’t trust you to do the right thing, Pearce.”

“Which is what?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“To give the boy the opportunities he deserves. There are many roles to play within the organization, and as a Kensington, Garret needs to be at the top. He needs to be a leader. A decision maker.”

“I’m not going to force Garret into a certain role. Unlike you, I want my son to be happy. I will never force him to do something he doesn’t want to do. You had your chance, Father. With me. Now you need to step back and let me raise my son. You need to stop interfering.”

“I will do what needs to be done. If you neglect to promote the boy’s future within the organization, I will do it for you.”

“You will do no such thing!” I raised my voice, so I lower it again. “Stay out of his life. He is not your responsibility. He is MY son. NOT yours.”

“He has my name. He’s a Kensington. And I will not allow you to disgrace that name again. You did it once, by marrying her, but you will not do it again. I will make sure of that.”

I point to the door. “Get out of my house.”

He stands there, not moving. “They said Garret has great potential. He’s intelligent. Good looking. Personable. Confident. And very articulate for someone his age. He has many qualities that would be advantageous to us. He has a great future ahead of him.”

I force myself to keep quiet. I can’t fight with my father about this. If I do, he’ll take it as a challenge and be even more determined to control Garret’s life. When my father knows I don’t like something, he does it all the more. And I’ve made it clear that I hate having him interfere with my son’s life. But I shouldn’t have told him that. I shouldn’t have expressed my anger. I did exactly what he wanted me to do. I let his actions affect me and I let him know it.

I go around him to the door and open it. “Goodbye, Father.”

He meets me there, a smug grin on his face. “I’ll see you on Saturday. I’m looking forward to it. Royce always has such interesting parties.” His grin widens. “Katherine Seymour will be there. She graduated from college last spring.”

He mentioned Katherine because he knows how much she annoys me. Her presence is just another reason why I don’t want to attend Royce’s party, but I don’t have a choice. It’s a party for the members and attendance is mandatory.

“Father, you should get back to the office.”