Leo pulls out a third folded sheet of paper and hands it over to my father. He doesn’t read it in our presence, instead choosing to tuck it inside of his suit with a shaky hand.
Leo clasps his hands together. “Each of you will vote yes or no regarding your father’s inheritance. We will start with the eldest grandson.”
Declan rises and buttons his suit. Instead of sharing his feelings aloud, my brother leans over to whisper something into my father’s ear. The color drains from my father’s face. I’m not sure what Declan says, but my father looks as if he saw a ghost.
Declan returns to his full height. “I vote no.” He walks out of the room, leaving us behind to make our own decisions.
My father turns a fraction of an inch in my direction.
I’m not ready to say my truth yet, so I stumble over my words. “Can Rowan go next?”
Leo glances over at my brother.
Rowan shrugs before rising to his feet. “I’m honestly disappointed you didn’t choose the more difficult path. After abusing us for years and using our weaknesses against us, turns out you’re the weakest one of us all.” Rowan shakes his head at Leo. “I vote no.” He exits the room and shuts the door behind him.
My father rises from his seat and leans over to pick up his suitcase.
I’m not shocked by his dismissal of me. I spent the last thirty-four years of my life being subjected to the same treatment, although I’m better equipped to handle it now. “What about my vote?”
He stands tall. “It doesn’t matter.”
My blood heats beneath my skin, fueling the rage building inside me. I step into his space and stare him in the eyes. “Despite your attempts to treat me like I don’t exist, I matter just as much as the other two.”
“It’s nothing personal.”
“Maybe that’s your issue. If you actually acted like a human being, maybe things could have been different.”
His jaw clenches. “Vote or get out of my way.”
“I will once you tell me what the first option was.”
His right eye twitches. “Why?”
“Because I want to know, and you owe me that much.”
He looks away, his jaw working as he considers my request. His resigned sigh fills the silence, barely heard over the strong beat of my racing heart.
“He asked me to seek forgiveness from each of you and put my shares up to a family vote like today.” My father takes a step toward the door, but I reach out to stop him.
“Why didn’t you choose that option?”
“I didn’t want to risk the shares for something I knew was impossible after everything I had done.”
“Trying and failing is better than not trying at all.” I’d rather fail time and time again than limit my options and fail anyway.
It took me a long time to think that way, but I’m done choosing the easy route. Just look at my father and what that got him.
Nothing but misery.
He will have to spend the rest of his life wondering what would have happened had he sought to get help and earn our forgiveness. While we live the rest of our lives happy with our families, he will sulk in his misery and failure, knowing deep down there was a small chance we could have learned to forgive him had he put in the work.
But I guess none of us will ever know.
I look over at Leo. “I vote yes.”
Leo’s brows jump, and my father’s eyes widen. I know my vote is a toss away, but I would rather fuck with my father one last time, making him wonder what he could have done to earn that one other yes.
Kill them with kindness, Mom always said.
I hope my father drops dead because of it.
58
CAL
My father walks out of Leo’s office with his head held high despite his monumental loss. My brothers scowl at him until he foregoes the elevator and disappears down the emergency stairs exit, the banging of the door echoing across the waiting room.
“I’ll be in touch with the paperwork for the house.” Leo gives me a pat on the shoulder before shutting the door behind me.
My brothers turn to face me.
Rowan’s eyes brighten despite the flat line of his lips. “We were thinking about grabbing dinner if you’re down.”
“Sure. I’m starving.” I take a step toward the elevator, only to pause at Declan staring at the door my father left through.
“It’s really over,” he mutters under his breath.
Rowan claps him on the shoulder. “Don’t tell me you’re sad.”
“I’m just…” His lips press together.
“Disappointed?” I offer.
Both of my brothers turn to look at me.
“Exactly.” Declan looks away. “It feels stupid to be after we got everything we wanted…”
“I feel the same way, especially after he told me Grandpa gave him a choice to make amends with us and still picked himself.”
“Not surprised.” Rowan’s lip curls.
Declan’s shoulders tense. “Even after all this time and everything we’ve been through, it’s hard to accept your father is a selfish piece of shit.”
“Tell me about it. I’m the one who spent half of my life in therapy trying to.” My smile doesn’t reach my eyes.
Rowan snorts a laugh. “At least one of us got help for our daddy issues.”
“Consider that two.” Declan shakes Rowan’s hand off his shoulder and heads toward the elevator.
Rowan’s mouth drops open. “You’re going to therapy?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t considered it.” Declan shoots him a look.
Rowan shakes his head. “I’ll stick to living vicariously through you.”
“Coward.”
Declan shares all the baby facts he has learned over the last few weeks during the drive over to an Italian spot he loves. Never in my life did I think I would hear my brother gushing about having a kid, but I’m happy for him and Iris. After all the shit Declan has been through, he deserves a chance at being the kind of father we wished for.
So do you.
The reminder has me calling Lana from the bathroom so I can wish her and Cami a goodnight.
Once our waitress drops off our waters and takes our orders, Rowan starts talking about the upcoming Dreamland renovation and the land he and Zahra worked on together with the Creators team.
I ask Rowan more questions than usual, earning a bright smile from him.
Declan turns to me. “I’m proud of you.”
“Of me? What for?”
His brown eyes lighten. “For so many different things, but most of all for how far you’ve come in such a short amount of time. It makes me happy to see you happy and…free.”
My throat tightens. “Who knew you were such a sap?”
“What can I say? Iris’s pregnancy hormones must be rubbing off on me.”
Rowan snorts. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”
“Fuck off. This is exactly why I never say anything nice.” Declan throws his balled-up paper straw wrapper at Rowan’s face.
“Fine. My turn.” Rowan lifts his water in the air. “I’d like to make a toast to us finally achieving our dreams.”
I tap my glass against his. “And the women who helped us along the way.”