Page 33 of Pity Play

“You didn’t need culinary school to work with your dad in Elk Lake. You’d already learned everything you needed to know about running Pop’s. You clearly went because you didn’t want to be at Pop’s.”

“If you knew that,” I say, “How is it that Dad didn’t?”

She rolls her eyes like I’m too stupid to continue drawing breath. “Your father thought you would bring the benefits ofyour education home and give Pop’s customers more of a selection.”

“Then why didn’t he say that?” I never considered my dad was open to changing his restaurant. And even if I knew, I don’t think that knowledge would have made any difference. Yet, how can I know for sure if he never shared that information with me? At least if he’d said something, it would have opened the door for civilized conversation between us.

“See what I mean?” My mom is clearly exasperated. “Two peas in a pod. Your dad wants to retire at sixty-five, which is only two years from now.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Are you really as thick as you’re pretending to be?” she demands.

“If Dad wants to retire at sixty-five, then he should retire.” Once again, I don’t know how I figure in.

“Your dad has owned Pop’s for thirty years, Luke. You spent your whole childhood there. What do you think he planned to do with the place when he retired?”

“Sell it?”

“Are you serious?” My mom is getting extremely annoyed with me now.

“Why not? I mean, unless he wants to hire a general manager to run it for him. But why would he bother? He should just sell it and be done with it.”

“Your father has always wanted to leave Pop’s to his children. When Kelsey moved out to LA to work in publicity, Dad knew she didn’t have any interest. But then you went to culinary school, Luke. That told him loud and clear that you loved the food industry, making you the obvious choice to inherit Pop’s.”

“But I don’t want Pop’s,” I tell her honestly.

My mom shifts in her seat before grabbing a throw pillow off the couch. She flings it across the coffee table at me with force. “I know! And your dad knows!” In a quieter tone, she adds, “And it breaks his heart.”

I guess I was too wrapped up in my own dreams to even consider that my dad wanted me to take over for him. I feel kind of stupid for not putting that together. But to be fair, he never said as much.

My mom watches me closely. She’s clearly wondering where she went wrong with me. “Luke, your dad’s childhood was nothing like yours. Nana and Grandpa doted on you kids. They always encouraged you, like they did me. You never knew your dad’s parents and there’s a reason for that.”

“Dad never wanted to talk about them, so I eventually took the hint and quit asking,” I tell her. “I’m not a mind reader, Mom.”

“No, honey, you’re not. But you are an adult. You’re grown up enough to know your parents don’t know everything. We’re not perfect. We’re just people with our own journeys doing the best we can.”

“And?”

“Maybe it’s time you talk to your dad and get to know about his childhood.”

I exhale loudly. “He doesn’t want to talk to me, Mom.”

“Don’t give him a chance not to, Luke. The man is in traction for Pete’s sake, he can’t exactly run away from you.”

“I can’t make him talk if he doesn’t want to.”

She grabs another pillow like she’s going to wing that one at me too. But instead of doing so, she holds it close to her chest. “It’s time for you to act like the adult, Luke. Treat your dad like you would a child. Show him that you aren’t the enemy. That’s the only way he’ll open up to you.”

The very thought causes the little hairs all over my body to stand at attention. I really don’t want to do what she’s asking of me. I already feel like I’ve let my dad down so badly that he’ll never forgive me. But before I can articulate my thoughts, my mom asks, “What do you have to lose?”

“The tiny shred of pride I have left?” I realize how melodramatic that sounds but I’m feeling a touch overemotional.

“You could have lost your dad when he fell off the roof, Luke.Ask yourself if your precious pride is worth risking your relationship.”

“I’m not the one risking it!” I practically yell. I immediately feel bad for raising my voice to her. It’s not like our feud is her doing and I know it’s taken a toll on her.

“You’re as much responsible as he is. And until one of you makes the first move, you will never find your way back to each other. And if you don’t, you will regret it for the rest of your life.”

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