Page 102 of Trustfall

“Hey kid,” he says as if no time has gone by at all. As if I just came home after a long weekend away with my friends. As if I’m not sitting in a beige jumpsuit, talking to him through glass.

“Hi Dad.” I give him a curt nod. I just don’t know what else to do or say.

“I always knew you’d get ink,” he says, gesturing to my arms. “I’m hoping you got that done professionally and not since you’ve been here.”

I breathe out a perfunctory laugh at his attempt to lighten the mood. He looks down for a moment, rubbing his thumb over his own tattoo on his arm. A heart with the initials A.C. inside of it. Annabelle Christensen. It’s the only one he has. He got it before he and my mom were married, but her initials remained the same after. Then I realize…Emory’s initials would stay the same too. Dad takes a breath and looks back up.

“Luke, I—” he puts the phone down for a second and inhales before he picks it back up. “I’m sorry about how things went down that night. I shouldn’t have said the things I did. I shouldn’t have lost my temper. I shouldn’t have kicked you out.”

“You didn’t,” I say venomously because fuck him for thinking he kickedmeout. “I left.”

“Yeah, well regardless, I was too hard on you. I wanted you to have a better life than I did, but I pushed you away instead. I should have supported you unconditionally, like your mother did. They don’t make angels as good as her.”

A hint of a smile creeps up my lips. No matter what came their way, my parents have always been head over heels for each other. As much as we didn’t see eye to eye, I can’t say my dad didn’t try to be the best husband he could be, given the circumstances. He looked at my mother the way I look at Emory.

“You’re right,” I agree. “They don’t.”

“I know I wasn’t the best father, Luke.” His gaze falls to the floor for a moment. “I let you down a lot.”

A pang of guilt throbs in my chest at his admission. He’s saying that because of the terrible things I hurled at him that night. Recounting all the ways he let me down. Back then, I didn’t know what I know now about mental illness. I’m still not an expert, but I’ve learned enough to know it takes a toll on a family. It’s not his fault for being sick, and it’s not my fault for being angry. It’s a shirty situation all around, but it doesn’t make me feel any less guilty for throwing all that on him.

“Dad.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry too. For what I said that night. For not being more understanding. I resented you. I blamed you for your illness. Life would have been so much easier…but it’s not your fault.”

“I appreciate that, kid. I really do. Trust me, I know it would have been easier, but I still made mistakes, illness or not. It didn’t give me the right to treat you the way I did that night.”

I nod.

“This have to do with a girl?” he asks, motioning to the handcuffs.

“Yes.”

He nods in understanding, not needing any further information. That’s when I realize there is no part of my dad that is judging me right now. He doesn’t even need the whole story because he knows whatever I did, he would have done ten times over if it had been mom who was hurt.

“Look, Luke, I came here to tell you that I’m selling Collins Construction. I did a lot of thinking when I was in the hospital. I’m doing much better. Got my meds straight. But running the business…I just can’t risk having another setback and letting it all fall on you and your mother. It’s not fair to either of you.”

“But…it’s your dream.”

“It was, and I enjoyed it for years, but I’m not getting any younger, and I need to make your mother my priority now. And…you. If you’re willing to let me be a part of your life, that is.”

His words play over and over in my head. He’s selling the company. He worked so hard to establish it. He built a reputation. A livelihood. Can they even survive on my mom’s salary alone? I guess they’ll have the money from the sale.

“I see the wheels turning, son. Stop worrying. We’ll be fine. But…”

“But what?”

“I’m posting your bail. These trials can take months before they even make it to court. I can’t have you rotting in here in the meantime. Even if I could, your mother would skin me alive if I didn’t get you out. We’ll get you the best lawyer we can find. Your mom put in a few calls yesterday.”

I stare at him, blinking, for several moments. He’s selling his company? To pay for my bail? I don’t even—I’m not sure what to say. No, I do know what to say.

“No, thank you. I’ll figure it out. Nate?—”

“It wasn’t a question, Luke. Nate is not paying for your bail. You are. Look, I called it Collins Construction for a reason. I always thought maybe someday you would take it over. After you went to college…”

I arch an eyebrow, and he realizes his mistake right away.

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