Page 116 of Riot

I have to get out of here, but I move back to my dad’s bedside to let him know I’ll be back later. I can’t deal with her right now.I fill his water from the tap in the bathroom and come back to his side.

He’s been so much better to talk to than I imagined; asking me about New Orleans and what I’ve been doing. It’s like he actually cares. The second I think about it, I remember my mom’s ridiculous proposal to Riot and then I think my dad is in on it. How could he agree to this? Or does he really not know?

I wanted him to meet Riot, when he’s well enough to come out of his room of course. But now I just feel sad. Sad, but also a bit happy because I know that Riot can’t be bought, not by some ridiculous offer by my delusional mom. Not by anything.

“I’m going to go grab some lunch,” I tell Dad. “I’ll come back before dinner if you’d like.”

He nods. “I’d like that.”

“Dad?” He looks at me. “Did you have anything to do with Mom asking Myles to not be in my life anymore?”

He frowns. “I haven't even met the man.”

“But you liked Ian, a lot.”

“I thought he was good for you, that you’d be a good match. I didn’t know the things he’d said until after, and even then he denied it when I questioned why you were so upset.’

I stare at him directly in the eye. “Well, I’m not a liar, Dad. He was awful to me. I don’t like him and I don’t want to marry him.”

“And you don’t have to.”

Still, this is the man who scolded me when I told him that I wanted to marry for love. This is the man who laughed when I said that not all good things come from money. He treated me like my hopes and dreams were a joke, and now he’s suddenly changed his tune.

“Why have you had this sudden change of heart?” I stammer.

He pats his chest. “When I had the angina attack, I thought I was going to die. When a man’s life flashes before his eyes, hesees a lot of things he did wrong. Things he needs to fix before his time comes.”

Tears well in my eyes. “But you never even acknowledged me,” I sob. “You cut me off without a care in the world.”

“I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.” His words match his tone; sincere and apologetic. Still, this isn’t the man I’ve grown up with or know at all. It just reminds me of how much I really don’t know about him. “I’ll talk to your mom. I’ll make her back off.”

I wipe my snotty nose. “Dad, I don’t want you stressing out when you’ve not been well. That makes all of this worse.”

“It’s okay, my little Lourdes. I’m going to be fine if I know you truly are happy.”

“I am, Dad. I’m really happy for the first time in my life.”

He swallows hard. “I haven't always been a good man,” he says. “I assisted in doing some terrible things to people to get where I need to be. I thought having all the riches in the world would buy happiness, but it doesn’t. Just know, I’m fixing all the things I’ve done wrong in the past, starting with you.”

“Dad? What do you mean? What things do you need to fix?”

He smiles softly. “I wasn’t a good man when you were little. Me and your uncle John. I won’t go into specifics, but I’m making it right. I will make it right if it’s the last thing I do. I should’ve fixed it years ago.”

I’m scared. Dad’s talking like something is going to happen to him. Like he’s on his last legs or something.

“Dad? You're scaring me.”

He pats my hand. “Don’t be scared, angel. I’m going to be fine, and when I’m well enough, we’ll sit down and work all of this mess out, okay?”

I nod, turning as the door opens. To my astonishment, Antoine stands there, glaring at me.

“Hello, sister.”

I roll my eyes. “Antoine.” I turn back to my dad, kissing him on the cheek. “I’ll be back later, okay?”

“Okay. Remember what I said.”

I nod. “I will, Dad.”

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